California Man dies in Motorcycle Accident

FLAGSTAFF – A motorcycle collision that occurred Friday, August 29, 2014 at approximately 9:50 am on Lake Mary Road at Mile Post 327, east of the Flagstaff city limits claimed the life of 60 year old Glenn Gelman of Yorbalinda, California.

Dispatchers of the Flagstaff/Coconino County Regional 911 center received the call at 9:59 am. Deputies and detectives were dispatched to the scene and determined that for an unknown reason Mr. Gelman was driving his motorcycle west on Lake Mary Road when he lost control of his vehicle causing it to leave the roadway on the north side. The vehicle traveled a short distance and then flipped end over end at least once, possibly twice. According to witnesses following Mr. Gelman his speed was approximately 50 miles per hour and investigators did not find any evidence of sudden brake application. He was pronounced deceased at the scene of the collision.

At this stage in the investigation deputies have determined that Mr. Gelman was riding with a large group of other motorcycle enthusiasts who were participating in a cross country tour from Mexico to Canada called the SCMA Classic Three Flags. Prior to the collision while the tour group was stopped in Payson the victim told one of the other participants that he was not feeling well and felt tired and fatigued. Investigators are considering the possibility that Mr. Gelman suffered a medical emergency causing him to lose control of his motorcycle.

This investigation is being continued by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.