A man is dead after crashing his motorcycle Saturday night in Belmont County, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Dusty R. Bobot, 33, of Belmont, was traveling southbound on County Road 72 near Lafferty about 8:40 p.m., troopers said. He veered off to the right side of the road, struck a telephone junction box and then a utility pole, troopers said.

It marks the fourth fatal crash in the Ohio Valley within a week. Last Wednesday Carroll County had three fatalities. Within 24 hours, three people died; two crashes happened on State Route 43 and the other on Niagara Trail at Lake Mohawk, according to OSHP.

"Traffic fatalities are slightly up state wide this year as compared to last year," said Trooper James Faunda, of OSHP.

Troopers said alcohol is suspected to be a factor in Saturday night's crash.

"The last couple of fatalities in Belmont County have been alcohol related," said Faunda. "Everything we do here from using federal overtime to the OVI checkpoints, we use as deterrents to remind people don't drink and drive because we are out there aggressively looking for you."

Medical crews took Bobot to Ohio Valley Medical Center for his injuries, where he later died. The crash remains under investigation.

Troopers said they urge people to not drink while driving or to get a designated driver.