Biker’s death investigated

Accident on Middletown Road involved off-duty state trooper

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

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‘‘The details of the accident are still under investigation,” state police spokesman 1st Sgt. Russell Newell said Tuesday.

John W. Harding, 33, was pronounced dead at Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly, where he was flown by U.S. Park Police Eagle 1 after the crash.

According to Maryland State Police, trooper Justin E. Zimmerman, 26, assigned to the state police crash team in College Park, was off duty and driving an unmarked state police 2006 Ford Expedition when the crash occurred. Zimmerman, a six-year veteran of the state police, was traveling north on Middletown Road shortly before 4 p.m. when he entered a new intersection at Lexington Drive and made a left turn, police said.

Harding was driving a 2006 Harley-Davidson south on Middletown Road and was rounding a curve approaching Lexington Drive. The preliminary investigation indicates that Zimmerman was following a school bus traveling north before turning left at the intersection in front of Harding. Police said the motorcycle slid into the right rear of the Expedition, causing Harding, who was wearing a helmet, to be ejected. The motorcycle caught fire, but Zimmerman was not injured in the crash.

Authorities said the traffic light at the new intersection is not yet functioning, and the area is still under construction. Police have yet to determine the speed of the motorcycle before the collision.

The speed limit on Middletown Road is 30 mph.

The completed investigation will be presented to the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.

Newell said Zimmerman is still on duty, and the case is being reviewed administratively because a state police vehicle was involved.

Harding, a former Marine, was a Harley enthusiast and had just purchased the bike about a month ago, friend Jeff Abott said Monday. He described Harding as a dedicated family man who loved his wife, Dina, and his 11-year-old daughter, Alyssa.

‘‘He was just a good person to be around,” he said.

Visitation and a memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. today at Arehart-Echols Funeral Home in La Plata, where a service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Harding is the eighth person to be killed on Charles County roads this year. Three people have died in motorcycle accidents.

E-mail Michael Kantor at mkantor@somdnews.com.