A two vehicle accident took the life of a Bogalusa motorcycle rider on Saturday.

Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper First Class Roy Jacobsen said the accident was reported that morning just after 11. Just before the accident 51-year-old Louis Mayfield of Bogalusa, La. was riding his motorcycle northbound along Mississippi Highway 43 North with two or three other riders.

The accident occurred just north of Parker Chapel Road when for an unknown reason Mayfield crossed the center line in a curve and struck a southbound pickup truck head on, Jacobsen said.

Jacobsen said the impact of the accident caused the motorcycle to impale the engine compartment of the pickup and threw Mayfield from the motorcycle. Mayfield was pronounced on scene.

Another rider with the group saw Mayfield, who was in the rear of the group, leave his lane of travel and strike the oncoming pickup truck, Jacobsen said.

The driver of the pickup, 28-year-old Bret Gardner of Bogalusa and his 9-year-old and 3-year-old passengers, were transported for treatment of minor injuries, Jacobsen said.

Drugs and alcohol use are not suspected to be a factor on the part of Gardner. Jacobsen said a report is pending on whether there were contributing factors on the part of Mayfield.