WALES — A 51-year-old Litchfield man died Wednesday night when his motorcycle struck a pole on Route 197, Litchfield Road.

Authorities say Steven A. Caouette was traveling toward Litchfield “when he failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway. As a result, the motorcycle left the travel lane and struck the utility pole. Mr. Caouette was ejected from the motorcycle and was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

In a post on the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, authorities say the impact of the crash caused the pole to break and fall into the roadway, making Route 197 impassable for a period of time.

Police, fire and rescue crews from Sabattus and Wales responded to the collision shortly after 6 p.m. and immediately called for roads to be shut down in the area. The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department also sent deputies to the scene.

A section of Route 197 was shut down at Oak Hill Road on the Litchfield end and near the Oak Hill Cash Market on the other.

At 7:30 p.m., police and rescue crews were still at the scene. It was expected that a reconstruction of the crash site would begin as an investigation got underway.

The incident remains under investigation.