Beloved Redwood Valley mom and church member dies in Sunday crash on State Route 20
A Mendocino County woman died Sunday morning after her motorcycle went off Highway 20 just west of Blue Lake and struck a curb.
Michelle Deniese Hatcher‑Berndt, 57, of Redwood Valley is being widely remembered by her many friends, her church family at House of Freedom, and her relatives.
The tragedy occurred at 11:15 a.m. Sunday. Many fellow motorcyclists were on the road at the same time, returning from Fort Bragg to Stonyford as part of the Oakland Motorcycle Club’s 30th annual run. The ride loops from the remote Colusa County town of Stonyford around Clear Lake, up to Fort Bragg, and back — and on Sunday, riders were making the return leg when the unrelated crash happened.
One of the riders stopped to help — a member with medical training — along with others at the scene. They were performing CPR when officers arrived, and police also attempted to assist.
The CHP said its preliminary investigation found that Hatcher‑Berndt was traveling eastbound on Highway 20, approaching Shuette Road, at an unknown speed. Her motorcycle drifted off the south edge of the roadway and struck a raised asphalt curb, according to the CHP.
The report said the motorcycle traveled up an embankment and became briefly airborne, ejecting Hatcher‑Berndt. She tumbled down a steep embankment on the east side of Schuette Road and came to rest in bushes at the bottom of the hill.
Hatcher‑Berndt was later pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel, the CHP said.
A large number of church and community friends expressed shock and love after the crash, posting tributes on social media. House of Freedom is a Pentecostal congregation.
I am still in a bit of disbelief about it all. Michelle you will be so missed and yes I will keep after Kim per your request. For those that don’t know she is a cousin to Bobby’s brother’s wife(small world)
May she rest in peace. My condolences to Michelle‘s, family and friends and the house of freedom church. May the Lord grant you strength, peace, and comfort. During this time I met her for a short time she was a blessing. She’s gone home. I miss rejoicing with her heavenly father. 
What an amazing friend with a heart of gold. She protected what she loved and her laughter was contagious. My heart is heavy that we won’t get her here on this side of heaven anymore but my would rejoices she is home in Fathers arms
A graduate of Chico State, Michelle lived in Livermore before moving to Redwood Valley. She worked at radio stations as a specialist in the internet.
On a familiar stretch of Highway 20, the day grew a little heavier. The community extends its condolences to her family and friends.
