One fleeing biker struck a trooper in the hand, while another fleeing biker hit a second trooper's parked cruiser.
LONGMEADOW -- State police are investigating an incident that occurred shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday in the southbound lanes of Interstate 91 in Longmeadow, where a trooper attempting to stop a motorcyclist for a moving violation was struck by the biker.
Another biker struck the door of a second trooper's cruiser, which was positioned on the shoulder of I-91 south, police said.
The trouble began around 8:05 p.m. when troopers from the state police barracks in Springfield spotted about 10 motorcyclists riding four abreast -- a violation -- while traveling south on I-91 near Exit 1 in Longmeadow, according to state police spokesman David Procopio.
A trooper ran the license plate of one motorcycle and it came back as reported stolen, Procopio said. A decision was made to stop the bikers for questioning.
Troopers managed to get ahead of the pack of bikers on I-91 south, taking up positions along the shoulders of the highway to flag down the riders. Four of the bikers were stopped for questioning, but the others fled, Procopio said.
Trooper Mark Weiner exited his cruiser and attempted to flag down one of the bikers, who initially appeared to comply with the trooper's order. But the biker suddenly accelerated toward Weiner, striking the trooper's hand and continuing south at a high rate of speed toward Connecticut, Procopio said.
Procopio said Trooper Paul Kudryk also exited his cruiser, parked on the shoulder opposite from Weiner's vehicle, and attempted to flag down another biker in the group. That biker also initially appeared to comply with the trooper's order, but then accelerated toward Kudryk and struck his cruiser's driver-side door, Procopio said.
The door sustained damage, but Kudryk was not injured, police said.
Troopers at the scene estimated the bikers who fled south on I-91 reached speeds in excess of 130mph. Two other bikers eluded police by turning around and fleeing north in the southbound lanes of I-91.
Massachusetts authorities are working with Connecticut State Police to locate the bikers who fled the scene, who face charges ranging from assault and battery to reckless operation to endanger, among others.
"The Massachusetts State Police view (Sunday) evening's incident as a serious crime -- one that not only put troopers in danger but also endangered the public -- and will continue to exhaust all investigative means to find the perpetrators," Procopio said in a statement.
The bikes all appeared to be foreign-made with Massachusetts registrations. Based on the few bikes that were stopped, state police believe the motorcyclists may be from Holyoke, Procopio said.
Authorities have identified the bike with the stolen plate as MA DLN 8378A, which is a regular dealer plate, not a motorcycle plate. The plate was mounted along the upper left side of the rear wheel, under the exhaust pipe, and the plate faced to the left and wasn't visible from the rear, police said.
Procopio said the biker who hit Kudryk's cruiser may have suffered some type of leg or ankle injury from the impact, while the biker who hit Trooper Weiner was wearing a black helmet.
State police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or have information about the identities of the motorcycle riders to call the Springfield barracks at (413) 736-8390.