Motorcyclist killed while lane-splitting, Thornton police say

A 21-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a crash Friday morning while attempting to drive between lanes, according to Thornton police.

The man, who has not been publicly identified, was riding the motorcycle on E. 144th Avenue between Washington and Franklin streets at about 8:15 a.m. when he crashed into the back of a pickup truck and died, Officer Kimberly Twinem said, noting that the investigation into the crash is in the early stages.

Witnesses reported the motorcyclist was “traveling at a high rate of speed,” she said. No one else was hurt in the crash. The area around the crash was closed for several hours Friday morning for the investigation.