LEWISTON – The man killed Friday in an early morning motorcycle crash on Cedar Street was a father of three who had recently purchased a new Harley-Davidson.
Norman A. Poulin, 43, of South Main St., Auburn, died minutes after crashing his bike into a telephone pole near the Lewiston side of the South Bridge, police said.
“He was a great guy. A great guy to hang out with,” said Jeff Coulombe, one of Poulin’s closest friends. “He was very genuine and very caring. If he had something, it was yours. He was very good to his buddies.”
According to a police report, Poulin was driving from Auburn into Lewiston when he failed to negotiate a curve. His Harley crossed the center line, jumped a curb and crashed into the pole near the Bates Mill Factory Outlet.
Poulin, a sales representative with Waste Management of Maine, died of head trauma and internal bleeding, according to the crash report.
Friends said Poulin often took a ride on his Harley on Friday nights. Sometimes he rode with others, sometimes he rode alone. Police believe Poulin was by himself Friday morning when he crashed.
“He was a straight-up, No. 1 dude,” said Ken Dufour, another of Poulin’s friends. “He knew a lot of people. He was one of those guys who, if you asked for something, it was there.”
The 12:15 a.m. wreck forced the closure of the South Bridge while police investigated the crash. A reconstruction expert assisted Lewiston police at the scene, but results of his findings were not yet known.
It was the first motorcycle fatality this year in Lewiston. Police said Poulin was not wearing a helmet when he crashed.
Police spoke with two potential witnesses – a 22-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman – as they continued their investigation.
According to his obituary, Poulin is survived by a daughter and two sons who live in Lewiston and Auburn.
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