Ryan M. Johnson Newfoundland, PA Obituary & Death, Killed in Palmyra Township Motorcycle Crash on Route 507 Involving 17-Year-Old Driver from Tafton

PALMYRA TOWNSHIP, Pike County, PA – A 28-year-old Newfoundland man was killed Sunday evening in a high-speed motorcycle crash at the intersection of Route 507 and Route 390, according to Pennsylvania State Police. The victim has been identified as Ryan M. Johnson.

The crash occurred around 9:15 p.m. on May 17 in the rural Pocono Mountains region, a junction that connects local traffic between Lake Wallenpaupack and the Delaware Water Gap area. Investigators say the collision involved a 2020 Kawasaki Ninja 400 motorcycle and a 2017 Nissan Murano driven by a 17-year-old from nearby Tafton.

According to the preliminary reconstruction, the SUV was stopped at a posted sign on Route 390 and began a left turn onto Route 507. During the maneuver, the rear portion of the vehicle remained in the motorcycle’s path. Johnson, traveling southbound on Route 507, struck the passenger-side rear of the SUV at high speed. He was pronounced dead at the scene from severe blunt-force trauma.

Emergency responders arrived within minutes, but authorities said the impact was not survivable despite the rider wearing a properly secured helmet. The roadway was closed for several hours while Pennsylvania State Police conducted an on-scene reconstruction and documented evidence.

Investigators noted that both speed and alcohol are being considered as contributing factors in the crash, pending toxicology results. Officials also cited a failure-to-yield violation by the teenage driver, though she was not injured in the collision. No charges have been filed at this time, and her identity has not been released due to her age.

The intersection where the crash occurred has a history of accidents, according to local records, and sits along a heavily traveled rural corridor known for limited lighting and sudden traffic shifts at night. State police are reviewing vehicle data, roadway markings, and witness statements as part of the ongoing investigation.

Johnson, a lifelong resident of the Newfoundland area, was remembered by family as an avid motorcyclist with a passion for mechanics, fishing, and time spent outdoors around the Pocono region. A memorial has since formed near the crash site, where friends have left flowers and tributes.

Authorities say the investigation remains active as they await toxicology reports and additional reconstruction findings.