A 21-year-old man was killed in Groton early Friday when he lost control of the motorcycle he was driving and struck a parked SUV.
A police officer patrolling Groton around 12:45 a.m. discovered the crash in the area of 33 Fort Hill Road, between Depot Road and South Road, where a motorcycle was down in the road near a man suffering serious injuries, according to Capt. Gregory J. McCarthy of the Town of Groton Police Department.
McCarthy said the officer requested additional first responders to the scene, which included the Poquonnock Bridge Fire Department, Groton Ambulance and Lawrence + Memorial paramedics.
The man, identified as Elijah W. Hummel of Groton, was taken to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“Hummel’s family was notified of his death and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family,” McCarthy said in a statement.
Members of the Southeastern Connecticut Regional Traffic Unit responded to assist in the investigation along with the police department’s Criminal Investigation Division. The accident reconstruction team includes officers from both the Groton and Ledyard Police Departments. Fort Hill Road was closed between Depot Road and South Road while crews were at the scene.
The initial investigation found that Hummel was operating a 2024 Kawasaki ZX-400 west on Fort Hill Road “at a high rate of speed” when he lost control of the bike and went across the eastbound travel lane, striking an unoccupied Jeep Cherokee that was parked in front of Midway Pizza, according to McCarthy said.
The crash remains under investigation.
Witnesses or individuals with information have been asked to call the Groton Police Department at 860-441-6712.
