Two motorcyclists were arrested in Newburyport Friday night after they allegedly refused to stop for police.
According to Newburyport police, officers responded to Merrimac St. around 5:45 Friday evening for a report of a group of six motorcyclists speeding.
A Newburyport officer attempted to stop the motorcyclists, and three of them did stop. The other three fled at a high rate of speed toward High Street, including the lead motorcyclist, 24-year-old Edwin Mendez of Haverhill.
At the intersection of High St. and Storey Ave., Mendez struck a car and bounced into the opposite travel lane, where he struck another car head-on. Mendez was thrown off his bike and into the street.
Police said Mendez attempted to flee on foot, but was unable to due to injuries he sustained during the crash. He was taken to Anna Jacques Hospital, and was released later that night.
Mendez was charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, failure to stop for police, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, number plate violation/concealment, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, marked lanes violation and speeding.
The second motorcyclist who fled, 27-year-old Clifford Jones of Haverhill, continued westbound on Ferry Road after striking a car. He then fled to Curzon Mill Road before fleeing on foot.
Jones was later captured by Massachusetts State Troopers. He was charged with failure to stop for police, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, number plate violation/concealment, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, marked lanes violation and speeding.
Both suspects told police they panicked because they did not have motorcycle licenses and because their bikes were not registered or insured.
The third motorcyclist who fled was identified and will be summonsed to court at a later date.
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