Motorcyclist Dies After Collision on Rockville Pike

UPDATED Montgomery County police officers are investigating a fatal collision that involved a motorcyclist and a Ride On bus. It happened around 6:11 a.m. on Wednesday morning in Bethesda.

Police said the preliminary investigation indicates the motorcyclist, identified as 35-year-old Francis Plati, Jr. of Virginia, was operating a 2001 Suzuki and was traveling south on Rockville Pike. A Ride On bus was traveling north on Rockville Pike and attempted to make a left turn onto South Drive, according to police. For reasons still under investigation, police said the vehicles collided in the intersection of Rockville Pike and South Drive. Plati, Jr., was transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries.

There were no passengers on the Ride On bus at the time of the collision. Police closed a stretch of Rockville Pike for hours while the investigation was underway at the scene.

This collision remains under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 240.773.6620.

Update/Fatal Collision: MD 355 (Rockville Pike) is now open in both directions. Expect delays as normal traffic resumes.

— Montgomery Co Police (@mcpnews) November 4, 2015

Fatal collision cont: Male motorcyclist transported to hospital where he succumbed to injuries. 911 call received at 6:11am.

— Montgomery Co Police (@mcpnews) November 4, 2015

MCP investigating fatal collision involving motorcycle & Ride On bus, MD 355 (Rockville Pk) closed both directions btwn Cedar & Jones Bridge

— Montgomery Co Police (@mcpnews) November 4, 2015

Traffic UPDATE – ICYMI (615a) Rockville Pike MD-355 CLOSED btwn Cedar Lane & Jones Bridge Rd, crash IFO NIH/ Walter Reed – Use Alternate

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 4, 2015

Fire department activity closes Rockville Pike (MD-355) in both directions at South Dr. Expect Delays. #MDTraffic — MC Emergency Mgt (@ReadyMontgomery) November 4, 2015

Update – Rockville Pike & South Drive, bus & motorcycle involved, EMS evaluating serious & Traumatic injuries, some lanes blocked

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 4, 2015

Traffic advisory – Rockville Pike and South Drive, near N I H, collision involving a motorcycle — Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 4, 2015

About Sonya Burke

Sonya Burke is the Multimedia Manager at Montgomery Community Media (MCM). You can email story ideas at sburke@mymcmedia.org or reach her on Twitter @SonyaNBurke.

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