Motorcyclist dies, assistant sheriff unhurt in Lusby crash

A motorcyclist is dead after a crash on Route 2/4 in the area of Nursery Road in Lusby Sunday night, the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office reports.

According to a sheriff’s office press release, the operator of a Honda motorcycle — identified as Paul O’Neal, 36, of Lusby — was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to investigators, O’Neal’s motorcycle “was being operated at an excessive speed” when it collided with a Dodge 3500 pickup truck.

The driver of the truck, David Payne, 52, of St. Leonard, was not injured. Payne is Calvert County’s assistant sheriff.

According to a sheriff’s office press release, at around 7 p.m. both vehicles were traveling northbound.

“As it approached the Dodge, the bike failed to slow down and struck the rear passenger side of the Dodge, causing O’Neal to be ejected from the bike,” the press release stated. “The motorcycle’s excessive speed and failure to control speed to avoid a collision are believed to be factors in this crash.”

The roadway was closed for several hours while the sheriff’s office’s crash reconstruction unit conducted the investigation.

Deputy Anna Morrison of the crash reconstruction team is conducting the investigation. Anyone with information that could aid in the investigation is asked to contact Morrison at 410-535-2800 or email her at Anna.Morrison@calvertcountymd.gov.

O’Neal is the second Calvert County resident to die in a Route 4 motorcycle crash this month.