Motorcyclist plummets to death on I-5

A motorcyclist died after plummeting as far as 100 feet off an elevated ramp onto Interstate 5 in Seattle.

Shortly before 4 a.m. Monday, the rider, identfied as 23-year-old Timothy Richard Wettack, was heading southbound on Interstate 5 and then took the ramp to eastbound Interstate 90.

At some point, Wettack struck the barrier, launched off the elevated ramp and fell as far as 100 feet onto northbound I-5 below.  His motorcycle remained on the ramp.

• Slideshow: Motorcyclist killed after falling 100 feet

“He struck the guardrail on the right, bounced off, went to the left, continued up the hill and then almost to the top and then impacts on the curb. Then he lost control completely, went over the rail and landed on northbound I-5 on the right hand shoulder,” said WSP Trooper Ken Przygdckl.

Wettack was transported to Harborview Medical Center where he died from his injuries.

The southbound I-5 ramp to I-90 eastbound was closed for several hours while the Washington State Patrol investigated.