Abingdon Motorcyclist Killed in Joppa Crash into Telephone Pole: Police

An Abingdon man was killed Sunday morning after his motorcycle crashed into a telephone pole in Joppa, according to Maryland State Police, who said alcohol and speed appeared to have contributed.

At 1:26 a.m. on Sunday, a citizen reported the crash on MD Route 7/Philadelphia Road at Mandeville Lane, according to a report from the Maryland State Police Bel Air barrack.

Bernard Cross, of the 700 block of Perthshire Place, had been headed east on Philadelphia Road when he went off the right side of the road before Mandeville Lane, hit a telephone pole and was ejected from his Harley Davidson FXDB, according to the report.

Troopers from the Bel Air barrack responded, as did paramedics from Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company, the report said. Cross was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

An off-duty Baltimore City police officer notified Cross’ family, according to the report. The officer was a family friend of Cross, who was 52, The Aegis reported.

Police said Philadelphia Road was closed for two hours as investigators documented the scene.

It marked the second fatality involving a motorcyclist in Joppa this weekend. Another motorcyclist was killed Friday night on Mountain Road in a two-vehicle crash.