A 66-year-old Waianae man died last night when his motorcycle skidded into the back of a police car on the H-1 freeway near Makakilo, police said.

The Medical Examiner’s Office identified him as Marvin Lee.

The crash occurred just before 8 p.m. Traffic investigators said an officer stopped on the freeway to assist a stalled motorist. The officer’s unmarked, 2004 Ford Explorer had its strobe lights on in the left town-bound lane just before the Campbell Industrial Park off-ramp.

Police said the victim, riding a 2004 black Harley Davidson motorcycle, skidded into the back of the Explorer. 

The motorcyclist suffered “massive trauma,” police said. Paramedics took him to the Hawaii Medical Center West, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, police said.

The 39-year-old police officer was about 100 feet from his vehicle assisting a motorist when the crash happened, investigators said.

The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet. Police said it is unknown if speeding or alcohol were factors in the crash.

Police closed the westbound lanes of the freeway near the Makakilo off-ramp and motorists were directed around the scene at the Makakilo off-ramp. The freeway re-opened at about 11:30 p.m.

The crash marked the 58th traffic death in Honolulu this year compared to 55 in all of last year.