NEW SHARON – A Windham man was killed Sunday when his motorcycle went off Route 27 and ended up in a field early Sunday morning, according to State Police. His body wasn’t discovered until 17 hours after the crash on Sunday evening by the property’s owner.
Jonathan Billings, 24, died when he hit a fence post. He was not wearing a helmet,” said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
At 1 a.m. Sunday, a Farmington police officer attempted to stop the 2007 Harley Davidson XL1200 motorcycle on Route 27 but it sped off at over 100 mph, according to the report.
“Because of the dangerous speed, police lost track of the bike immediately and did not chase it,” McCausland said.
Trooper Jed Malcore said a landowner on Route 27/Farmington Falls Road discovered the motorcycle down an embankment at the edge of his field with Billings’ body nearby on Sunday evening just after 6 p.m.
The crash site, on a curve in the road, was less than a mile from the Farmington-New Sharon town line. Franklin County Sheriff’s Cpl. Nathan Bean, Detective Ken Charles, Farmington Police Officer Bridgette Gilbert and New Sharon fire fighters assisted at the scene.
According to McCausland, this was the sixth highway death in Maine since Friday night and four of the fatal crashes involved motorcycles. A woman died in Durham when her motorcycle crashed along Route 125 and a Fort Kent man died when his motorcycle collided with another one along Route 161 in Fort Kent. Both of those crashes were on Sunday. On Friday night, a man was killed when his motorcycle struck a deer in Enfield. That crash was on the Hammet Road about 9:30 p.m. A one car crash that occurred on Saturday afternoon on Route 102 in Southwest Harbor killed a man and the sixth highway death was the driver of a car that collided with a tractor trailer on Route 117 in Buckfield Sunday afternoon.
Maybe they would still be alive if there was a HELMET LAW..JUST SAYING!!!!!
I guess what bothers me is that kid might have been alive, and might have been able to be saved had someone found him – not 18 hours later. Bummer.
A helmet isn’t likely to save anyone going off the road doing 100 mph or better.
What about the laws against speeding and eluding an officer? Laws only protect the law-abiding…just saying.
Drove by the area yesterday around 12:30 and never looked like any thing went off the road, hundreds of people most likely went by Sunday and never knew. I feel for the family to loose someone so young in an accident like this.
Helmets don’t save lives after 15 miles an hour and that is a tested proven fact. Just because the young man wasn’t wearing a helmet doesn’t mean he died from head trauma either. Most accidents like that are related to impact to the body chest down. Helmet laws are not the answer. Safe driving on all sides is key factor
HDbikerlady, I’m living proof to myself that helmets saved a life going over 30 miles an hour. I don’t believe in helmets laws, but if you become a vegetable the tax payer shouldn’t be on the hook to support your care. So carry a lot of insurance with long term care. Just saying be responsible for your actions.
HDbikerlady your last sentence is SO true!!! On July 31st I observed a “biker” making a left turn and cut off a van that was traveling at posted speed, and had to hit their brakes in order not to hit the motorcyclist. The vehicles in front of me and myself had hit our brakes so we wouldn’t pile up. I enjoy riding however that “biker” instantly irritated me. I felt that the “biker” was irresponsible.
Shirley,
At the speed that he was traveling a helmet would not have made a difference. Besides that people should have right to choose what they or not wear when riding. This is supposed to be America and a land of freedom but is becoming a land of socialism and the government telling everyone what is right or wrong.
I agree with SFC Frank J. Lambert a helmet wouldn’t of made a difference at all.
Just so sad… rest in peace… my heart goes out to the family and friends
Helmets or no helmets will always be a debate. Both sides can bring facts to the table- someone was saved at 35 mph wearing a helmet. Great! Someone I know dumped her bike with out helmet at 25mph and walked away.
To Clint, if I am wearing my helmet and wreck and become a vegetable- it is then ok for taxpayers to pay for me while on life support? I really do not think this is what you meant, but just pointing it out you sound like you would be ok with that.
We could contact have him tell you about the day had a car pull out in front of his friend and he went over the hood in a slow speed wreck and the helmet broke his neck and he died instantly.
Stop pulling helmets into every motorcycle crash. When a helmet at 100mph wouldn’t have saved him or even being in a car at these speeds may not have saved him.
Call to attention, Speeding, drinking, driver inattention, inexpereince, showing off and no common sense as reasons for these events. This goes for all drivers. 2, 4, 10 or 18 wheels. Pay attention, slow down, do not drink and drive and this is worth mentioning twice- Pay attention. This is better safety equipment then a helmet, seatbelt or other gear
It’s the law….Buckle-Up! How about adding: It’s the law….Helmet-On!!
I always like hearing “helmet would not have made a difference”. Ever crashed a motorcycle at 50, 75, 100 mph? I have, several times racing motorcycles at London NH. Closed course event, under racing conditions. Some will say that is different,to which i would say 100 mph is 100 mph regardless….except this young man made a conscious decision to flee the police, at night on a bad corner and paid for it with his life. I have no problem with people that ride without a helmet, a conscious choice…..Helmets are no guarantee, but to blindly say they don’t make a difference is ignorant. Condolences to his Family and Friends,
I broke my neck among many other bones. I wasn’t wearing a helmet. Which is my right.
I’m a firm believer….when it’s your time ,it’s your time helmet or not.
People can and will judge
RIP
gpro – You stole my thunder and hit the nail square on the head. People do not know what they are talking about when they say helmets do not save lives. I’ve been down several times while racing motorcycles at Loudon and experienced a severe crash several years ago. The least of my injuries was the concussion and being knocked out for 6 hours from my pumpkin (with helmet) bouncing down the asphalt. When I eventually did come too, I never even had a headache thanks to my Arai helmet. It’s amazing the beating that helmet took while providing total protection.
No helmet law.
I don’t wear one.
Deal with it.
I always wear a helmet. I’d rather hit fence posts and tress with my helmet then bare scalp. I’ve been down racing and such as well. Banging your head off the pavement with a helmet on vs cheese grating it on the pavement…… no argument can be made for refusing to be as safe as possible. Only the heroes think they won’t ever go down. Most of them are buried.
cemetaries are filled with young people who did something stupid. I’m 62 and I did my share of stupid when I was young. It’s just sad to see a young life gone and their potential never reached. Hard for the ones left behind.
People still die with helmets on. Helmets can also snap necks. Debate will go on and on.
Crashing in a race track is different- you do not have telephone poles or farm fencing or trees. Having watched racing at Loudon, I know you are going to say what about the trees at the top of the hill? Tell me what you would need to do to reach them at 100 mph to prove your point. If you did reach them and hit them with the torso or even a helmeted head at 100mph do you think you would survive? I think what was said in the case a helmet would not have mattered.
I am sorry for the family of this young man, but get off your soap boxes and get over the helmet thing, this was speed. I would like to see a cell phone off law in Maine while driving, that would save more lives then helmets or seatbelts. Debate that for awhile
As riders we accept a certain amount of risk every time we leave the driveway. We never know when some cager is going slam us in the back, or when we will make a fatal error and rip off a corner. A rather small number of fatalities result from cagers hitting us. Most of them result from our own stupidity or lack of skill. I wear a helmet and gloves in an attempt that should I go down, the important skin stays put. No amount of gear is a guarantee from death or serious injury. But maybe if I’m riding responsibly and the unexpected happens there’s a good chance I’ll walk away a little sore and wiser. Ride Safe.