Traffic was stopped on Route 1A in Holden near McKay’s RV just after noon Saturday when a motorcyclist laid down his 2006 Harley-Davidson motorcycle in an effort to avoid hitting a vehicle attempting to merge into traffic, Officer Nick Fletcher of the Holden Police Department said.

Ralph Polk, 55, of Calais lost control of his motorcycle while traveling west toward Brewer and attempting to enter the Irving station when he encountered a 2005 Ford F-250 pickup that was in the center lane. The motorcycle hit the truck.

Polk was not wearing a helmet. He suffered head lacerations, injured his elbow and may have suffered a rib fracture. He was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor for treatment, Fletcher said.

A blown tire led to a scary ride for three people on Interstate 95 in Plymouth on Sunday evening.

The 1994 Ford utility vehicle driven by John Thibeault, 63, of Greenbush blew a tire between mile markers 160 and 161 on I-95 and went off the road, grazing a few trees before coming to a rest. The engine compartment of the vehicle then caught fire, burning until the Plymouth Fire Department extinguished the blaze, Trooper Scott Hamilton of the Maine State Police said Sunday night.

Passenger Suzanne Dodson complained of minor side pain and was taken to the hospital, Hamilton said.

Hamilton estimated the damage to the vehicle at $2,000. Speed, alcohol and drugs were ruled out as contributing factors to the accident, he said. Traffic was reduced to one lane for about an hour but resumed by around 6:30 p.m.

High levels of testosterone and alcohol did not mix well Saturday night for a Hermon man.

Adam Alexander, 33, was summoned for operating under the influence of alcohol while giving a woman friend a ride from the Sea Dog Brewing Co. in Bangor on a borrowed motorcycle, according to police files.

Officer Daniel Herrick watched Alexander start the bike and rev the engine loudly, but when Alexander saw the officer on a department motorcycle he turned the engine off. But Alexander only delayed his journey.

Herrick pulled Alexander over on Main Street a little while later. He was taken to the police station, where his blood alcohol level was tested at 0.16, according to police files.

The woman passenger said Alexander had been giving rides on the 2003 Kawasaki motorcycle, and she did not know he was impaired. The report said she also had been drinking. Her motorcycle ride ended not even a mile from where it began, and she had to call a friend for a ride home.

– COMPILED BY BDN REPORTERS NOK-NOI HAUGER AND TONI-LYNN ROBBINS