Spring Valley

A motorcycle rider traveling along a Spring Valley street at high speed Saturday afternoon lost control and hit a utility pole. He was thrown off the motorcycle and died after he struck a guide wire and was cut in two, a California Highway Patrol spokeswoman said.

The unidentified cyclist was traveling west on Valencia Street, witnesses said, at about 65 m.p.h. in a 25-m.p.h. zone when he attempted to pass a car at Central Avenue, lost control and struck the utility pole.

The man was described as in his 20s, of medium build and with fairly short brown hair and a sparse mustache. He carried no identification, the CHP spokeswoman said. He had a tattoo of Pegasus, the winged horse, on his right shoulder, she said.

Deputy Coroner David Lodge said the man also had a tattoo on his left arm containing a scroll, a crucifix and the number 74.