Charles County Sheriff's officers responded to the 10600 block of Popes Creek Road in Bel Alton for the report of a motor vehicle crash. Investigation revealed a Kawasaki motorcycle was traveling east on Popes Creek Road when it left the right side of the roadway and struck a guardrail. The driver, Lawrence Frederick Hoover, 37, of Nanjemoy, was ejected from the motorcycle and was pronounced dead on the scene. He was wearing a helmet. Officer R. Taylor of the Traffic Operations Unit is investigating.
Thirty-four people have died in 28 motor vehicle crashes so far this year, surpassing the previous record number of traffic fatalities that was set in 1995 when 33 people died in 26 crashes. Last year, 17 people died in 15 crashes.