Man killed in Dunes accident over the weekend
A 54-year-old Chandler man was killed Friday following an accident within the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area west of Yuma.
The death was announced Monday in a press release issued by the California Highway Patrol, which investigated the accident.
According to the CHP, Michael Ryan was driving his 2009 Kawasaki quad in the dunes north of Interstate 8 and east of Gordon's Well, when the accident happened.
CHP reports that Ryan was traveling at an unsafe speed when he drove over a 30-foot high razorback and went airborne. A razorback is the peak of a sand dune slope that sharply drops off on the back side.
Ryan was thrown from the quad when it struck sand at the bottom of the dune and he received fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ryan was not wearing a helmet or using safety restraints. It is unknown if alcohol was a factor. The accident is still under investigation.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter at @YSJamesGilbert.
