A Surry County man died Saturday after losing control of his motorcycle on Laurel Springs Church Road near Pine Ridge.

Daniel Lynn Davis, 51, of Rogers Trail in State Road, apparently was killed instantly in the single-vehicle accident after his bike left the road and struck a fence about 12:50 p.m., according to the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Speed is believed to be a factor in the fatal crash that happened 6.5 miles west of Mount Airy just off Pine Ridge Road, said Trooper R.Y. Ellison, who explained that there were no witnesses to the accident.

Davis, who was westbound and riding alone on a larger Kawasaki that Ellison said resembled a Harley-Davidson, entered a curve and “just laid the bike down.” While he appeared to be going about 55 mph, which the trooper said was too fast for the curve, gravel on the roadway could have contributed to the crash.

After the motorcycle went down, it skidded about 100 feet and into a fence of tightly strung wire. The Kawasaki continued along the row of fence posts but did not actually break through the barrier, the trooper said.

“He was ejected from the bike,” Ellison said of Davis, who possibly suffered a broken neck.

Someone passing by noticed the wrecked motorcycle, but the victim was already dead.

“It’s just very sad,” said Ellison, who added that Saturday’s fatality emphasizes the need for motorcyclists to be particularly careful when riding through curves, which can pose special hazards to two-wheel vehicles.

“You never know what’s around the corner,” the trooper said.

The Surry County Emergency Medical Service responded to the accident scene.

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.