Police are investigating what led to a deadly motorcycle crash in south Minneapolis early Thursday.

A motorcyclist traveling west on E. 26th Street collided with a vehicle traveling north on Cedar Avenue about 1:20 a.m., said Sgt. William Palmer, a Minneapolis Police Department spokesman.

The motorcyclist, whose identity has not been released, was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center and later died.

A passenger in the vehicle also was injured, Palmer said.

Authorities from the State Patrol were called to the scene to map the crash site. Palmer said it was too early to tell how the crash happened.

State authorities have been concerned with a spike in motorcycle deaths so far this year.

Tim Harlow