A motorcycle rider and his passenger were seriously injured Sunday afternoon after a collision with a bear on Turnpike Road in New Ipswich.
At 12:25 p.m., Carl Griffiths, 65, and his passenger, Deb Griffiths, 66, of Wilton, were driving on Turnpike Road in New Ipswich on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, near the intersection of Old Tenney Road, when a large male black bear crossed the road in front of them, according to New Ipswich Police Chief Micheal Abel.
“The bear exited from the north side of the road, and came into the road in front of them. There was a very short skid mark that showed they had a very limited time to react,” Abel said. “They collided pretty much right in the middle of the travel lane, and it caused the bike to go down and eject both the occupants.”
Both riders were seriously injured, with Carl Griffith’s injuries being possibly life-threatening, Abel said.
Both were taken by Peterborough Ambulance to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. As of Tuesday, Carl Griffiths remained in the intensive care unit for treatment of his injuries, Abel said.
There were no immediate witnesses, but motorists who came across the crash right after it occurred called 911, along with a homeowner nearby who heard the crash, Abel said.
Abel said the crash is still under investigation, but it currently appears Griffiths was driving the speed limit or below and driving appropriately. Abel said muddy tracks indicate where the bear stepped out onto the road.
“There just wasn’t enough time for them to react. It’s an unfortunate series of events, and it didn’t appear to be avoidable,” he said.
The bear sustained fatal injuries during the crash, and was put down by a police officer who responded to the scene. Turnpike Road was closed for about an hour and 20 minutes while the accident was cleared. The New Ipswich Fire Department, Peterborough Ambulance, Souhegan Valley Ambulance and Mason Police Department assisted on the scene.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.