Motorcyclist dies after collision on 55 Freeway in Costa Mesa

A motorcyclist sustained fatal injuries while driving on the 55 Freeway in Costa Mesa late Saturday, July 14 in a collision with a car.

The California Highway Patrol received a call about a collision between a white Ford Mustang and a motorcycle on the northbound side of the 55 Freeway, just north of the 73 Freeway, at 9:30 p.m., a dispatcher said.

The motorcycle driver was down in the middle of the freeway, with debris blocking the two left lanes.

CHP officers closed the freeway while the motorcycle driver was taken to a local hospital.

The driver was identified Sunday by the Orange County Coroner’s Office as Michael Larocque, 40, of Costa Mesa. He died at 2:31 a.m. at Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana.

CHP officials didn’t immediately say what led to the crash, or if any arrests were made. A CHP spokesperson was not immediately available for comment on Sunday.