Groton man killed in motorcycle crash

Groton - A local man was killed Thursday afternoon when his motorcycle collided with the back of a passenger car near Exit 88 on Interstate 95.

Police said Justin Saunders, 26, of 862 North Road, was driving his 2001 Yamaha motorcycle at a high rate of speed headed north in the left lane of the highway at about 4:40 p.m. when he collided with the rear bumper of a 2002 Honda sedan driven by Kenneth Wilkinson, 55, of Warwick, R.I.

Police said Saunders was wearing a helmet when the impact of the crash caused him to be thrown from the motorcycle into the grass median. He was taken to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, where an emergency room physician pronounced him dead.

Police did not release any further details on the incident, but said their investgiation remains open and ongoing.