Teen, airman die in motorcycle crash

Stonington, Conn. (WTNH) - A fifteen year old from Ledyard and a member of the Air Force were killed in a double fatal motorcycle accident this weekend in Stonington.

The accident happened on Route 184 just east of Taugwonk Road Sunday evening around 4pm.

The motorcycle driver, 22-year old James Austin, of Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The passenger, 15-year old Levi Masalin, died later at an area hospital.

The motorcycle hit an embankment not far from Marty Jefson's house who saw the bike lying in the road.

"It's about equal distance between my mailbox and the neighbors. The motorcycle came to rest there," says Jefson. "What was most disturbing was to see the family's congregate, and they were obviously distraught, a pretty tragic day for two families."

Family friends tell News 8 that Austin who was in the Air Force living in North Dakota grew up in nearby Rhode Island and was back for a wedding when he and Masalin went for a ride on the motorcycle. The two are believed to be related. Masalin lived in a Ledyard house where he was home schooled.

No one answered but notes and flowers were left for the family which is gaining support from the community and their church.

"I know he was significantly broken up, I don't know how he was handling it," says Mayor Fred Allyn of Ledyard.

Allyn says Levi Masalin's father Steven is the Director of Public Works in town.

"To the whole family the heart felt concern and care of everybody goes to the Masalin family," says Allyn.

Police believe Masalin may have been wearing a helmet, but that has not been confirmed.

Jefson says, because this is a straight away he sometimes sees motorcycles speed by, but other than that he says this is not necessarily a dangerous stretch of road.

The accident is still under investigation, but police believe that speed was a factor.