Washington man dies in Mendocino County crash

A Washington man died after a motorcycle crash Friday morning in Mendocino County.

Robert Bradley Knowles, 67, of SeaTac, Washington, was driving his 2013 Kawasaki ZG1400 south on Highway 1 between Leggett and Fort Bragg about 10:35 a.m. when he went off the east edge of the road, down an embankment and hit a tree, the CHP said. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Fire officials walked 50 to 60 feet down the embankment, which was about ?2 miles from the intersection of Highway 101 and Highway 1, Leggett-based Cal Fire Capt. Michael ?Sacheli said.

Knowles was put on a backboard and pulled up the hill using ropes and a basket system, Sacheli said.

Knowles, who was still alive, was taken by ambulance to a nearby school, Sacheli said. He was flown to the Mercy Medical Center in Redding, where he was pronounced dead at 1:33 p.m., the CHP said.

He was with other motorcyclists, but it wasn’t clear who reported the crash, Sacheli said. No further information was available Friday.

You can reach Staff Writer Hannah Beausang at 707-521-5214 or hannah.beausang@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @hannahbeausang.