A 23-year-old motorcyclist was killed Wednesday afternoon after a sideswipe collision ejected him from his bike in Little Canada.

Robert T. Nelson, of Blaine, was traveling at high speed north on Interstate 35E when he switched lanes on his 2005 Suzuki Road Start, according to the State Patrol. Nelson passed a 2002 Audi S4 on the right and cut left sharply. Then the Audi cut left, clipping the motorcycle.

Nelson, who was wearing a helmet, lost control of the motorcycle and was ejected.

Officers from the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene at I-35E and Hwy. 36 around noon. Nelson was taken to St. Paul's Regions Hospital, where he later died.

The 57-year-old White Bear Lake man driving the Audi was uninjured.

LIZ SAWYER