Motorcyclist strikes guardrail in fatal crash on Golden Gate Bridge

A motorcyclist died Friday evening at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge after striking a railing on the right side of the roadway.

The crash occurred shortly before 6 p.m. and caused the closure of all northbound lanes on the bridge as motorists and emergency personnel sought to render first aid to the male cyclist. He died on the bridge, and his identity has been withheld until his relatives can be notified.

Witnesses told officers the motorcyclist had been driving north in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed and in a reckless manner, according to a press release from the California Highway Patrol.

After passing the bridge’s north anchorage where the roadway curves left, the motorcycle drifted to the right and collided with a guardrail that separates vehicles from the sidewalk. The rider was ejected onto the roadway, but the oncoming vehicles all managed to avoid striking him, the CHP reported.

All northbound lanes were blocked for nearly an hour, and officers kept the right-hand lane closed until 7:41 p.m.