A motorcycle rider died in a crash on U.S. 36 on Monday morning.

The crash happened about 4:38 a.m. in the westbound lanes of the Boulder Turnpike near Colorado Highway 121, Broomfield police said.

Broomfield Police, Colorado State Patrol and North Metro Fire Rescue District responded to the incident.

The motorcycle driver, a 31-year-old man, was taken to a local hospital where he was pronoucned dead on arrival, police said.

Investigators said the motorcycle was westbound when it hit a guardrail.

The fatal crash and the ongoing traffic investigation shut down the westbound lanes of the highway from Church Ranch Boulevard to Highway 121 about five hours. The highway reopened about 10:20 a.m.

The name of the victim was not released.