Clovis motorcyclist dies in crash

A Clovis motorcyclist died in a one-vehicle accident May 12 on Highway 469 south of San Jon.

According to a news release Monday from the Quay County Sheriff Russell Shafer, the accident occurred between mile markers 14 and 15 on the highway, at the descent from the caprock.

The report didn’t identify the motorcycle’s driver. A worker at Muffley Funeral Home in Clovis confirmed the victim was Jared McDaniel, 25, of Clovis.

A sheriff’s deputy reported the wreckage and driver were in the northbound lanes. The driver was bleeding from the head and conscious, but no one could understand what he was saying.

An investigation revealed the driver was traveling north on the highway when his vehicle began to skid on the asphalt as the road began to curve. It appeared the motorcycle crashed into a guardrail, then crashed again on the roadway.

Authorities set up a landing zone at the top of the caprock so a medical helicopter could transport the victim. Medical personnel there began to perform CPR on the victim but he soon showed no signs of life. The Office of the Medical Examiner declared him dead at 4 p.m.

The deputy reported McDaniel emanated an odor of alcoholic beverage. Officers also found a nearly empty bottle of Fireball cinnamon whiskey at the crash scene.

McDaniel’s body was scheduled to undergo an autopsy and toxicology tests.