Police say a motorcyclist died early Saturday morning after he crashed in Winter Haven.

According to Winter Haven police, shortly before 3 a.m., a driver on U.S. 17 spotted a sport motorcycle and the rider lying beside it in the grassy area just past the intersection with Avenue G SE.

Police said it appears as though the rider, identified as Marcus Allen Murray, 28, of Lake Alfred, was riding north on U.S. 17 on a 1999 Yahama R6 when he failed to negotiate a curve.

The motorcycle left the road, jumped a concrete curb, then hit a tree. Police said Murray was wearing a helmet at the time, and that speed appears to be a factor in the crash.

The investigation continues.