Inexperienced rider dies in crash
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
EAGLE LAKE — Driver inexperience is being blamed for a crash that claimed the life of a Caribou man Sunday.
“On Sept. 2 at approximately 11:44 a.m., Jason P. Michaud, 26, of Caribou, was operating a 2000 Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle northbound on Route 11 in Eagle Lake. He was riding with three other motorcycle companions when he apparently lost control of his bike,” said Trooper Dan Marquis, Maine State Police.
Michaud was new to riding motorcycles, according to Marquis.
“The previous day, Sept. 1, Michaud had obtained his motorcycle permit in Caribou,” said Marquis, noting inexperience led to the accident.
“One motorcyclist’s witness account indicated Michaud came around a right-hand corner down a hill and drifted off the right-hand side of the road, striking a guardrail. He was thrown from the motorcycle, down an embankment. He died at the scene from massive internal bleeding,” said Marquis.
Michaud was wearing a helmet and protective riding equipment.
“His lack of motorcycle driving experience was a major cause of the crash. Speed was not a factor,” said Marquis.
Officials with Maine’s Bureau of Highway Safety reported six people were killed on Maine roads during the long Labor Day weekend. It was the deadliest Labor Day weekend in Maine since 1986, when 10 people were killed in traffic crashes. Five deaths were reported during the holiday weekend last year. In addition to the Eagle Lake accident, fatalities were reported in Dennistown, Biddeford, South Berwick, Van Buren and New Portland.
