Spring Lake Park man seriously injured following motorcycle crash east of Tappen

(Tappen, ND) -- A Spring Lake Park man is seriously injured following a motorcycle crash involving a semi about six miles east of Tappen.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol says 53-year-old Spring Lake Park resident Lee Wegener was traveling west on I-94 with his motorcycle in the right lane. He was being passed by a semi truck driven by 58-year-old Regent resident Tyler Austin in the left lane, who was pulling a grain trailer. While the semi was passing Wegener, his motorcycle swerved into the left lane and struck Austin's semi, causing Wegener to lose control and be ejected from the motorcycle. Wegener was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Wegner was transported to Sanford Air, and eventually taken to Sanford Hospital in Bismarck with serious injures. Austin was not hurt in the crash. 

The incident remains under investigation by the North Dakota Highway Patrol.