Motorcyclist pronounced dead at scene of collision with farm machinery in Berkeley County

GERRARDSTOWN, W.Va. — A Hedgesville motorcyclist was killed in a collision with a piece of farm equipment Saturday, according to West Virginia State Police.

Matthew Neal, 28, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash in the 1330 block of Buck Hill Road near Gerrardstown, police said.

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Neal was riding a Harley-Davidson southbound near the yellow line when he swerved to avoid a northbound acreage rake that exceeded the width of the lane. The machine was being towed by a Ford F350 Super Duty truck driven by Jacob Yates, 42, of Hedgesville, police said.

Neal was displaced from the motorcycle and struck the machine head-on, according to police.

Correction: This story was updated at 3:34 p.m. Sept. 20, 2021 to correct the first name of Matthew Neal. Herald-Mail Media apologizes for the mistake.