AUBURN – A motorcyclist escaped serious injury Friday when he was thrown nearly 30 feet along Route 4. His Kawasaki collided with a car in front of Roy’s All Steak Hamburgers.

Brandon Cox, 26, of Lewiston was examined for bumps, bruises and bleeding following the 6:45 p.m. crash.

Police said Cox was driving toward downtown Auburn and was unable to avoid the collision when a northbound car turned in front of him.

Doris Bourque, 64, of Lewiston was making a left turn into Roy’s parking lot and failed to see the motorcycle heading her way, police said.

Cox’s Kawasaki Ninja struck the passenger side of the car, sending him airborne for several feet, police said.

“He landed on his helmet and he skidded another 10 feet or so,” said Auburn police Officer Andre Levesque. “He’s lucky there were no further injuries.”

Bourque was not hurt in the crash, which forced police to close down parts of Route 4 for several minutes.

While lucky to have escaped without serious injury, Cox was not so fortunate when the damage assessment was done following the wreck. Witnesses said the motorcycle was nearly ripped in half in the collision. Police estimated damage to the 2004 Kawasaki – which Cox bought less than two weeks ago – at $6,000.

Levesque said Cox was spared life-threatening injuries in part because of the helmet and leather coat he was wearing.

“From numerous witness statements, he was doing absolutely nothing wrong at the time of the crash,” Levesque said.

The wreck remained under investigation Friday night. Police estimated damage to Bourque’s 1991 Toyota four-door at $3,000.