TRR photo by David Hulse The remains of one of two motorcycles involved in a Sunday afternoon car-bike collision lays alongside Route 97. (Click for larger image)

Motorcyclist succumbs after car-bike collision

BARRYVILLE — One New Jersey man was fatally injured and another was seriously injured September 16 after their motorcycles collided with a car driven by a Barryville man on Route 97 in Lumberland, about two miles south of Barryville.

The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department said a southbound, late-model Honda coupe driven by Jad T. Doherty, 23, crossed over the center line on section of road locally known as “Whirlpool Hill.”

The two northbound motorcycles struck Doherty’s vehicle head-on and veered off the road into the woods, off the northbound shoulder.

Richard Bickhardt, 24, of Newton, NJ, lost his left foot at the ankle in the 2:45 p.m. collision and suffered extensive internal injuries. The other cyclist, Neil Sodol, of Rockaway, NJ, suffered a compound fracture of the left leg and internal injuries. Both were airlifted, by separate helicopter flights, to the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY.

Detective Ed Simon said Bickhardt died of his injuries Monday morning. Sodol was said to be in critical condition following surgery.

Simon said Doherty and his passenger, Kathleen Counts of Eldred, were transported to Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, where they were treated and released. Lumberland and Yulan firefighters and Mobil Medic, Lumberland and Eldred American Legion ambulances assisted at the scene.

While the investigation is continuing, Doherty has thus far been cited for traffic violations including failure to keep right, crossing the center line, speeding and operating an unregistered vehicle, Simon said.