Motorcycle crash results in death of Rockland man Passing ambulance crew finds victim

ROCKPORT – An ambulance crew traveling on Route 1 early Saturday on another call spotted a motorcycle that had crashed more than an hour earlier, killing its operator.

Rockport police Officer Travis Ford said the motorcycle operator, Galen Penney, 29, of Rockland, was dead when the Camden First Aid Association ambulance stopped to investigate.

“They actually saw the bike,” Ford said of the ambulance crew. “It was laying well off the road.”

The ambulance crew reported the accident at about 5:30 a.m., but a medical examiner at the scene put the time of death between an hour and two hours earlier, Ford said. Maine State Police were called in to reconstruct the accident.

“He’d been there awhile,” Ford said of the victim.

Ford said Penney, who was traveling south, apparently left the road to the right near the Dorr Signs business. The motorcycle reportedly struck a telephone pole, a tree, and then another tree before coming to a stop.

Penney, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered multiple injuries, the officer said.

As is the case with all fatal accidents, a blood test will be performed on the victim to determine whether alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash. So far, there is no evidence of any substance use, Ford said.

Results of the blood test won’t be available for several weeks, he said. “We’re trying to find out where he was before.”

Penney’s wife said her husband planned to attend a motorcycle rally in Winterport Saturday. Ford speculated that Penney might have traveled to the northern Waldo County town the night before to observe the rally setup.