 An early morning Sunday morning motorcycle crash has claimed the life of a 53 year old rice man. That crash happened on Partridge Road about 10 miles southeast of Pierce. The Morrison County Sheriff's Office says 53 year old Jay Saldana was driving a Harley Davidson motorcycle on Partridge Road when he tried to avoid a deer. Saldana and his passenger 52 year old Kim Gross of St. Cloud were both thrown from the motorcycle after colliding with the deer. Saldana was taken to St. Cloud Hospital where he later died from his injuries. Gross was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale where her condition is unknown. Both parties were not wearing helmets.