UPDATE AT 3:42 P.M.: Man dies in motorcycle crash west of Clarkston

UPDATE AT 3:42 P.M.:

The Whitman County Sheriff's Office announced Saturday afternoon the person who died was Michael Auvil, 67, of Garfield.

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ORIGINAL STORY:

A motorcyclist who failed to negotiate a curve on Wawawai Road near Nisqually John Landing on Friday afternoon was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.

According to a news release from the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office, the male rider was eastbound and thrown from his motorcycle when it left the roadway near a railroad crossing and struck a guardrail. The department was notified of the crash at 1:30 p.m. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Drugs and alcohol are not suspected as a factor, according to the news release.

Sheriff deputies are still working to notify next of kin.