A 29-year-old Watsonville man died Thursday evening when he lost control of his motorcycle and smashed into a fence.
California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said officers responded to a report of a crash on Buena Vista Drive west of Bradford Road.
The man, identified as Christopher Padilla, was riding a red 2000 Harley-Davidson FXR westbound on Buena Vista Drive west of Bradford Road at about 6:15pm at an undetermined speed.
For unknown reasons, the Harley-Davidson veered off the roadway and collided with a metal fence. Padilla was then ejected in a southerly direction and suffered major injuries when he collided with a dirt embankment. He was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel despite lifesaving efforts, Murillo said.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation. It is unknown if alcohol and/or drugs are factors in the crash.
