(GORHAM, Maine) August 27, 2021 – A 72-year-old cyclist was struck and killed by a driver in Gorham on Thursday.
Gorham resident Stephen Palmer was riding along Sebago Lake Road between Dunlap Road and Plummer Road when he was hit at approximately 3:38 p.m. by 21-year-old Alex Ishimwe of Portland, according to Gorham Police Sgt. Benjamin Moreland. Palmer was driving a 2018 Toyota RAV4.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of another cyclist fatality in Maine,” said Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM) Executive Director Jean Sideris.
The BCM urges law enforcement to investigate and examine the road conditions, bicycle facilities, history of crashes at this location, driver behavior, and any additional circumstances that may have been contributing factors.
According to the Coalition’s count, this is the second cyclist death of 2021, which matches the total from last year, as well as both 2019 and 2018.
“One fatality is too many,” Sideris said. “We ask motorists to slow down and anticipate seeing pedestrians and people on bikes using the roadways.”
###
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine is the statewide voice of cyclists and pedestrians. Since 1992, the BCM has led the effort to make Maine better for bicycling and walking by protecting the rights and safety of cyclists and pedestrians through education, advocacy, legislation, and encouragement. We support biking and walking for health, transportation, and recreation. For more information, visit bikemaine.org.