Fatal off-road crash

A Fort Jones man died of injuries after his motorcycle crashed into a ravine at the north end of Trinity Lake on Friday, the California Highway Patrol said.

Joshua J. Farmer, 30, had been riding the Suzuki motorcycle in an area of the lake which is normally underwater but is used by offroad vehicles when the lake is low.

Farmer was riding at an unsafe speed and apparently did not see the drop-off into an 18-foot-deep crevasse ahead, the CHP said.

The dirt bike went airborne and did not make it across the 27-foot span, falling violently to the bottom. Farmer's helmet strap was not secure, and the helmet came off as he was ejected, the CHP said.

Farmer was transported by CHP helicopter to Mercy Medical Center with critical injuries, and he later died.