In a span of five days, four people were killed in nine motorcycle crashes around Connecticut amid a stretch of pleasant mid-August weather, officials say.

The crashes, which occurred between Sunday and Thursday, came as Connecticut has seen a rise in deadly motorcycle accidents this year. As of Thursday, 44 motorcyclists have died so far this year, compared with 38 this time last year, according to figures from the state Department of Transportation. The number is higher than this time in any of the last five years except for 2021, which saw 46 motorcycle deaths by Aug. 15.

Here are how the series of motorcycle crashes unfolded in Connecticut:

Aug. 11

Winchester, 10:19 a.m. — The first serious motorcycle crash reported in the past week occurred around 10:19 a.m. on a limited access highway off Route 8, authorities said.

Connecticut State Police said they arrived at the scene to find a male rider injured but alert. He was transported to an area hospital, state police said. The crash was cleared and the roadway reopened, the agency said.

Vernon, 4:10 p.m. — The second crash reported last Sunday occurred later in the day in Vernon. Local police said the incident occurred around 4:10 p.m. at the entrance of Henry Park on South Street. Police arrived to find a man lying in the roadway.

Medics were called to the scene along with the local Fire Department and provided the man with treatment before he was flown to the hospital by LifeStar, a helicopter ambulance service.

West Hartford, 5:15 p.m. — About an hour after the Vernon crash, the first of two motorcycle crashes in West Hartford in a week was reported. Around 5:15 p.m., police were called to a crash involving a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle on Albany Avenue, an area near a reservoir and the Avon line.

"The adult operator of the motorcycle had apparent injuries on scene and was transported by ambulance to an area hospital," police Capt. Peter Juda said. "The occupants of the passenger vehicle reported no injuries."

Monday

New Hartford, 5 p.m. — A motorcyclist was killed Monday afternoon after crashing his bike along Route 44 in New Hartford, Connecticut State Police said.

The agency said Robert M. Holcomb was riding his Harley-Davidson west in the area west of Breezy Hill Road when he lost control for an unknown reason. The 31-year-old struck a guardrail in the shoulder and sustained serious injuries. He was taken to Winsted Health Center, where he later was pronounced dead, state police said.

West Hartford, 6:15 p.m. — Around 24 hours after the first crash in West Hartford, a second motorcycle crash was reported, this time in the area of Fern Street and Mountain Road.

Police said officers were called to the scene around 6:15 p.m. and arrived to find a crash between a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle. The adult rider suffered apparent serious injuries, and was taken to the hospital, police said. The driver of the passenger vehicle was unhurt, police said.

Tuesday

Simsbury, 6:05 a.m. — A fatal crash was reported in the Tariffville section of Simsbury around 6:05 a.m. Tuesday.

Simsbury police Lt. Gregory Samselski said officers were called to the intersection of Route 189, also known as Hartford Avenue, and Main Street after a 2016 Yamaha motorcycle collided with a 2020 Ford F-350 pickup truck.

The rider, identified as 61-year-old James Ferreira, was provided care at the scene by medics, then taken to St. Francis Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Samselski said.

He said the driver of the pickup truck remained at the scene and was cooperating with investigators.

Milford, 2:05 p.m. — A fatal crash was reported in Milford later Tuesday afternoon.

Around 2:05 p.m., city police were called to the 1000 block of Boston Post Road for a crash. Police said a preliminary investigation determined a moped rider had struck a vehicle that was traveling east on Boston Post Road.

The rider, 65-year-old Brian McGrory of Milford, was taken to Bridgeport hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, police said.

Wednesday

New Canaan, 1:30 a.m. — Police were called to the intersection of Smith Ridge Road and North Wilton Road around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday after a motorcyclist went off the road, police said.

Police responded to the single-vehicle crash to find the rider, an adult male, in the grass next to the bike. Police said the rider sustained injuries in the crash and was taken to Norwalk Hospital by medics.

Thursday

Branford, 6:37 p.m. — The ninth reported motorcycle crash occurred around 6:37 p.m. on East Main Street near Windmill Hill Road in Branford.

Branford police said a 56-year-old Northford man was taken to the hospital where he died. Police said he was operating a motorcycle, traveling west on East Main Street, or Route 1, around 6:30 p.m. when another vehicle coming from the opposite direction turned in front of him and the vehicles collided.