LITCHFIELD, N.H. — A deadly crash on Tuesday night has taken the life of a motorcyclist and left a local community in shock. The accident happened shortly after 11 p.m. on Charles Bancroft Highway, one of Litchfield’s main roads. The crash occurred near 519 Charles Bancroft Highway and involved a Toyota RAV4 SUV and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Emergency crews from Litchfield Police and Fire, along with paramedics from Hudson, responded quickly after receiving a 911 call. When they arrived, they found the two vehicles in the southbound lane and 41-year-old Jean Lopes of Hudson lying unresponsive on the road. Despite efforts to save him, Lopes was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy will be done by the New Hampshire Medical Examiner’s Office to confirm the exact cause of death.
According to police and witness statements, the SUV was reversing onto the highway when the motorcycle crashed into the back of it. Investigators are still working to determine if visibility, lighting, or other road conditions played a role. The exact reason the SUV was backing into a main road is now a key part of the investigation. Police have not released the name of the SUV driver and say no charges have been filed yet.
The crash forced authorities to shut down both directions of Charles Bancroft Highway for several hours. Officers secured the area, redirected traffic, and worked through the night to collect evidence. They are now interviewing witnesses, examining the vehicles, and checking nearby surveillance cameras that may show what led up to the crash.
Jean Lopes’ death has saddened many in Hudson, where he lived. Though little is known publicly about his background, news of the tragic accident has drawn sympathy from residents. Motorcycle crashes are often more severe because riders have less protection, and many of these crashes could be prevented with safe driving and better road awareness.
As the investigation continues, police are asking anyone with information to contact Officer Trevor Roche at 603-424-4047 or by email at troche@litchfieldpd.com. With summer bringing more motorcycles onto the roads, officials are reminding all drivers to stay alert, follow traffic laws, and be especially careful when sharing the road with motorcycles.