A New Brighton man died Friday night after his motorcycle hit a car attempting to merge onto Interstate 35W near downtown Minneapolis.

According to the State Patrol, Gordon Wayne Zieman, 61, struck a Toyota Camry in the northbound lanes of I-35W at around 10:20 p.m. Friday. Authorities said the Camry was trying to merge onto the freeway from the right shoulder when Zieman's motorcycle lost control and rear-ended the car.

"The motorcycle was then projected towards the left shoulder and the Camry came to rest on the right shoulder, just west of Washington Avenue South," according to a news release. The accident shut down traffic on 35W for some time.

The 20-year-old driver of the Camry was not injured. Authorities said no further information would be available Saturday.

Staff writer Paul Walsh contributed to this story.