Police say a man died after he struck a semi-truck while lane-splitting, causing him to be ejected from his motorcycle on Route 41 in Lake Forest Sunday afternoon.
The Lake Forest Police Department and Lake Forest Fire Department responded around 4:10 p.m. Sunday to Route 41 and Westleigh Road in Lake Forest.
Lake Forest Deputy Police Chief Kevin Zelk said it was reported that a vehicle crash involving a semi-truck tractor-trailer and a motorcycle occurred on northbound Route 41 at the intersection.
First responders arrived and determined the motorcycle operator was deceased, Zelk said.
A preliminary investigation showed a 2017 Suzuki motorcycle was traveling northbound on Route 41 at a high rate of speed.
The male motorcycle operator was “lane-splitting” and attempting to pass between two vehicles, Zelk said.
A 2019 Kenworth semi-truck with a loaded trailer was in the curbside lane and another vehicle was in the inside lane.
The motorcycle struck the rear driver’s side of the trailer while attempting to pass between both vehicles.
Zelk said the motorcyclist was ejected and killed immediately.
The driver of the semi-truck did not suffer any injuries.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was requested to the scene to assist with the investigation.
The intersection of Route 41 and Westleigh Road was shut down for several hours while the scene was processed and cleared.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office is withholding the identity of the motorcyclist until his next of kin has been notified.
The crash remains under investigation by the Lake Forest Police Department and MCAT.