Police: Motorcycle rider killed after brief pursuit, speeding, in Middleboro, Lakeville

LAKEVILLE – Lakeville Police Chief Matthew Perkins and Middleboro Police Chief Joseph Perkins report that the Lakeville and Middleboro Police Departments responded to a fatal motorcycle crash on Vaughan Street in Middleboro at the Lakeville town line late last night.

At approximately 11:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 1, a Lakeville Police officer spotted a motorcycle operating recklessly on Main Street traveling at a speed of 68 miles per hour in a 40 miles per hour zone.

The officer attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop on the motorcycle. The officer briefly followed the motorcycle on Main Street until abandoning the pursuit when the motorcycle turned onto Vaughan Street. It became evident to the officer that the operator of the motorcycle was fleeing, and for safety reasons, the officer discontinued the attempt to stop the motorcycle.

A short time after calling off the pursuit, the Lakeville officer continued to follow the path of the motorcycle on Vaughan Street and found that the motorcycle had crashed into a telephone pole just over the Middleboro town line.

Upon his arrival, the officer immediately called for medical aid and assisted with treating the operator. The operator of the motorcycle was transported by a Lakeville Fire Department ambulance to Morton Hospital, where they died from their injuries. Middleboro Police also responded to the scene.

The identity of the victim is not being released at this time pending notification of their next-of-kin.

At this time, the incident remains under investigation by the Lakeville and Middleboro Police Departments and Massachusetts State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit.

Vaughan Street in the area of the Middleboro/Lakeville town line was closed while the scene was still active.