ACTON — Two people remained hospitalized at Maine Medical Center in Portland on Monday following a crash involving three motorcycles Saturday evening on Route 109 near 10th Street. Others involved were treated and released at the scene.

A Maine Medical Center hospital spokesman on Monday said Jared and Jennifer Russell of Barrington, New Hampshire, were in serious condition as a result of a the crash.

York County Sheriff William King Jr. said the pair were among a group of New Hampshire motorcycle enthusiasts that had traveled to Acton for an outing and the crash occurred as they were returning to the Granite State.

King said the group of five motorcycles was traveling south on Route 109 when the crash took place around 7 p.m.

A preliminary analysis revealed Jared Russell, 41, of Barrington, New Hampshire, was driving his 2017 Harley Davidson motorcycle with his wife, Jennifer Russell, 43, as a passenger, when he tried to position his bike to either be with or ahead of two motorcyclists, King said.

Robert Welch, 41, of Exeter, New Hampshire, was riding his 2017 Harley Davidson motorcycle with Brenda Clevesy, 47, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, as a passenger, the sheriff said. The Welch motorcycle was operating alongside Mark Driscoll, 56, of Hampton, New Hampshire, who was riding his 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle alone. 

Russell’s motorcycle struck the Welch and Driscoll bikes, causing all three to crash, said King in a statement issued Sunday afternoon. None of the motorcyclists or their passengers were wearing helmets, he said. 

Jared Russell, who appeared to suffer serious head injuries, was taken by LifeFlight helicopter to Maine Medical Center in Portland, King said. Jennifer Russell, who also suffered serious head injuries, was taken to Southern Maine Health Care in Sanford and later transferred to MMC.   

Robert Welch and Brenda Clevesy were treated at the scene and released, the sheriff said. Mark Driscoll refused treatment at the scene but later reported to seek medical treatment on his own.  

In addition to Acton Fire and Rescue, Sanford, Shapleigh and Newfield rescue units responded. Route 109 was closed until approximately 10:30 p.m. Saturday night.

King said the preliminary analysis shows that operator inexperience and other, unspecified causal factors attributed to the crash. The crash was to be reconstructed Sunday by deputies from the Sheriff’s Office and members of the Maine Warden Service. No further information was available on Monday.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.