Hanlon to face negligent homicide charge

A local man will be charged with negligent homicide after allegedly driving a motorcycle while intoxicated when it crashed, claiming the life of his female passenger.

City prosecutor Jim Sawyer said yesterday that Michael Hanlon, 46, of 32 New Hope Drive, who was charged with felony driving while intoxicated when the incident occurred, instead will be charged with negligent homicide when he is arraigned in Laconia District Court on November 9.

According to police, on the night of October 10 Hanlon and his companion, Barbara Jordan, 44, also of 32 New Hope Drive, were thrown from the motorcycle on White Oaks Road when he tried to return to the roadway after losing control and leaving the pavement. Neither were wearing helmets and both suffered head injuries and were taken by ambulance to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.

Jordan, who was admitted in critical condition, died from her injuries the next day. Hanlon was listed in serious condition, but recovered and has since been released.

Earlier this week the Belknap County Regional Accident Investigation Team obtained a search warrant for the motorcycle in order to perform a forensic examination to determine whether a mechanical failure or malfunction contributed to the crash.

Negligent homicide, or causing the death of another while operating a motor vehicle under the influence of either alcohol or drugs is a class A felony, carrying a prison sentence of between seven-and-a-half and fifteen years.