Elk Creek man dies in cycle crash
An Elk Creek man died Saturday after crashing his motorcycle and plunging nearly 40 feet off the Stony Creek Bridge.
Joseph Nuckolls, 37, was riding a 1983 Honda Nighthawk motorcycle northbound on County Road 306 at about 55 mph. He tried to turn into the eastbound lane on the Stony Creek Bridge when he lost control and hit the bridge wall, ejecting him over, according to the California Highway Patrol.
“There was an odor of alcoholic beverage on his person,” Sheriff’s Sgt. Todd James said at the scene.
Chad Davidson of Willows said he saw Nuckolls drinking alcohol prior to the accident.
Davidson said he, Nuckolls and another man were going from Elk Creek to Stony Gorge Reservoir at the time of the crash. They had planned to spend the day at the lake, he said.
No other people were involved in the collision.
Nuckolls was held at the scene for several minutes in an ambulance while the life-flight helicopter was dispatched.
He died several hours later at Enloe Medical Center in Chico, a nursing supervisor confirmed Saturday.
