A 56-year-old Illinois man, Joe Lees, died in a motorcycle accident on Wyoming Highway 120 near Cody on the evening of October 5.
The crash occurred around 7:03 p.m. as Lees, riding a rental motorcycle, failed to adjust his speed when the highway’s speed limit dropped, according to the Wyoming Highway Patrol.
The accident happened at milepost 101.3 on Depot Drive, where the speed limit transitions from 70 mph to lower limits of 45 mph and 35 mph. Lees continued straight through a curve in the road, which led to his motorcycle striking a concrete curb. The motorcycle veered onto the sidewalk, hitting a metal delineator post. The impact separated Lees from the bike, which then crashed through a right-of-way fence and tumbled down a steep embankment.
Investigators believe speed was a likely factor in the crash. Weather conditions were clear, and the road was dry at the time, eliminating inclement conditions as a cause. Lees was not wearing a helmet during the incident. No other vehicles were involved, and the Wyoming Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation.
With input from Oil City News.
