***** 4/19/07 Update, See Below!

The California Highway Patrol is asking for the public’s help in its investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death of 29-year-old Christopher Lawrence Friedman, who was found dead on his lawn earlier this week.

The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office reported Wednesday that the Arcata man died from internal injuries he likely sustained during a motorcycle accident. A pathologist who performed an autopsy of Friedman’s body found that he had a ruptured spleen and lacerated lung and succumbed to his injuries outside his rural home, Coroner Frank Jager said Wednesday.

The Coroner’s Office reported finding Friedman’s pickup truck and motorcycle outside his home, with damage to the motorcycle and scratches to his helmet, Deputy Coroner Roy Horton said Wednesday.

Pieces of the motorcycle were found in the gravel in the area Friedman is believed to have crashed, Horton said.

“We know that the motorcycle had been in some sort of accident,” he said.
It’s believed that Friedman was involved in a motorcycle accident, went to a dance in Arcata Saturday night, then left at about 2 a.m. Sunday morning, the Coroner’s Office said.

The Humboldt Area CHP has begun an investigation to determine whether a traffic collision occurred, which caused his fatal injuries. Horton said evidence indicates Friedman was about three-quarters of a mile down the road from his house, at mile marker 4.75 on West End Road, when he was involved in an accident.

The CHP is asking any witnesses to a crash involving a motorcycle on West End Road on Saturday to contact its office at 707-822-5981 during business hours, or its after-business hours at 707-268-2000.

The body of Friedman, who lived in the 100 block of Willow Lane, which is just off West End Road, was found lying on his lawn at about 10:45 a.m. Monday by a delivery person.
If you can help, call the California Highway Patrol!

In my own experience as a California motorcycle accident lawyer, most motorcycle accident’s happen for whatever reason within 5 miles from the victim’s house. Bikers and motorcyclist should always ride defensively, even when they are close to arriving at home. You must always be vigilant!

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Christopher Lawrence.

**** 4/19/07 – Witness confirmed Man found dead was in crash

A witness has confirmed that Christopher Lawrence Friedman, 29, was in a motorcycle accident that may have led to his death, the California Highway Patrol said Friday.

Authorities had been a looking for a witness to confirm the accident after Friedman was found dead on his Arcata lawn Monday by a delivery person.

A witness came forward Thursday and said the accident was at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, but other details of the accident are not available yet, said Sgt. Matthew Larsen of the CHP.

”We’re still investigating, waiting on some information from the Sheriff’s Office,” Larsen said. The Sheriff’s Office first investigated the case, but turned it over to CHP when it was found that Friedman had possibly died from a motorcycle collision.

An autopsy showed Friedman had injuries consistent with an accident, including a ruptured spleen and a lacerated lung.

Humboldt County Coroner Frank Jager said Thursday Friedman likely didn’t realize the extent of his injuries and later went out with friends.

Jager added that he believed Friedman collapsed in front of his Willow Lane home after returning from a party sometime late Sunday night or early Monday morning.

The coroner said, according to the pathologist who performed Friedman’s autopsy, people who suffer a ruptured spleen can bleed out for 24 to 48 hours before succumbing to the injury.

California Motorcycle Accident Center