Pawtucket motorcycle crash kills driver

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) - A Central Falls man dies after crashing his motorcycle.

Emergency crews were called to 95 North near the School Street exit just after 1 a.m. Saturday.

Eyewitnesses tell police the driver, 37-year-old Jamie Marin, was swerving across several lanes before he struck the jersey barrier. He was thrown from the motorcycle and landed three-traffic lanes over.

Marin's body was found down the embankment next to the highway. State Police say he was not wearing a helmet and that erratic driving and speed were involved in the crash.

There have been four fatal motorcycle accidents so far this year in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.

On May 30th Jermaine Wynkoop of Woonsocket died after crashing his motorcycle in Glocester. Another man was killed after his bike was struck by a car outside the Bristol Pub in Taunton just two days later. The victim, Thomas "Trevor" Harris was stuck underneath a driver's car, and died after being dragged several feet.

Back on April 6th Thomas Simmons was killed when he crashed his motorcycle near Shippee School House Road in Foster, and Colin Foote died on May 16th after a driver allegedly ran a red light in Charlestown, striking his motorcycle.

26-year-old Laura Reale is facing two counts of felony reckless driving in connection with Foote's death. Reale has an extensive record of driving offenses.

A recent study by the Governor's Highway Safety Association shows that motorcycle deaths dropped in all states in 2009 except Rhode Island and Hawaii, where the fatalities actually doubled.

State Police are urging drivers to use caution, to look out for motorcycles, and for operators to wear helmets when on area roadways.