POLAND – A Windham man was killed late Tuesday night when his motorcycle slammed into a moose on Route 26.

Lawrence Smith, 65, was dead at the scene after his Harley-Davidson struck the animal at about 9 p.m., police said.

Smith’s girlfriend, who was riding on another bike, escaped the wreck without serious injury. Investigators said 61-year-old Carol A. Miller lost control of her Harley while trying to steer around the crash scene. She did not require hospital treatment.

Officials from the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office were investigating the crash on Wednesday. Police said it appeared Smith was unable to avoid the moose after it wandered into the roadway in front of him.

Investigators said Smith was not speeding when he crashed and alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the wreck. Smith was not wearing a helmet when he crashed, police said. Miller, who suffered bumps and scrapes, was.

The moose was killed in the collision.

Police closed a section of Route 26 to traffic until nearly midnight while they investigated the crash. Motorists were rerouted around the scene.