A motorcycle crash Friday afternoon in West Mahanoy Township claimed the life of a Girardville man.

The crash happened around 1:15 p.m. on Raven Run Road, about 1½ miles west of Shenandoah Heights.Christopher M. Lawson, 38, of 26 E. Ogden St. was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:35 p.m. by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Andrew Szczyglak, Shenandoah.West Mahanoy Township Police Chief Marvin Livergood said the crash happened as Lawson was driving a motorcycle west on Raven Run Road when for some reason he lost control and went onto the right hand berm of the road.The motorcycle continued west hitting a tree and several rocks before coming to a stop off of the westbound lane.Lawson was thrown from the motorcycle and found several feet away on the opposite side of a dirt embankment.Shenandoah ALS and Shenandoah Police assisted at the scene while firefighters from Shenandoah Heights and William Penn shut down Raven Run Road in their respective areas.