A motorcycle accident claimed the life of a Mt. Sterling man Monday afternoon on U.S. 62 northeast near the intersection of Cook-Yankeetown Road in Madison Township.

At 4:22 p.m., David A. Miller, 59, was riding a 2006 Harley-Davidson Sportster southbound on U.S. 62 and lost control of the vehicle, according to Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth. The motorcycle traveled off the right side of the roadway into the ditch, where it struck a large stone protruding from the ground.

Miller was ejected as the vehicle came to rest in the southbound lane of U.S. 62. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Fayette County Coroner Dr. Dennis Mesker.

Stanforth said the vehicle sustained disabling damage in the crash and was towed from the scene.

Members of the Sheriff’s Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene to assist in the crash investigation. Other agencies assisting at the scene were Fayette County EMS, the Tri-County Joint Fire District, Tri-County EMS, and the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The crash remains under investigation.