By Deb Nicklay, Mason City Globe Gazette

NORTHWOOD, Iowa — A 44-year-old Northwood man died early Saturday after apparently losing control of his motorcycle on a Worth County road.

James Eugene Mills was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, Mills was northbound on Wheelerwood Avenue about 2:45 a.m. As he approached a left-hand curve, Mills crossed from the paved portion of the road to the gravel portion of 475th Street.

The cycle then left the roadway to the left, where Mills apparently lost control of the motorcycle on a wet, grassy shoulder and went into the ditch.

Mills was thrown from the motorcycle. The cycle came to rest on its right side in the ditch, facing northwest. Mills was found facedown about 10 feet south of the motorcycle.

Troopers arrived about 35 minutes later.