Jamestown man killed in crash liked riding

A Jamestown man killed Wednesday evening in a motorcycle accident was a lifelong Tuolumne County resident who enjoyed the outdoors and riding, according to family members.

John Christopher Hyde, 50, who went by the name “Chris,” died of injuries he sustained after his red 2000 Honda XR 650 motorcycle went off the road and struck a power pole on Highway 49 near Sims Road.

His sister, Lori Hyde, of Groveland, said she heard about her brother’s death when a friend came across the wreck and called her about 8:14 p.m.

“At this point, we’re just trying to get through it,” Lori Hyde said about the loss of her brother.

Hyde grew up in Groveland with his sisters, Lori, Debbie and Pam, and his parents who have since died, according to his sister. 

After graduating from Sonora Union High School, Hyde pursued a career in construction. He helped build the Groveland Public Library and most recently worked as a construction worker at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, Lori Hyde said.

About a week after his 50th birthday last October, Hyde suffered a heart attack that forced him to go on disability. His sister said one of Hyde’s main goals before his death was to get his medical issues in order so he could be cleared to go back to work.

She said Hyde was unmarried and didn’t have any kids, but one of his favorite things to do was spend time with his 12-year-old nephew, Decoda Allen.

He also enjoyed fishing and riding his motorcycle, Lori Hyde said, but was never much of a risk-taker when it came to riding.

According to California Highway Patrol, Hyde was riding his street-legal dirt bike on a closed portion of the road when he clipped a temporary construction barricade with the front tire and right handle bar of the motorcycle, causing him veer off the left side of the road and into a wooden power pole.

Hyde was wearing a helmet at the time of the wreck and died on impact due to blunt force trauma, CHP said. 

CHP said there was no indication that drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crash.

Lori Hyde said the timeline leading up to his death is still unknown pending a full investigation by CHP.

Lori said that she and her sister, Pam, also of Groveland, were awaiting the arrival of their sister Debbie, who lives in Ventura, before making plans for services.

She said arrangements are being handled by Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home.