Maine News Updates

AUGUSTA — A 25-year-old motorcyclist was badly injured when he struck a sport utility vehicle turning into a Western Avenue business Friday.
Michael Fitzherbert, 25, of Freeport was transported to Augusta State Airport, then transfered to a LifeFlight medical helicopter and brought to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston after the 12:30 p.m. accident.
Fitzherbert, who works in Augusta, was riding a 2004 Buell motorcycle westbound in the righthand lane of Western Avenue as an SUV driven eastbound by Robert Goddard, 75, of Richmond turned into the parking lot of VIP Parts, Tires and Service, Augusta police Lt. Mark Desjardin said.
Because some westbound cars had stopped to let the SUV cross, visibility was limited for Fitzherbert, who was helmeted when he crashed into the leftside front of the turning SUV, Desjardin said.
Relatives said Fitzherbert was recovering at the hospital with a nonlife-threatening lower leg injury late Friday, Desjardin said.
Traffic was affected only initially, as police kept at least one lane moving freely in the westbound direction during the hourlong response.
No charges were filed. The motorcycle was totaled and the SUV heavily damaged.