Fatal motorcycle and truck accident near Middleton

Sharpners Pond Road from the Google map aerial view looks like a fun road to ride for a motorcyclist. It winds gently through wooded neighborhoods. This time of year it might be a great spot to view the fall colors.

Tragically, it became the scene of a fatal motorcycle accident for a 66-year-old man from Beverly. At the intersection of Sharpners Pond Road and Highway 114, he was struck by a Ford F-150 pickup truck and succumbed to his injuries.

It is not uncommon for a motorcycle accident to be a fatal accident. According to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control, fatal motorcycle accidents are at an all-time high. They have doubled between the years between 1999 and 2008. During that time more than 34,000 motorcyclists were killed and more than 1.2 million were treated in emergency rooms for injuries.

The cause of this particular motorcycle accident is still unknown. It appears that there is a stop sign at the intersection for the east and west streets, but not for Highway 114. The North Andover and Middleton police are conducting a joint investigation and also were both among the first responders to the accident scene. The 66-year-old was taken to Lawrence General Hospital by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead.

The two police departments reported that they will be working on an accident reconstruction to attempt to understand the cause of the crash. At this point the driver of the pickup truck has not been charged with any crime such as speeding or drunk driving.

Should the pickup truck driver be found negligent in any way, he or she could be held liable for the wrongful death of the motorcyclist.

Source: Wicked Local, “Beverly man killed in motorcycle accident on Rt.114,” Tim McCarthy, Oct. 18, 2012