A 36-year-old Florida man who was fatally injured while driving his motorcycle along U.S. 41 Tuesday night has been identified as Charlotte Correctional Institution Sgt. Jerry Timothy Doffmeyer, according to a Punta Gorda Police Department report.

Doffmeyer, of Cape Coral, was a 10-year veteran officer at the prison, a Florida Department of Corrections official said.

"The death of Sgt. Doffmeyer is tragic," said Gretl Plessinger, public information officer for the DOC. "He was a well-liked, hardworking and devoted employee of Charlotte CI. He will be deeply missed."

Around 9:20 p.m., Doffmeyer was traveling south on U.S. 41 when John Gollub of Punta Gorda, traveling northbound, tried to make a left turn onto Henry Street and drove into the path of Doffmeyer, according to PGPD spokesman Major Albert "Butch" Arenal.

Doffmeyer was not wearing a safety helmet, and was pronounced dead at the scene. He died of extensive trauma, authorities said.

In Punta Gorda, there have been three serious crashes involving motorcycles since October 2005, and two of the three motorcyclists died as a result of their injuries, Arenal said . None of the three motorcyclists wore helmets.

Florida is one of 30 states that do not require motorcyclists to wear safety helmets. Authorities are still investigating the crash and no formal charges have been filed, Arenal said.