Motorcyclist crashes with truck in Johnston

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — A motorcyclist crashed with a truck in Johnston Tuesday morning.

Police said the motorcycle hit the truck taking a left hand turn just after 7 a.m. on Hartford Avenue. The man was launched 135 feet away from the site of initial impact.

The motorcyclist was alert at the scene, and taken to Rhode Island Hospital to be treated for injuries, according to police.

In a later update, police said that the motorcyclist was in serious condition, and was undergoing surgery.

The motorcycle was unregistered and “travelling at an excessive speed” according to reports told to ABC6 by Johnston Police Chief, Joseph Razza. The motorist was cited for having a suspended license and the truck driver was also cited for driving without a license.

“All my colleagues and workforce men have seen an uptick in speeding. If you’re going to drive a motorcycle, and you have a right to do so, whether you want to wear a helmet or not, but I will say that, this accident and this individual, his life has been saved by wearing a motorcycle helmet,” Chief Razza said.

The city of Johnston is beginning a pilot program where they’re installing speed humps around the city to combat that speeding issue.