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Contact: John Kelly, 207-288-8703
On September 4, 2016, a man operating a motorcycle suffered a fatal crash while traveling down Cadillac Summit Road in Acadia National Park. At approximately 4:30 pm, Acadia National Park dispatch office received a report of a motorcycle accident just above the first Bar Harbor overlook on Cadillac Summit Road. The dispatch office notified park rangers and requested an ambulance from the Bar Harbor Fire Department. A park ranger arrived at the scene within five minutes of the report and found the operator of the motorcycle alive, but unresponsive. Bar Harbor Ambulance arrived shortly after and requested medical transport of the patient by LifeFlight of Maine from the landing zone at the athletic field in downtown Bar Harbor. Park rangers closed Cadillac Summit Road to all traffic in both directions at approximately 4:40 pm to allow for the treatment and transport of the patient. Bar Harbor Ambulance left the scene of the accident at approximately 4:45 pm in route to the athletic field, but diverted to Mount Desert Island Hospital where the patient was pronounced dead. The National Park Service requested an accident investigation unit from the Hancock County Sheriff's Office, which arrived on the scene at approximately 6 pm and took over as lead investigator of the accident. Park rangers began releasing downhill traffic from the top of Cadillac Mountain at approximately 5 pm while the road remained closed to entry to allow for the investigation. Cadillac Summit Road reopened to all traffic at 7:45 pm. According to witnesses, the operator of the motorcycle was traveling down Cadillac Summit Road at a high rate of speed and crossed the double yellow center line to pass cars. After passing the cars, the operator returned to the downhill lane and entered a curve in the road where he lost control of his motorcycle and collided with a tree. The operator and motorcycle came to rest in the trees just off the road. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of the family. The speed limit on Cadillac Summit Road is 25 mph. |
Last updated: September 7, 2016