Passenger dies in fall from motorcycle on I-35 in Forest Lake

A passenger on a motorcycle died early Friday when she fell off the back of the cycle in Forest Lake.

Ena M. Bhatia, 21, of St. Paul, died at 4:43 a.m. when she fell off the Harley-Davidson cycle as it headed north on Interstate 35 near Hwy. 97. The cycle's driver, Myles Eckman, 23, of St. Paul, fled the scene but was later taken into custody, the patrol said.

Alcohol use was detected in Bhatia and Eckman, the patrol said. Eckman was wearing a helmet, it said, but it did not say if Bhatia was.

Roads were dry at the time, the patrol said.

STAFF REPORT