GROTON — A fatal motorcycle accident early Friday morning claimed the life of a 21-year-old Groton man, according to local authorities.
The Groton Police Department reported that at approximately 12:45 a.m., an officer on patrol discovered the wreckage on Fort Hill Road, between Depot Road and South Road.
The officer found a motorcycle down on the roadway and its operator, identified as Elijah W.
Hummel, nearby with serious injuries.
Emergency services, including the Poquonnock Bridge Fire Department, Groton Ambulance, and Lawrence and Memorial Paramedics, responded to the scene.
Hummel was transported to L&M Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The police have expressed their condolences to Hummel’s family.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Hummel was traveling westbound on Fort Hill Road at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his 2024 Kawasaki ZX-400.
The motorcycle crossed into the opposite lane and struck an unoccupied Jeep Cherokee parked outside Midway Pizza at 33 Fort Hill Road.
The Southeastern Connecticut Regional Traffic Unit, comprising officers from the Groton and Ledyard Police Departments, and members of the Groton Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, were called in for accident reconstruction and further investigation.
Fort Hill Road was closed to traffic during the investigation but has since reopened.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the crash.
The Groton Police Department urges any witnesses or individuals with information to contact them at 860-441-6712.
