Driver falls asleep, kills motorcyclist in crash

POLAND – A motorcyclist died Tuesday when he was struck head-on by a car driven by a man who had fallen asleep at the wheel, police said.

John A. Pratt Jr., 46, of Mechanic Falls died before police arrived at the scene.

The crash occurred at 2:53 p.m. when a Buick driven by Gerald Lemelin drifted across the centerline on Route 11, investigators said.

Lemelin, 79, of Lewiston woke up moments before the collision and attempted to steer back into the eastbound lane, police said. But the vehicles collided, and Pratt was thrown from his motorcycle.

Lemelin was not seriously hurt in the crash, authorities said.

State troopers were conducting an investigation of the crash.