The motorcyclist killed in solo crash on Interstate 5 near Balboa Boulevard Sunday morning has been identified as 43-year-old John Sanchez Jr., of Pacoima.
Sarah Ardalani, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner, revealed the deceased man’s identity Monday.
Sanchez was pronounced dead following a collision in the northbound I-5 truck lanes, just north of Balboa Boulevard between Santa Clarita and Los Angeles early Sunday.
The initial call was made at 7:45 a.m. to California Highway Patrol units, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department, according to CHP Officer Josh Greengard.
“The driver (later identified as Sanchez) failed to properly negotiate a sweeping right curve in the roadway where they subsequently lost control of the motorcycle and was ejected,” investigating CHP Officer A. Mendoza wrote in his report.
When he lost control, Sanchez was ejected from his bike after he hit a guardrail.
“As a result (Sanchez) sustained major injurIes and was pronounced deceased on scene by Los Angeles City fire department paramedics,” Mendoza wrote.
Sanchez was pronounced dead at 8 a.m.
“It just looks like speed was a factor,” Greengard said Sunday. “That portion of the truck route is 35, 45 mph for trucks and it’s a long, right hand, sweeping turn. It looks like he lost control and hit that guard rail.”
Greengard confirmed the the truck lanes would reopen between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. after a temporary closure.
Alcohol is not considered a factor to the collision at this time, Mendoza wrote.
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