The crash happened near the Rocky Hill line about 1:40 p.m., they said. Paulinton Johnson, 37, of Burnside Avenue was pronounced dead at the scene.
State police said he was headed north in the highway’s left lane, near Exit 23, when he lost control of his 2006 Honda CBR600RR and went off the road, striking a wire rope guardrail on the left side of the highway. They said they don’t know what caused him to lose control.
Troopers shut down part of the highway as they gathered evidence from the scene and took measurements. Vehicles were diverted off Exit 21, and traffic was backed up for miles.