All Lanes of Hwy 101 Open After Fatal Motorcycle Crash in San Mateo

UPDATE: The motorcyclist who died has been identified by the San Mateo County coroner's office as 48-year-old Daniel William Hoppe of Danville.

Belmont drivers traveling north may have experienced major delays this morning, if U.S. Highway 101 was the route of choice.

A fatal crash involving a motorcyclist on northbound Highway 101 in San Mateo left three northbound lanes shut down for about two hours.

As of 7:15 a.m., though, all lanes had been cleared and reopened, a California Highway Patrol officer said.

The motorcyclist was actually involved in the second of two collisions that occurred within minutes of each other just south of Dore Avenue, CHP Officer Curtis Glace said.

In the first crash, reported at 5:12 a.m., the driver of a silver Toyota Corolla apparently fell asleep at the wheel and veered left, crashing into the center divider, Glace said.

A short time later, the second collision occurred that involved the motorcyclist, a Honda CR-V and possibly a big-rig, Glace said.

The motorcyclist was ejected from his bike and died at the scene, Glace said.

The driver of the Toyota was taken to a hospital as a precaution, he said. No one else was injured.

It is not yet clear how the second accident happened, but Glace said the motorists involved might have lost control while trying to avoid the first crash.

Witnesses told the CHP that a big-rig was involved in the second crash, but that driver did not stop at the scene, Glace said.

"We're not sure if the big-rig knows they're involved," he said.

As of 7:30 a.m. traffic was still backed up in the area, reportedly as far south as Ralston Avenue.

-- Bay City News