TORRINGTON — One man is dead after fleeing a police officer and crashing his motorcycle into a minivan in Torrington on Monday morning.
Police said they stopped Michael Hersey, 29, of Torrington, who was operating a motorcycle without a license plate on Prospect Street. They said Hersey then took off at a high rate of speed heading west and hit a minivan on North Elm Street and Red Mountain Ave. Hersey had to be extricated from the motorcycle when it burst into flames. Police said evidence and interviews show the officer was not chasing Hersey at the time of the crash.
Police said three people were taken to the hospital including two children in the minivan. Lifestar was called but later canceled. Police said Hersey died from his injuries after being taken to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. The children were treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Police said Hersey had formerly lived in New Hartford.
Police are investigating the crash.
