State Police say a Hallowell man died this morning when he lost control of his motorcycle in Augusta.

According to Maine Department of Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland,  Edward Lingley, 33, was traveling too fast as he exited I-95 and the bike slid on a sharp curve, and then struck the trailer portion of a tractor trailer in the opposite lane .

McCausland said Lingley was killed instantly.  The crash took place shortly before 8AM at exit 109, just off the southbound lane, McCausland said.  The truck was hauling an empty flatbed trailer  and was operated by Joseph Forsey, 43, of Shelbyville, IN, who was not injured, McCausland said.  The exit and entrance lanes were closed for 2 ½ hours as troopers investigated the crash, but the Interstate lanes remained open.

The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety said that was the eighth motorcycle death this month on Maine roads and brought this year’s total for motorcycle deaths to 19.

The Bureau said the overall highway death toll for the year is now 123, compared to 105 at this time last year.  Highway Safety says August and September were deadly months on Maine roads  -- 22 people died in traffic crashes in August, and there have been 23 highway deaths so far this month.

Original story continues below

Authorities are on the scene of a fatal crash in Augusta this morning (Sept. 27) after an accident involving a large truck and a motorcycle. The motorcyclist died in the incident.


According to centralmaine.com, the accident occurred just before 8am and caused the exit 109 on-ramp for Interstate 95, to be shut-down.

Police are cautioning that the ramp could be closed for a few hours and are urging drivers to find alternate routes.

This story will be updated as more info becomes available.

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