Biker dies in crash on I-85

A 21-year-old Gaffney man was killed early Saturday when his motorcycle struck a cable barrier on I-85.

Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler identified the victim as James Floyd Guthrie of 1339 Wilcox Avenue.

Guthrie was the operator of a 2006 Kawasaki motorcycle that was headed south on I-85 at 3 a.m., said Lance Cpl. Josef Robinson of the S.C. Highway Patrol.

Guthrie lost control of the motorcycle as he was headed downhill just south of the South Carolina Highway 18 interchange, Robinson said. Guthrie ran off the left side of the roadway and entered the median where he struck and dislodged three cable barriers.

Robinson said Guthrie was not wearing a helmet and going faster than the posted 65 mile per hour speed limit at the time of the crash.

Guthrie's body was found near his motorcycle. The coroner pronounced Guthrie dead at the scene.

Guthrie suffered multiple body trauma, Fowler said. Toxicology tests have been ordered by the coroner to assist with the accident investigation.

Guthrie becomes Cherokee County's 12th traffic fatality this year.