NEW HAVEN — An Essex Junction man who was speeding away from a state trooper was killed on Saturday afternoon when his motorcycle crashed into another motorcycle and then slid under a pickup truck on Route 7 in New Haven.
Vermont State Police report that between 4:30 and 4:45 p.m. on Aug. 26 a trooper observed a group of motorcycles traveling north on Route 7 through Middlebury, north of the green, at a high rate of speed. The trooper attempted to stop the group, but only one motorcyclist stopped. State police Sgt. Stephen McNamara reported that the others accelerated away to speeds in excess of 100 mph.
The trooper immediately lost sight of the motorcycles and stopped chasing them because of the extremely high speeds
Shortly thereafter, Christopher Dusablon, 29, of Essex Junction and Joshua Morris, 25, of Bakersfield, who were part of the group driving motorcycles north out of Middlebury, came upon another state police cruiser — this one parked on the side of Route 7 approximately 500 feet north of the Campground Road intersection.
Troopers’ investigation indicates that Dusablon, driving a 2009 Suzuki RGSX motorcycle, then attempted to make a left turn onto Campground Road and crossed into the path of the 2003 Yamaha YZF-R6 motorcycle that Morris was driving, causing the motorcycles to collide. Both motorcycles traveled left of center and into the path of a southbound Chevy Silverado pick up truck driven by 35-year-old Jason Roberts of Rutland.
When the three vehicles made impact, Morris was ejected from his motorcycle and Dusablon to become lodged underneath the truck. He was pinned there until rescuers could extricate him and take him to Porter Hospital in Middlebury, where he was pronounced dead.
Morris was rushed to UVM Medical Center, where he was treated for a broken left ankle.
Roberts reported no physical injuries, but he pickup sustained damage to the right side front and undercarriage. Both motorcycles were totaled.
Police and firefighters closed Route 7 for several hours and diverted traffic around the scene via side roads.
Police cited Morris for driving with a suspended license.
This crash remains under investigation. State Police would like to identify the other motorcycle operators that were involved. Anyone with information is requested to contact the state police, New Haven barracks, at 802-388-4919.