Man identified in deadly crash on Highway 74

The death of a motorcyclist on Highway 74 in Mountain Center was blamed today on the rider speeding and crossing the center line on a curvy mountain highway, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Robert Knight, 34, of Beaumont, was killed when he failed to negotiate a right turn and his bike went under an oncoming minivan, the CHP and the coroner said.

Dispatchers received a 911 call at 9:45 a.m. Saturday about the fatal crash, on Highway 74 west of McCall Park Road.

Knight’s 2003 Honda sport bike crossed over the solid double yellow lines and plowed into a 2007 Toyota Sienna carrying a 16-year-old boy approached the curve at about 40 mph in the westbound lane. Knight.

Knight was pronounced dead at the scene. The 51-year-old driver of the minivan and his teen-age passenger escaped injury, CHP officials said.