Crash kills 3 as Motorcycle Week begins

STODDARD, N.H. -- Three people died and five were injured yesterday after a sport utility vehicle collided with a caravan of Harley-Davidsons, leaving a twisted mess of chrome and metal on a winding country road at the outset of the state's annual celebration of biker culture.

As the riders cruised down a sloping Route 9 straightaway into a turn, one of the motorcyclists veered into the path of an oncoming Jeep Cherokee, authorities said. The collision caused the Cherokee to roll over three other motorcycles. Two other bikers lost control and rolled over. Only one of the seven motorcyclists made it through upright, authorities said.

The crash remains under investigation, but authorities said that it appears to have been an accident and that no drugs or alcohol were involved.

``The preliminary investigation suggests it was the motorcycle that drifted in front of the SUV," said Stoddard Police Chief David Vaillancourt. ``It was a fairly chaotic scene."

The accident, which occurred around noon, cast a pall over the Laconia Motorcycle Week festivities, scheduled to begin today, when more than 400,000 motorcycle enthusiasts are expected in New Hampshire.

Along with scattered violence and bawdy behavior, body counts have become more common features of such biker gatherings. In March, accidents killed 18 bikers at Daytona's motorcycle week in Florida. Last year, New Hampshire's event saw three separate fatalities: one in Moultonborough, another in Conway, and a third in Campton when a Maine cyclist crashed into an SUV on Motorcycle Week's last day. Single accidents killed two people in both 2000 and 2001, and another crash in 1996 killed three.

In yesterday's deaths, the motorcycle caravan was made up of two separate groups of riders, one from Massachusetts and the other from Connecticut, said Vaillancourt.

Christopher Fontaine, 39, of Chicopee; Steven Leamy, 38, of Broad Brook, Conn.; and Larry McFetridge, 54, of Bristol, Conn., were killed.

Donald Greene, 43, of East Hartford, Conn., was listed in critical condition last night after being flown to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. Kurt Neligon, 46, of Granby, Conn., was hospitalized with a leg injury.

Deborah Huston, 51, of Bowdoinham, Maine, the driver of the Jeep, and her two passengers, a man and child, were treated at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene and released, authorities said.

Dale Smith, owner of the Mill Village Country Store near the crash scene, said that the section of Route 9 involved has been the site of several fatal accidents over the years.

``The state has recognized this and is in the process of upgrading the road," he said.

The accident occurred at a point where a long and straight stretch of the narrow two-lane road turns into a sharp curve.

Stoddard firefighter Randy Weaver said the road is also precarious because of its slope. ``It's on a turn, at slight grade," he said.

Following the accident, Motorcycle Week organizers pledged to stress safety throughout the nine-day rally, but said that danger was part of life for bikers.

``As a motorcyclist, if a car is over that line even 1 inch, it can be fatal," said Charlie St. Clair, executive director of the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association. ``There's a lot of people on bikes on the road this week. I just pray people are careful."

Motorcycles are ingrained in New Hampshire culture, with nearly 7 per 100 residents, the highest rate in the nation, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.

With its motto ``Live Free or Die," the state did away with mandatory helmet laws in 1977, just after the federal government stopped penalizing states without such laws.

Two of the three bikers killed and one of the injured were not wearing helmets, officials said. St. Clair said yesterday that a helmet would be of little protection to a motorcyclist in a collision with an SUV.

``The sad fact of the matter is that you are not going to survive something like that," he said.

Laconia Motorcycle Week ranks among the largest public events in the state, with gatherings scheduled next week in dozens of towns and parks. Motorcyclists plan to ride up Mount Washington en masse, while others will race in Rochester, and 1970s rock acts Blue Oyster Cult and Foghat will perform.

The event is serious business for New Hampshire. The state's Economic Development Division estimated that more than $140 million will be spent by out-of-state bikers.

Authorities plan to keep watch on the activities of organizations such as the Hell's Angels and the Outlaws, who have been accused in some states of trafficking methamphetamine and are known for their rowdy behavior and occasional bloody feuds.

The state motor vehicles division next week is also offering noise testing for motorcycles and safety classes at Plymouth State University.

``Bike Week is a time when extra attention is paid to both the fun and dangers of motorcycling," Virginia C. Beecher, director of motor vehicles, said in a statement.

``We want to emphasize the need for safe riding and good training during this time of year."

Raja Mishra can be reached at rmishra@globe.com.