PHILADELPHIA, PA — A 33-year-old motorcyclist died after crashing on an elevated Interstate 95 exit ramp and falling to the street below in Philadelphia’s Old City neighborhood, according to police.
The crash happened just before 11 p.m. Monday on the ramp from I-95 south to I-676 west. Police later identified the rider as Karl Kirschner of Pottstown, Pennsylvania.
Investigators say Kirschner was found unresponsive at Callowhill and 2nd streets, still wearing his motorcycle helmet. He was taken to Jefferson University Hospital, where he later died.
Police found the rider below the ramp near Callowhill and 2nd streets
Philadelphia police said they first located Kirschner on the street below the elevated roadway. He was found at the intersection of Callowhill and 2nd streets after the crash on the ramp above.
Authorities said he was still wearing his helmet when officers found him. That detail suggests he was thrown from the motorcycle during the collision and landed below the ramp.
The crash site sits in Old City, an area with heavy traffic and multiple elevated roadways near the Delaware River corridor. Police have not said how long after the crash they reached the scene.
State police found the motorcycle on the ramp shoulder
After searching the area, Pennsylvania State Police located Kirschner’s motorcycle on the right shoulder of the elevated ramp from I-95 south to I-676 west. That finding helped investigators piece together where the crash began.
Police say their investigation indicates Kirschner crashed on the ramp and was ejected from the motorcycle before landing on the street below. Officials did not say whether the bike struck a barrier or another object.
No information has been released about the motorcycle’s speed or any mechanical problems. Investigators also have not identified any witnesses.
No word yet on whether another vehicle was involved
Police said it is still unclear whether any other vehicles were involved in the crash. They also have not said what caused the motorcycle to leave the roadway.
The lack of immediate answers leaves open questions about whether traffic, roadway conditions, or another factor played a role. For now, investigators are treating the case as an active death investigation tied to the ramp crash.
Philadelphia police and Pennsylvania State Police are both involved in the inquiry. Officials have not announced any charges or citations.
Kirschner was taken to Jefferson University Hospital and died there
Emergency responders transported Kirschner to Jefferson University Hospital after the crash. He later died there from his injuries.
Police identified him as a resident of Pottstown, about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia. No additional personal details were released.
The timing of the crash, late on a Monday night, placed it on one of the city’s busiest highway connectors, where I-95 and I-676 meet near Old City.
The investigation continues as authorities reconstruct the crash
The incident remains under investigation, and police have not released a final determination on the sequence of events. They are still working to understand exactly how Kirschner lost control and how he ended up on the street below.
Because the motorcycle was found on the ramp shoulder and the rider on the roadway underneath, investigators will likely continue examining the elevated exit structure, the bike, and any available witness information.
For now, officials have confirmed only the basic facts: a single rider died after a crash on the elevated ramp, and the cause has not yet been explained.
