A Marine was hospitalized following a motorcycle crash in Yucca Valley early this morning. According to the Sheriff’s Department, the Marine was driving east on Highway 62 at an unknown rate of speed about 1:15 a.m. when he failed to negotiate the curve in the road at Sage Avenue by Denny’s. The Marine drove straight into the curb and crashed, causing his motorcycle to disintegrate into pieces. The rider was thrown from the bike, but was awake and sitting up when rescue personnel arrived. The unidentified rider complained of pain to his back and was taken to Desert Hospital in Palm Springs. The Sheriff’s Department is investigating.