A Cortez man died in a motorcycle crash Sunday northeast of Dolores.

Byron Vance Fish, 45, was traveling north when a pickup pulling a boat slowed down to make a right turn.

A second motorcycle traveling in front of Fish came to a stop for the pickup, but Fish lost control and crashed the bike, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

He was thrown off the motorcycle and pronounced dead at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez. He was not wearing a helmet, said Trooper Jonathan Silver.

“If he would have been wearing a helmet, it certainly would have helped,” Silver said.

His passenger, Anna Marie Fish, 34, suffered moderate injuries in the crash.

She was taken by ambulance to Southwest Memorial Hospital.

The crash was reported about 3 p.m. near mile post 24, about a half mile east of the Dunton junction, about 14 miles northeast of Dolores.

The Fishes were riding with William R. Bone, 61, also of Cortez. He received minor injuries in the crash. Bone is the father of Anna Fish.

Silver attributed the crash to distracted driving and possibly rider inexperience.

shane@durangoherald.com