Massachusetts woman killed in motorcycle crash made a difference in the lives of others

Police are actively investigating a fatal, single-vehicle motorcycle crash that occurred late Thursday night that killed a Massachusetts woman.

According to the Gorham New Hampshire Police Department, at approximately 10:30 p.m., emergency personnel responded to 911 reports of a motorcycle crash on North Main Street (Route 16) in the area of mile marker 114.4.

The preliminary investigation indicates that a 2011 black Harley-Davidson motorcycle, operated by Ryan Collins Tidwell, 29, of Berlin, NH, was traveling with a second motorcycle when the crash occurred. A passenger on Tidwell’s motorcycle, identified as Michaela Svetlana Waldrop, 29, of Malden, Massachusetts, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Next of kin notifications have been made.

Waldrop enjoyed making a difference in people’s lives through her background in social work and mental health.

A portion of the Berlin/Gorham Road was shut down for approximately 6 hours while investigators from the Gorham Police Department and the New Hampshire State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit processed the scene. Traffic was diverted through the Cascade Flats During this time. The Gorham Police Department was also assisted at the scene by both the Berlin Police Department and Gorham Fire and EMS.

All aspects of this crash remain under active investigation. The Gorham Police Department is asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or who has any information that may assist in the investigation, to contact Lt. Eoin Stapleton at (603) 466-2334 or via email at estapleton@gorhamnhpd.gov.