By Thomas J. Morgan
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. -- A Middletown man suffered fatal injuries Wednesday when his motorcycle left Valley Road and crashed on an embankment, according to police.
Lyle J. Smith, 49, of 19 Laura Rd., was pronounced dead in Rhode Island Hospital, police said, adding that he suffered head injuries in the 6:40 p.m. incident.
Police officers and firefighters had to cut brush to carve a path to remove the victim.
A witness told police that the motorcycle had been traveling north at a high rate of speed when it left the roadway.