A Murfreesboro man died in a motorcycle crash on State Highway 96 (Dale Ridge Road) Wednesday afternoon
Dead is 41 year old William Ellis, Jr.
Central dispatch received the call at 3:55 p.m.
Trooper Todd Logan of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that Ellis, operating a 2005 Yamaha motorcycle, was traveling south on Highway 96 (Dale Ridge Road) when he failed to negotiate a curve, left the road, went down an embankment, and struck a tree. Ellis, who was wearing a helmet, was thrown from the bike. According to Trooper Logan, the motorcycle traveled approximately 150 feet from where it began to leave the highway to the place where it came to rest. The crash occurred less than a mile from Highway 70 on Dale Ridge Road.
Two other motorcycle operators were riding ahead of Ellis on Dale Ridge Road prior to the crash. Neither witnessed the accident but one of bikers happened to glance in his rear view mirror and noticed that Ellis was no longer following behind them. As the two bikers got to Highway 70, they turned back and began looking for Ellis near where they last spotted him. After searching by bike and on foot without success, they called 911 and deputies and DeKalb EMS arrived on the scene.
Ellis’ motorcycle and his lifeless body were later discovered by a deputy while conducting a foot search in the area.
Deputy Medical Examiner Terry Martin and members of the county volunteeer fire department also came to the scene.
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