Biker pleads innocent after Route 11 crash
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Published: October 29, 2009
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A New Hampshire motorcyclist denied charges Tuesday that his reckless riding sent a woman to the hospital with serious injuries.
Cody R. Barton, 19, of Lebanon, N.H., pleaded innocent in White River Junction District Court to a felony charge of gross negligent operation of a vehicle resulting in serious injuries, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and $15,000 in fines.
According to affidavits filed with the court, around 9 p.m. Sept. 3, a Springfield police officer watched Barton, on a motorcycle and carrying a passenger, cross the yellow line as he traveled Route 11 toward Chester. The police officer turned on his lights and siren, but Barton sped up, records state.
Affidavits state police watched as Barton failed to negotiate the 90-degree turn near Thurber Audio Video and he, his passenger and his bike all went off the road. According to police, Barton was traveling about 100 mph in a 40-mph zone when he crashed.
Police found the bike in two pieces, with the front fork and wheel embedded in a bush about 20 feet from the body of the bike. Police found Barton unconscious about 60 feet from the bike and his passenger, Kayla Hatch, 19, of Grafton, N.H., about 150 feet away.
Barton and Hatch were transported to Springfield Hospital, but Hatch was later flown to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., with a shattered pelvis and an open knee injury, affidavits state. Hatch was discharged Sept. 11, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Barton is free on $2,500 bail.
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