2 riders on motorcycle die in freeway crash

A man and woman died Saturday when the stolen motorcycle they were riding flew off transition lanes from Interstate 5 to state Route 54 in National City.

The names of the two were not released. The woman driver appeared to be in her 30s and the male passenger in his 40s, authorities said.

Other motorists reported the crash about 12:30 p.m. One witness reported that the motorcycle went airborne and hit a guardrail, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The pair were going 80 to 100 mph on the Honda motorcycle south on I-5 to the transition lanes that rise and curve to the left onto eastbound Route 54, CHP Sgt. Brandon Garland said. At that point, I-5 runs beneath Route 54.

The driver lost control of the bike while trying to pass a car on the curve, Garland said. The motorcycle hit a cement wall along the right shoulder, then launched over the wall. The bike and its two riders plunged down, landing in the middle of I-5.

They skidded nearly 100 feet and ended up in the center divider, Garland said.

He said the motorcycle had been stolen in San Diego about a week ago.

Three left lanes of southbound I-5 were closed for about 90 minutes. Officers then closed the transition lanes to eastbound Route 54 to complete their investigation, Garland said.