A motorcyclist died in a crash east of Mankato, bringing to nine the number of riders who have died on Minnesota roads this month.

The latest crash occurred about 3:45 p.m. Monday at the intersection of Hwy. 22 and South Victory Drive, according to the State Patrol.

Killed was motorcyclist Jeni J. Johnson, 35, of Vernon Center, Minn. The patrol said Johnson was thrown from the motorcycle and was not wearing a helmet.

Johnson was the ninth motorcycle rider to die this month and the 48th to die this year. The number of fatalities this year already has surpassed the 42 for all of last year. August was the deadliest month, when 10 riders were killed.

In Monday's crash, according to the patrol:

Johnson was heading south on Hwy. 22 and approaching Victory Drive. She braked suddenly and "laid the motorcycle down" to avoid a car that was turning left from eastbound Victory onto northbound Hwy. 22.

Johnson was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Mankato, where she died. The car's driver, Brenda G. Jaros, 54, and passenger Sara J. Heller-Zimprich, 48, both of Mankato, were unhurt.

The patrol said the motorcycle "had the right of way" through the intersection, with no traffic signal or stop sign to observe. Jaros told the trooper at the scene that she obeyed the stop sign and then pulled into the intersection.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482