BELFAST – A Waterville man was killed Sunday evening when he lost control of his motorcycle on a sharp curve on High Street.

Frederick Mayhue, 45, landed on his head and was killed instantly after his Kawasaki Vulcan went airborne, Police Chief Allen Weaver said Monday. He was not wearing a conventional crash helmet. Speed was not believed to be a factor in the 6 p.m. crash.

“At this point it doesn’t appear to be speed related,” said Weaver. “He was probably unfamiliar with the area. It’s a real sharp curve that cuts hard to the left and he may have just missed it.”

Weaver said investigating officers Sgt. John Gibbs, Brian Cunningham and Ray Porter determined Mayhue and a friend spent the day at a motorcycle exhibition at the Owls Head Transportation Museum and had stopped in Belfast on their way home. He said the pair left the downtown and headed up High Street. Though Mayhue’s riding companion turned on Vine Street and up the Waterville Road, for some reason Mayhue missed the turn and proceeded along High Street.

The accident occurred on the curve where a bridge once crossed the Passagassawaukeag River at Otis Hill. There is a gravel-based turnout off the curve that the city uses as a snow-dumping area in winter.

After missing the curve, Mayhue’s motorcycle left the road, was vaulted into the air when it hit a piece of ledge and came down on its headlight. Mayhue hit the ground headfirst. The bike bounced once more, landed on its taillight and skidded approximately 80 feet before coming to rest at the side of the woods. Mayhue, who was wearing canvas headgear with goggles was killed on impact.

“He did not have a regular motorcycle helmet on and he took a real nose dive,” said Weaver.

Weaver added that “at this point we have not excluded the possibility that it may have been alcohol related. We’ll have to wait until the tests come back.”

The accident was reported by a woman who was driving by with her small children and stopped at the Belfast Variety to call police. Mayhue’s riding buddy stopped at the store a few minutes after he realized his friend had failed to follow behind him.