MORGAN COUNTY, Ind. -- A 19-year-old motorcyclist was killed Wednesday night when he was thrown into traffic after hitting an oncoming car, state police said.

The crash happened just after 10 p.m. on State Road 42 at Cooney Road in Morgan County.

Police said Jesse M. Gerst, 19, of Lafayette, was driving his motorcycle eastbound on State Road 42 when a vehicle coming westbound began to turn onto Cooney Road.

Gerst's motorcycle struck the back of that vehicle -- driven by Megan Ward, 20, of Martinsville -- and he was thrown from the bike.

The motorcycle then struck another car driven by Meredith Iliff, 58, of Monrovia.

Gerst was pronounced dead shortly after the crash. Ward was transported to Morgan County Hospital & Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, while Iliff was treated at the scene.

Police said Gerst was wearing a helmet. Witnesses said he was speeding at the time of the crash.