Motorcyclist dead, several injured after two major wrecks on 2222

Around 9 Friday morning a gravel truck left 2222 and came crashing down into the grassy area below.

"Some citizens jumped down there and helped extricate him out of the vehicle and get him away from it before it caught fire," said Austin Police Corporal Chad Martinka.

4 were taken to the hospital with injuries.

Martinka says about an hour later a speeding motorcycle was spotted in the Steiner Ranch area.

"An officer with the Travis County Constables Office Precinct 2 was up on FM 620 whenever a motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed passed him.  The officer attempted to pull out after the motorcycle...the motorcycle sped off and was last seen heading down 2222," Martinka said.

Martinka says it was not considered a chase because the officer wasn't following him closely.  Soon the officer came upon the motorcycle wrecked on top of the 2222 hill.  The motorcyclist -- a man in his 30's was pronounced dead on scene.

"The other crash with the dump truck, that's kind of in itself un-ordinary.  So we're dealing with that, shutting down the roadways, then you have something else that happens right down the road."

Martinka says witnesses reported seeing the motorcycle weaving in and out of traffic.

"Even if you're driving a motorcycle, you still must obey all the laws and that means you're not allowed to pass between vehicles, you can't ride down the center stripes, anything like that.  You're treated just like any other vehicle on the roadway," Martinka said.