District Attorney Identifies 28-Year-Old Motorcyclist Who Died in Early A.M. Crash

(File photograph.)

The 28-year-old motorcyclist killed in a crash early Tuesday morning has been identified as Stephen Merritt, of Willie Street, Haverhill.

Confirmation came Tuesday afternoon from Carrie Kimball Monahan, spokeswoman for Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett. Merritt was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after the 1 a.m. crash near 1038 Main St., Haverhill.

Merritt was riding a 2002 Yamaha motorcycle, struck a business sign and was thrown off the motorcycle, State Police said.

Earlier, Plaistow Police said it was pursuing the Haverhill motorcyclist minutes before he died in a Haverhill crash.

A statement from Capt. Brett Morgan said a Plaistow Police officer was on patrol about 1 a.m., Tuesday, when he observed the motorcyclist “traveling at a high rate of speed on Route 125 southbound toward Haverhill.” The officer attempted to stop the rider in the area of 58 Plaistow Road, Plaistow, but “the motorcycle accelerated, distancing itself from the officer as it approached the state line,” the statement added.

Plaistow Police notified Haverhill and Massachusetts State Police. Plaistow said it was notified of the death at 1:14 a.m.

Both Haverhill Police and the District Attorney’s office report an investigation is underway with the assistance of Massachusetts State Police Crash Analysis Reconstruction Section.

Update 2:

Plaistow Police said Tuesday afternoon it was pursuing the Haverhill motorcyclist minutes before he died in a Haverhill crash.

A statement from Capt. Brett Morgan said a Plaistow Police officer was on patrol about 1 a.m., Tuesday, when he observed the motorcyclist “traveling at a high rate of speed on Route 125 southbound toward Haverhill.” The officer attempted to stop the rider in the area of 58 Plaistow Road, Plaistow, but “the motorcycle accelerated, distancing itself from the officer as it approached the state line,” the statement added.

Plaistow Police notified Haverhill and Massachusetts State Police.

The man crashed just after 1 a.m. and was pronounced dead at the 1038 Main St. crash site, according to Carrie Kimball Monahan, spokeswoman for Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett. Plaistow said it was notified of the death at 1:14 a.m. His name has not yet been officially released.

Both Haverhill Police and the District Attorney’s office report an investigation is underway with the assistance of Massachusetts State Police Crash Analysis Reconstruction Section.

This is a developing story. Stay with 97.9 WHAV FM for more information.

Earlier story:

A 28-year-old Haverhill man died in a motorcycle crash early this morning on upper Main Street in Haverhill.

The as-yet unidentified man crashed just after 1 a.m. and was pronounced dead at the 1038 Main St. crash site, according to Carrie Kimball Monahan, spokeswoman for Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett.

Both Haverhill Police and the District Attorney’s office report an investigation is underway with the assistance of Massachusetts State Police Crash Analysis Reconstruction Section.

This is a developing story. Stay with 97.9 WHAV FM for more information.