Former mayor, Motorcycle Week executive director recovering after accident in Ohio

The Lakes Region community is pulling for Charlie St. Clair — a state representative, former Laconia mayor, and executive director of Laconia Motorcycle Week — following a serious motorcycle accident while on his way to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.

The Laconia Motorcycle Association posted on Facebook, sharing that St. Clair was in an accident on Tuesday, in Avon, Ohio.

“Charlie sustained severe injuries and is currently receiving care in the intensive care unit at a Cleveland hospital,” according to the post, made Thursday morning. “The cause of the accident was due to a tire malfunction. No one else was injured in the accident. At this early stage, the full extent of Charlie’s injuries and his long-term prognosis are not yet known.

Deputy Director Jenn Anderson, a longtime friend, said St. Clair is hospitalized at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, with serious injuries. She said this would have been his 50th consecutive trip to the rally in Sturgis, which is in its 86th year.

The accident occurred Tuesday evening, and Anderson flew to Cleveland, to stay with St. Clair as he recovers from injuries.

“There is a lot of assessment that is still to come because of swelling, but it is extensive,” Anderson said Thursday.

Anderson said St. Clair was riding with a friend, who was about 20 feet behind him and saw the accident on Interstate 90 West. Anderson said no other vehicles were involved, and two nurses in cars behind him came to his aid.

St. Clair knows people all across the country, and Anderson said he has a good friend living within a couple hours of Avon, who is taking care of his motorcycle and belongings while he is in the hospital.

Members of the Laconia Motorcycle Association expressed gratitude on social media to the Avon Police Department, as well as emergency personnel, for their “swift response and care.”

“Our thoughts are with Charlie and his loved ones during this difficult time,” the post reads.

Cynthia Makris is not only Laconia Motorcycle Week Association president, she is also St. Clair's cousin; their mothers were first cousins, and their grandfathers were brothers.

Since she heard the news, Makris, president of The NASWA Resort at The Weirs, has been praying for St. Clair, and asks everyone to do the same.

"I do know that he is loved by so many people, and so many people have reached out to me," Makris said. "I just ask everyone to keep Charlie in their prayers. He's tough. He needs everyone rooting for him, and praying for him."

Mayor Mike Bordes, who has served alongside St. Clair in the Statehouse and Belknap County Delegation, wrote on Facebook that he's thinking and praying for St. Clair. He called it a “devastating moment for our community,” and everyone is “standing squarely behind him” as he recovers.

Bordes, in an interview Thursday afternoon, said he not only worked with St. Clair in the Statehouse, he also succeeded him as mayor, after St. Clair served as interim mayor of Laconia following former Mayor Andrew Hosmer's resignation last summer. Bordes said he's also a big fan of St. Clair as a human being.

“The whole community is pulling for him to get through this,” Bordes said. “We all know Charlie. He’s done a lot for Laconia, and I think this community is well aware of that.”

Bordes said St. Clair, while heavily engaged in state and local politics, is not that political when talking in person. He noted even in tough situations, St. Clair is the kind of guy who smiles and shakes your hand. He is a man who is seemingly always in good spirits.

“He’s just a good, kindhearted guy,” Bordes said. “And that’s why he keeps getting elected. He’s always got a smile on his face.”

Nick Tamposi is a close friend of St. Clair's, having known him since 1999. He told The Daily Sun that St. Clair has always been close to him and his family. He had plans, at one point, to take the ride out to Sturgis with him this year, but with his son getting married and other life events, it wasn’t in the cards.

Tamposi said everyone is “blown away” by the news of the accident.

“He’s like an older brother to me,” Tamposi said. “We’ve become very close over the years. We’ve got our fingers crossed and praying, asking for God’s guidance.”

As news got around about the accident, community members took to social media.

Nault’s Family of Dealerships, which owns Nault’s Seacoast Indian Motorcycle and sponsored the 103rd Laconia Motorcycle Week this year, made a post to support St. Clair on Facebook. They called him a “tireless advocate for the motorcycle community” and a “champion for the Lakes Region,” and a friend to riders, businesses and organizations.

“The Nault’s Family of Dealerships is deeply grateful for everything Charlie has done for our industry and our community,” the post states. “We are keeping him in our thoughts and prayers and wishing him strength, healing, and a full, speedy recovery. Charlie, we’re all pulling for you. We can’t wait to see you back doing what you love.”

By Friday morning, nearly 2,000 people had reacted to the Laconia Motorcycle Week Rally post, with more than 500 comments and 300 shares.

The Laconia Motorcycle Association stated they will provide updates as they are available.