Two men were seriously injured in the metro-east in unrelated Interstate 255 crashes on Sunday and Monday.

A St. Louis man was seriously injured Sunday morning on Interstate 255 in Monroe County after his motorcycle struck a pickup truck.

Christopher T. Mueller, 37, was taken to St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Louis, according to an Illinois State Police news release.

Police cited Mueller for driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Witnesses told police Mueller was traveling northbound at a "very high rate of speed." The motorcycle hit the back of a pickup truck and Mueller was thrown from his motorcycle.

Both Mueller and the motorcycle skidded a few hundred feet. The motorcycle caught on fire and burned completely.

Mueller was wearing a helmet, police said.

The truck was driven by Robert F. Day, 82, of Florissant, Mo.

About 1:02 a.m. Monday, a Waxahachie, Texas, man was airlifted to St. Louis University Hospital after his vehicle struck a concrete bridge base.

Police said Ronald E. Little, 32, was northbound on Interstate 255 in Madison County approaching Wagon Wheel Road.

The conventional cab truck left the roadway into the grass median, went under the interstate and across Wheel Wagon Road, and then struck the bridge base.

Police cited Little for improper lane usage and illegal transportation of alcohol.