TURNER — A motorcyclist died from injuries sustained in a crash with an SUV on Route 4 on Tuesday afternoon, police said Tuesday night. around 3:32 p.m.
Gary Michaud, 41 of Turner, was on his 1999 Harley-Davidson XL 120, waiting to leave Turner Plaza as two vehicles traveled north on Route 4, Lt. Glen Holt of the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department said.
“The first vehicle signaled and was turning into the same driveway that the motorcycle was sitting at,” Holt said. “Behind the first vehicle was an SUV. Apparently, the motorcycle operator did not see the second vehicle and started to cross (Route 4) in an attempt to go to Weston Road. The SUV struck the motorcycle broadside-to.”
Michaud was taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston where he succumbed to his injuries around 8:30 p.m., Holt said.
He said the SUV was a 2001 Nissan Xterra operated by Bonita Bishop, 58, of Hartford. Bishop was taken to CMMC to be evaluated for injuries.
According to eyewitness Cameron Luce of Turner, who works at Murray’s Truck Stop in the Northland Plaza, Michaud came to a complete stop before he attempted to cross the highway.
Luce said Michaud’s feet went down and he looked both ways. “He just must have not seen the Nissan from behind (the other car),” Luce said.
“He went flying from the middle of the road to right up by the telephone pole — at least 20 feet, maybe 25,” Luce said.
Zach Gilbert, who also works at the Murray Truck Stop, said Michaud was breathing when the two checked him.
Luce said Michaud was unable to speak. He was not wearing a helmet, Luce said.
Speaking of the regularity of accidents on Route 4, Gilbert said, “At this intersection, there’s usually two or three a year, but this is the worst one I’ve ever seen.”
Luce said the driver of the Nissan Xterra was crying. “She was saying she’d seen so many accidents on this road. She said she was trying to be so careful.”
Holt said traffic on Route 4 had to be detoured around the accident for more than three hours before reopening at about 6:45 p.m.
dmcintire@sunjournal.com
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- Two deputies with the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department reconstruct an accident involving a motorcycle and an SUV in front of Murray’s Truck Stop on Route 4 in Turner on Tuesday.
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- A deputy with the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department reconstructs a fatal crash involving a motorcycle and an SUV in front of Murray’s Truck Stop on Route 4 in Turner on Tuesday.
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- Two deputies with the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department reconstruct an crash involving a motorcycle and an SUV in front of Murray’s Truck Stop on Route 4 in Turner on Tuesday.
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- A section of Route 4 in Turner is shut down while the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department reconstructs a fatal accident involving a motorcycle and an SUV in front of Murray’s Truck Stop on Tuesday.
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