The motorcyclist was involved in the second of two collisions that occurred within minutes of each other just south of Dore Avenue, CHP Officer Curtis Glace said.
In the first crash, reported at 5:12 a.m., the driver of a silver Toyota Corolla apparently fell asleep at the wheel and veered left, crashing into the center divider, Glace said.
A short time later, a second collision occurred that involved the motorcyclist, a Honda CR-V and possibly a big-rig, Glace said.
The motorcyclist was ejected from his bike and died at the scene, Glace said.
The driver of the Toyota was taken to a hospital as a precaution, he said. No one else was injured.
It is not yet clear how the second accident happened, but Glace said the motorists involved might have lost control while trying to avoid the first crash.
Witnesses told the CHP that a big-rig was involved in the second crash, but that driver did not stop at the scene, Glace said.
"We're not sure if the big-rig knows they're involved," he said.
Three lanes were shut down after the crash, and traffic was backed up for miles. The lanes reopened at about 7:15 a.m.
