Motorcyclist in serious condition after collision with truck Friday morning

LACONIA — The operator of a Harley-Davidson is in serious condition after a collision with a U-Haul truck near the intersection of Grant Street with the fork of Belmont Road and South Main Street on Friday morning.

A 911 call was placed at 9:12 a.m., and the Laconia police and fire departments responded to the scene, according to Police Capt. Allan Graton.

The male rider of the black motorcycle, who has not yet been identified, was rushed to Concord Hospital in Concord and is in serious condition. No further information about his condition is will be available until the family is notified, according to police.

There are no fire or explosive hazards, according to Fire Chief Tim Joubert.

The incident is still under investigation by the Laconia Police Department.

Brian Follansbee, a technician of Neil’s Laconia Garage, said he heard the collision and the motorcycle scraping across the pavement. He looked through the window to see what was going on.

“The first thing I did was call my wife because the bike looks a lot like my father-in-law’s,” he said. “It’s scary. It could have been anyone. Even though it wasn’t someone I knew, it still kind of hits.”

The accident occurred when the motorcycle was coming north down the hill from Route 106 on Belmont Road while the U-Haul drove out from Grant Street to get onto Route 107 on South Main Street. Neil Trindade, owner of Neil’s Laconia Garage, said his security camera captured the accident, and he worked with police for hours after sharing the footage.

The northbound lane of Belmont Road was closed around 1 p.m., and both lanes on South Main Street at the fork were blocked for the investigation. Police couldn’t give a timeline as to when the roads will be fully open.

The rider was wearing a helmet. Graton gave precautions for drivers in interacting with motorcycles.

“Double check their surroundings, make sure that they look twice, just the usual precautions for motorcycles because they're hard to see,” he said. “So just slow down, take your time, and double check.”