David Klein had just begun to revive his relationship with cousin Martin Simon and family.

So when the news hit Klein on Sunday evening that his cousin had died in a motorcycle crash in the Santa Clarita Valley, Klein immediately thought of Simon’s wife and two kids.

“They were a very close and very tight-knit family,” Klein, of San Diego, said. “He was a very good family man.”

Simon, of Northridge, was also an experienced motorcyclist, Klein said. But on Sunday morning, a ride along a remote, winding stretch of Bouquet Canyon Road ended with Simon, 47, on the ground and his legs pinned beneath a Nissan Sentra.

While travelling northbound near the Old Falls Campground, Simon, 47, lost control of his 2006 Suzuki motorcycle and was thrown into the southbound lane, according to a California Highway Patrol report.

A second man, of Lancaster, travelling south in his Sentra attempted to brake to avoid hitting Simon. He successfully averted the motorcycle but was unable to avoid running over Simon’s lower legs.

Passersby stopped to help Simon, remove his body from under the Sentra and give CPR, but they couldn’t revive him. The report said Simon sustained fatal injuries as a result of being thrown from his motorcycle.

“We’re glad no one else was hurt,” Klein said. “I want to thank those who rendered their assistance in a situation like this.”  

The CHP report confirms that Simon was traveling at a high rate of speed before he lost control on a sweeping right curve south of Old Falls Campground. However, Officer John Lutz could not say whether Simon was speeding or not.

“Everything else right now is under investigation,” he said.

Klein said he knew Simon, who did design work in the entertainment industry, to be a responsible man and veteran motorcyclist.

“I don’t believe he would knowingly do something foolish,” he said.

However, Klein did say he knew the bike was relatively new to Simon.

“He had ridden others of the same style and same model,” Klein said. “But like a new rifle ... or new computer, you pick it up and everything’s going to act different.”

But he’s not going to speculate, he said.

“I only know it’s a tragedy,” Klein said. “I’ll miss his smile, his warmth, his wicked sense of humor. I’m just going to miss him because he’s Martin.”

Simon leaves behind his wife, a 14-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son, Klein said.