Lake Hopatcong Man Airlifted From Motorcycle Crash

A 30-year-old Lake Hopatcong man was airlifted from Lenape Valley High School on Saturday afternoon after the motorcycle he was riding crashed on Sparta Stanhope Road in Hopatcong, police said. They also said the victim, whose name they are not disclosing at this time, was last known to have been in critical condition at Morristown Medical Center, where he was flown.

Authorities report they called for a helicopter to transport the rider after EMT-certified police patrols arrived at the scene and did a trauma assessment. Hopatcong EMS and Medic 516 also reported to the scene. Police said the individuals riding with the man estimate he was at the scene of the crash for about a half hour before first-responders arrived, with the crash taking place at approximately 12:40 p.m. on Saturday.

According to police, three individuals were riding on motorcycles traveling south on Sparta Stanhope road when two of them say they lost sight of the other rider, who was reportedly driving at faster speeds. The pair of riders said when they got to the stop sign at Brooklyn Road and Sparta Stanhope Road, they did not see the other rider and continued on, thinking he went to the Stanhope VFW, which is where they were scheduled to meet.

Once arriving at the VFW and finding the third rider was not there, they backtracked and caught a glimpse of his bike in a field, police said. There, the other riders reported finding him in front of his bike, unresponsive and unconscious.

Police said that the accident continues to be under investigation.