WESTPORT — An early Sunday morning two-vehicle crash at the corner of Tickle Road and Route 177 has taken the life of a Somerset motorcycle rider. The Westport driver of the pickup truck was …
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WESTPORT — An early Sunday morning two-vehicle crash at the corner of Tickle Road and Route 177 has taken the life of a Somerset motorcycle rider. The Westport driver of the pickup truck was uninjured.
Westport Police Detective Jeff Majewski said that on June 23, at approximately 6:30 a.m., Westport Police officers and Fire Department paramedics responded to the intersection of American Legion Highway (Route 177) and Tickle Road for a vehicle-versus-motorcycle crash. The intersection is controlled by a flashing caution light.
After impact with the pickup truck, the Ducati motorcycle and its driver wound up in the woods (a witness pointed out the location when police arrived). The motorcycle operator was identified as Cornelis Blom, 67, of Somerset, Mass.
Officer Taylor Ryan performed CPR and used an AED (automatic external defibrillator) on Mr. Blom with the assistance of Officer Corey Mack but their efforts were unsuccessful. Paramedics determined that Mr. Blom was deceased.
The driver of the other vehicle was identified as Todd J Medeiros, 48, of Tickle Road, Westport. Mr. Medeiros had been operating a 2006 Ford Ranger pickup truck. Mr. Medeiros was not injured in the crash.
Detective Majewski said that early indications are that the pickup driver stopped to let an oncoming vehicle pass but that there was a second vehicle, Mr. Blom’s motorcycle, behind that first oncoming vehicle.
State Police assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office were called to the scene along with the Massachusetts State Police Reconstruction and Analysis Unit. A member of the chief medical examiner’s office also arrived.
A preliminary officer investigation determined that Mr. Medeiros was driving east on American Legion Highway and made a left turn from the State Highway to head north on Tickle Road.
Mr. Blom was operating his motorcycle headed west on American Legion Highway traveling straight when Mr. Medeiros turned into the path of the motorcycle which caused the crash. The pickup truck had front end damage.
Police have learned that Mr Medeiros was returning home from an early morning trip to Dunkin’ Donuts.
It was not immediately clear where Mr. Blom was headed. His family told police that he was an avid motorcyclist who owned three Ducati bikes, one of which was involved in the crash.
Both vehicles were impounded by the State Police for a further analysis of the crash. This incident remains under investigation by all of the resources mentioned.