Two dead following separate motorcycle crashes in Billings area

UPDATE 10:30 a.m. Wednesday

The Montana Highway Patrol reports that one of the motorcyclists killed was attempting to pass another vehicle on the shoulder at a high rate of speed at the time of the crash.

According to a report released Wednesday morning, a 48-year-old man from Livingston died in the crash on U.S. Highway 87 north of Billings. The man's name has not been released.

The patrol said the man was riding a Harley Davidson FLTRX northbound "at a high rate of speed and attempted to pass on the shoulder. The driver then realized a saddle bag came open and attempted to close it."

The motorcycle then crossed the north and southbound lanes, the patrol report states, and went off the west side of the road. The rider was thrown from the motorcycle and life-saving efforts at the scene were not successful.

A 67-year-old Billings man was identified as the rider who died in the crash on Interstate 94 east of Billings. His name has also not yet been released.

The patrol report states the man was riding a Harley Davidson FXBB eastbound "when the driver lost control and hit a guardrail." He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Neither rider was wearing a helmet, according to the patrol reports.

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BILLINGS - Two people died Tuesday after separate motorcycle crashes near Billings.

The most recent happened around 3:15 p.m.

According to the Montana Highway Patrol, the single-vehicle crash happened on Interstate 94 east near mile marker one.

The first one occurred around 10:45 Tuesday morning.

That was also a single motorcycle crash, happening on U.S. Highway 87 on the road to Roundup at mile marker 16.

No other details regarding the accidents have been released.