River Road High-Speed Crash on Fourth of July Kills One, Injures Two

A motorcyclist died around 4 p.m. on the Fourth of July when he collided with a minivan, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Witnesses say that the 31-year-old Tacoma motorcyclist Eric Markle was driving east on River Road at approximately 100 mph and doing a wheelie when he hit the westbound van, which was turning into the Ill Eagle Fireworks Stand.

Markle's motorcycle struck the right front passenger door, according to the report.

The van had four occupants -- two adults and two children. 24-year-old Fife resident Joshua Richards and front-seat passenger, 25-year-old Sherilyn Taylor of Bothell, were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The two children, ages 3 and 5, were unharmed.

Markle was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the accident is still pending investigation.