Western District
Fatal Crash / Harmans
20-722166
On July 16, 2020, at approximately 12:31 a.m. officers on patrol located an unattended motorcycle on its side in the right lane of Telegraph Road at the Route 100 west exit ramp in Harmans, Maryland. Officers searched the area and located a male in the grassy area adjacent to the ramp onto Telegraph Road. The male was pronounced dead at the scene by fire department personnel and transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy.
The investigation revealed that a 2000 Yamaha Roadstar motorcycle was exiting from Route 100 westbound onto Telegraph Road when it failed to negotiate a left-handed curve on the ramp. The motorcycle left the roadway striking a road sign and ejecting the operator. The motorcycle continued to travel through the grassy area and ultimately came to rest in the right lane of northbound Telegraph Road.
Preliminarily, the primary cause of this crash is excessive speed. It is believed that alcohol use is also a contributing factor in this crash. Toxicology results are pending. The Traffic Safety Section is handling the crash investigation.
Vehicle 1:
2000 Yamaha Roadstar
Driver/Owner
Paul Thomas Chapman, Jr. (Fatal Injuries)
36 years of age
1100 block of Odenton Road
Odenton, Maryland