KEITH WHITCOMB JR.
Staff Writer
BENNINGTON -- Police said that alcohol, speed, and prescription drugs were factors in a crash on June 8 that cost a motorcyclist his life.
According to police, Gavin Briggs, 28, of Pownal, was driving his Kawasaki motorcycle north on Dewey Street at 7:45 a.m. when he collided with a Honda CRV being driven on Weeks Street by Lorraine Baker, 60, of Bennington. Baker was turning left to head south when the collision occurred in the intersection. Briggs was taken to the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center nearby where he was pronounced dead.
Baker was eventually taken to Albany Medical Center in New York. Police said they do not have an update on her condition.
Lt. Lloyd Dean, of the Bennington Police Department, said Monday that police believe Briggs was traveling between 50 and 60 mph. The speed limit for that area is 30 mph. Dean said the investigation revealed that Briggs was employed in North Bennington and was late for work at the time of the crash.
Dean said an autopsy was performed and showed Briggs’ blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was .092 percent. It also showed Fentanyl, a narcotic painkiller, was in his system. Dean said Briggs did not have a prescription for the drug.
He said Officer Roscoe Harrington is investigating the crash and police are double-checking to see whether or not Baker left enough time for Briggs to stop had he been going the proper speed.
Join The Conversation
Welcome to your discussion forum:
Verified accounts are now required for immediate posting. Please verify your e-mail address in Disqus, or sign in with your social networking account. You may also post using your e-mail address (which will remain private), but those posts will first need to be approved by the moderator. Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion or approval of the Bennington Banner. This forum encourages open, honest, respectful and insightful discussions; there is no need to be offensive. Read our guidelines.