2 fatal motorcycle accidents reported

Two fatal motorcycle accidents were reported Friday, including one Thursday night and another early Friday morning.

One rider died in a single-vehicle crash early Friday morning at the Weirs.

Emergency services responded to the area of the traffic circle in the Weirs around midnight Friday morning after a young man, believed to be under age 30, was traveling southbound on Endicott Street North when he apparently impacted the traffic circle in a single-vehicle wreck.

The man, who emergency response personnel declined to identify citing medical privacy concerns, was severely injured and transported to Concord Hospital-Laconia, where he was later pronounced dead. 

Police did not know if the rider was wearing a helmet, and it was not clear what caused the motorcyclist to impact the traffic circle. Fire Chief Tim Joubert noted the rider came down the hill toward the traffic circle at a high rate of speed before the crash. 

“Hopefully we can be safe throughout the weekend and on Monday morning, we can look back and say it was a safe, enjoyable event,” Joubert said Friday morning during a press conference at the NASWA Resort. 

“Of all places, at the rotary up there, which is unheard of,” Laconia Motorcycle Week Association Executive Director Charlie St. Clair said of the fatal accident. “The rotaries are made not to have accidents and that works ... please, if you see your friends, if you’re with your friends and they’re not acting like they should probably be riding, don’t let them do it ... please, put the hammer down and say no, because to come here then go home in a box is crazy.” 

Humidity and heat, especially starting in the afternoon on Thursday, resulted in several calls for heat exhaustion in the Weirs, Joubert said Friday morning, but vendors and attendees were well-prepared for potentially severe weather, which didn’t end up impacting the rally.

“I’d also like to thank the families of the first responders, they are working long, long hours,” Joubert said. “We had Father’s Day that some people had to miss, birthdays, graduations. And it’s a 24/7 job for both fire and police and [the Department of Public Works].”

On Friday afternoon, a State Police spokesperson said another man was killed in a two-vehicle collision in Barnstead on Thursday night.

“An adult man is deceased after a crash between a car and a motorcycle on Route 28,” a press statement read.

State Troopers responded to assist the Barnstead Police Department at 9:03 p.m. on June 19, after a crash involving a motorcycle on Suncook Valley Road near Kent Lane was reported. 

Troopers investigating the crash determined the rider of the motorcycle — a 2022 Kawasaki Z900RS — was traveling southbound when he collided with a 2023 Tesla Model Y traveling in the opposite direction. 

The rider was pronounced dead at the scene. His name is being withheld pending an investigation, which is ongoing, and notification of next of kin. The driver and sole occupant of the Tesla sustained minor injuries and declined medical attention. 

A portion of Route 28 in Alton and Barnstead was closed for about three hours while troopers investigated the collision.

And the traditional POW/MIA ride to Hesky Park in Meredith, an annual tradition, was canceled due to inclement weather. St. Clair said Friday morning that around 50 motorcyclists completed the ride unofficially.

“The POW/MIA Freedom Ride was officially canceled, and that’s the first time in 37 years that that’s happened, but with the threat of thunderstorms, they just couldn’t take that chance,” Laconia Motorcycle Week Association Deputy Director Jennifer Anderson said. “It was not officially led, but there was a big group that did end up riding through anyway.”

Bob “Doc” Jones of Meredith, president of the Northeast POW/MIA Network, said Friday afternoon he made the call, worried about potentially dangerous weather conditions for the riders. 

“People always show up,” Jones said. “As they have for 37 years.”

And so they do. Not just during Laconia Motorcycle Week, but every Thursday throughout the year, groups of 20 or more — crowds are bigger in the summer — gather at Hesky Park for a vigil.

But the annual ride, about 10 miles from Lowe's in Gilford to Hesky Park, to continue the longest-held weekly vigil in the country had to be called off.

“I am the one who had the responsibility,” Jones said. “I could not take the chance.”

“I’m very, very proud of what has happened in Meredith. Very, very thankful to the Town of Meredith, to the people of Meredith.” Jones said. “This is not a veterans’ issue — it's an American issue.”

City Manager Kirk Beattie said he’s been pleased with the number of visitors from out of state he’s met, and said city department staff have done a great job ensuring a smooth week of motorcycle fun.

Organizers also said next year's rally will be held from June 13 to 21.

“We’ve had people from around the world here,” St. Clair said. “We’ve had people from New Zealand again, we’ve had people from Europe — good to see them.”