Fife Lake Man Dies in Kalkaska County Motorcycle Crash

A Fife Lake motorcyclist died Thursday afternoon after hitting a downed tree in Springfield Township, according to the Kalkaska County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies say a truck was stopped in Ingersoll Road for a tree that fell on the road. That’s when Howard Leach, 79, of Fife Lake, swerved to avoid the stopped truck.

Leach then hit the tree and was thrown from the motorcycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene and was not wearing a helmet, according to deputies.

Speed was a factor in the crash, and the incident remains under investigation.