A major police investigation is underway in Augusta following a fatal collision between a school bus and a motorcycle right outside Cony High School. The crash claimed the life of 48-year-old rider Jeffery Kyllonen Sr. on Cony Street during the early afternoon traffic window.
First responders arrived at Cony Street and Pierce Drive shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Upon arrival, emergency personnel found a 2006 Harley-Davidson motorcycle heavily damaged near a 2018 Thomas school bus near the school campus entrance.
Jeffery Kyllonen Sr. died from his injuries at the scene. His passenger, 47-year-old Kareanne Kyllonen, sustained severe injuries and required immediate evacuation via a LifeFlight helicopter to a nearby regional hospital.
School officials and parents expressed immediate relief over one detail in an otherwise tragic event: no children were inside the vehicle. The bus driver, 68-year-old Ricky Martin of Augusta, escaped physical injury during the wreck.
The crash caused significant traffic disruptions throughout the surrounding neighborhood. Police shut down Cony Street in both directions for nearly four hours while state and local investigators mapped out the scene.
Investigators with the Maine State Police reconstruction team are analyzing physical evidence to determine the speed, direction, and exact point of impact for both vehicles. Neither department has released initial findings regarding potential factors or traffic violations.
Augusta police are appealing to the public for additional information regarding the crash. Anyone who was traveling near Pierce Drive around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday is asked to share details with local authorities to help piece together the event.
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