Mass. motorcyclist dies when bike crashes into covered bridge [06/18/2005]

By Dena Libner

A 32-year-old Massachusetts man was killed in a motorcycle accident early Friday morning in Conway Village. According to a Conway Police Department press release, speed and alcohol likely contributed to the accident. Jason Friel of Norfolk, Mass., was traveling south on East Side Road just after midnight when his bike collided with the Saco River Covered Bridge. Passenger Tara Watt, 22, of Tilton, was transported by ambulance to Memorial Hospital with minor injuries and released that morning. Friel was pronounced dead at the scene. Thousands of motorcyclists are in the area for Laconia's annual Bike Week. Thursday an estimated 3,000 bikers were riding through Conway to participate in the Ride to the Sky run up Mount Washington Auto Road.Friday morning's accident occurred exactly one year to the day after another Massachusetts motorcyclist, Michael Piccarini, was killed less than half a mile away. Piccarini's motorcycle collided with a GMC Yukon in the early hours of Thursday, June 17, 2004.