An Albert Lea man was seriously injured early this morning after he crashed his motorcycle two miles north of Albert Lea in Bancroft Township.

Christopher Michael Edwards, 22, was reportedly transported by Gold Cross Ambulance to Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and then transported by helicopter to a hospital in Rochester.

A Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office news release stated Edwards was discovered at about 5:35 a.m. today.

Authorities received a call at 4:30 a.m. today from family and friends that Edwards had not returned home. He was last seen at a friend’s house at 11 p.m. Wednesday.

Authorities searched the route Edwards would likely have traveled home when they discovered Edwards and his 1973 Honda motorcycle in the southwest ditch of the intersection of 250th Street and Freeborn County Road 22.

The release stated evidence indicates Edwards was traveling south on County Road 22 when he failed to negotiate a curve. The motorcycle appeared to have entered the ditch and flipped twice, throwing Edwards off the motorcycle.

He was not wearing a helmet and suffered life-threatening head injuries.

The Sheriff’s Office stated alcohol is believed to be a factor in the cause of the crash.