SCOTT CITY MAN DIES IN CYCLE ACCIDENT

A Scott City man was killed early Friday when his motorcycle skidded out of control on Southern Expressway and South Kingshighway.

Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Carpenter identified the victim as Thomas E. Johnson, 40, of 222 W. Cherry. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner at 3:34 a.m.

Carpenter said Johnson was traveling west on Southern Expressway on his motorcycle and as he approached the intersection he apparently failed to negotiate a slight curve. He said he was headed for the concrete traffic island at the east end of the intersection and locked the brakes, causing the cycle to skid out of control.

Johnson was thrown from the cycle and struck the steel sign post at the end of the traffic island, said Carpenter. Death was due to massive trauma to the chest, he said.

Sgt. Al Moore of the Cape Girardeau Police Department's traffic division said Johnson's death was the first traffic-related fatality this year in Cape Girardeau.

Moore said police are still looking into the circumstances surrounding the accident.