Miami Lakes, FL - A tragic accident early Tuesday morning resulted in the death of a motorcyclist on the Palmetto Expressway near Miami Lakes.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the incident occurred around 5:40 a.m. in the westbound lanes near Northwest 67th Avenue.
The motorcyclist, whose identity has not yet been released, was traveling westbound when he lost control of his motorcycle and fell onto the roadway.
An oncoming tractor-trailer then collided with the fallen rider, resulting in fatal injuries.
Eyewitnesses reported that the motorcyclist had been speeding and weaving through traffic prior to the crash.
The FHP is currently investigating the exact cause of the accident.
The crash led to significant traffic disruptions, with westbound lanes of State Road 826 closed for several hours as authorities conducted their investigation.
Traffic was backed up past Northwest 154th Street, and drivers were advised to use alternate routes such as Miami Gardens Drive or the Gratigny Parkway.
Drone footage from the scene showed investigators examining the motorcycle, which lay several feet from a yellow tarp covering the deceased.
The westbound lanes have since been reopened.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the motorcyclist pending notification of next of kin.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.