SACO — Saco police are investigating a fatal accident involving a moped.
Jerry Garcia Jr., 20, of Saco, was driving southbound on High Street on Wednesday evening around 5:30 p.m. on a moped when he lost control of the vehicle near the intersection of School Street and crashed into the back end of a boat parked on a trailer, said Deputy Police Chief Corey Huntress. When police arrived on the scene, they found a silver 2011 Daix scooter laying on the roadway and good Samaritans attempting to provide aid to Garcia, Huntress said.
Garcia was transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where he died of injuries related to the crash, Huntress said. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, said Huntress.
Garcia’s last public post on his Facebook page was in May, asking if anyone was selling a moped.
Several friends have posted condolences on his Facebook page.
“Rest easy brotha, the world will miss you. Hope you watch over us an give us your blessings.. can’t believe this news,” wrote one friend.
The accident is under investigation, Huntress said.
Friends, family and community members have made a memorial on High Street at the site of the crash with flowers, candles, mementos and written messages of remembrance.
One friend of Garcia’s wrote of the fun times they shared fishing for stripers and playing Black Ops 3.
“You were pretty good and usually beat me, but all I wanna do is play with you one more time,” or go to the rope swing at the Saco River at Salmon Falls, he wrote.
A memorial service in honor of Garcia will be held at the scene of the accident at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, said Samuel Elie, a close friend of Garcia’s, in an email.
“He had not one bad bone in his body. He cared about everyone. We grew up together in church, and picked on each other. His dad and mine used to hang out a lot and we would go with them to either the gym or do outdoor stuff. I miss him so much. He was taken way too early way before his prime,” said Elie.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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