LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Redwood Valley woman died in a motorcycle crash on Highway 20 near Upper Lake on Sunday, October 1, at 11:15 a.m.
Michelle Deniese Hatcher-Berndt, 57, was found unresponsive near the base of a steep embankment following the incident, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Emergency personnel attempted life-saving measures but pronounced her deceased at the scene.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that Hatcher-Berndt was traveling eastbound on Highway 20 when her motorcycle drifted off the roadway, striking a raised curb. The motorcycle then traveled up an embankment, ejecting her as it became airborne.
Witnesses reported Hatcher-Berndt fell down the embankment, coming to rest among foliage east of Schuette Road. The preliminary investigation is ongoing, and it remains unclear if drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.
The CHP’s Clear Lake Area office is handling the investigation. Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact the CHP at 707-281-5200.