A man was taken to the hospital with injuries after being involved in a motorcycle accident Saturday morning.

According to Mower County Chief Deputy Mark May, emergency responders were alerted about the accident at about 7:07 a.m. Vernon Pugh, 56, of Adams was riding a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle westbound on 180th Street when he lost control on the gravel road and landed in a ditch east of 640th Avenue, northeast of Rose Creek. Pugh called a relative and informed her of his location. He also said he was having trouble breathing.

A Mower County deputy, Adams Fire Department and Adams Ambulance responded to the scene. The deputy requested that Mayo 1 be launched to the scene and noted that the gravel road was soggy, May said.

Pugh told responders that he was having back pain and had bit his tongue during the accident. Adams Ambulance personnel transported Pugh to Mayo 1 and he was flown to Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Marys Campus-Rochester.

The motorcycle was towed from the scene.

May said Pugh was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.