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A motorcycle accident Saturday afternoon in the northeast section of Yellowstone National Park has claimed the life of an Illinois man.
Jay Fitzgerald and two companions had rented motorcycles for a loop trip from Belgrade, Montana, through the park, over the Beartooth Pass, and back.
The 53-year-old Downs, Illinois man was trailing the other two riders as they headed east past the turnoff to the Slough Creek Campground into the Lamar Canyon around 3:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Fitzgerald’s red Harley-Davidson struck a rock wall at the east end of the canyon. While the motorcycle remained on the road, Fitzgerald went over the rock wall and down an embankment. There were no witnesses to the accident.
Fitzgerald was unconscious and not breathing when bystanders reached him. The helmet he was wearing had come off, and he suffered severe head trauma. Fitzgerald was declared dead at the scene.
