Wreck claims life of woman

State troopers are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash late Friday morning that claimed the life of an Aiken woman riding on the back of a 2001 Harley-Davidson.

Christie Valenzuela, 35, was thrown from the motorcycle about 11:50 a.m. and was airlifted to the Medical College of Georgia where she later died. Officials said she had severe head trauma.

She was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m., said Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton.

Valenzuela was the passenger on the motorcycle driven by her husband Michael Valenzuela, 40. He was taken by ambulance to MCG. He was injured; however, his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, officials said.

The couple was traveling west on Redds Branch Road when the 40-year-old man reportedly lost control of the motorcycle and the two were thrown off the bike, state troopers said.

Neither was wearing a helmet, according to highway patrol.

Investigators have not said specifically what caused the crash; however, state troopers said there was construction equipment being operated nearby on a dirt road. State troopers have few details to add. The crash is being called a single-vehicle crash at this time.

Carlton said Michael Valenzuela took an evasive action before the wreck, but the reasons behind his actions were not immediately clear.

The highway patrol's Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is investigating the crash.

This wreck is the 27th fatal crash in Aiken County this year, Carlton said.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.