Crash claims life of motorcyclist in Newport Beach

A male motorcyclist was killed early Saturday morning when he struck the center divider on West Coast Highway in Newport Beach, officials said.

The crash, reported at 2:41 a.m., occurred west of Superior Avenue, police said.

Ammar Sherbini, 31, of Santa Ana, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Orange County Coroner’s officer.

A news photographer on the scene told City News Service the rider had been thrown into a palm tree in the center divider and the bike had ended up several hundred feet from the point of impact.

All but one lane of Coast Highway was closed for a while after the accident.

Newport police Sgt. Steve Rasmussen said there were no other vehicles involved.

— Jean Merl and Jeremiah Dobruck

Merl writes for the Los Angeles Times.