Driver guilty in death of Haverhill couple on cycle

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.eagletribune.com/haverhill/x2023215028/Driver-guilty-in-death-of-Haverhill-couple-on-cycle Driver guilty in death of Haverhill couple on cycle By Liz King Staff Writer
NEWBURYPORT — A West Newbury man has been found guilty of two counts of vehicular homicide in connection with a June 2009 collision with a motorcycle that killed a Haverhill couple.
After deliberating for four hours Wednesday, a Newburyport District Court jury found Alan T. Pearsall, 43, of 563 Main St., guilty of two counts of vehicular homicide by negligent driving after a three-day trial before Judge Alan Swan.
The motorcycle operator, Earl Morris, 63, 659 Primrose St., Haverhill, was pronounced dead at the Bachelor Street scene. His wife, Maryella Morris, 63, who was riding on the back, was flown to Boston, where she later died.
Both the Morrises were wearing helmets.
Essex County District Attorney spokesman Steve O'Connell said Pearsall was charged with vehicular homicide due to negligent driving because he had driven into the opposite lane to pass a bicycle that was heading the same way as he was. He hit the motorcycle coming in the opposite direction around a blind curve, O'Connell said.
"During the trial, (Pearsall) claimed he was in his own lane, but the reconstruction proved differently," O'Connell said.
According to a scene reconstruction, police found Pearsall had left his lane on the rural, two-lane road and was traveling head-on into the southern lane where his car came to rest after striking the motorcycle. According to court documents, Pearsall's wheels were turned as if he were attempting to swerve back into the northbound lane at the time of impact.
Pearsall had told police he did not see the motorcycle until it was a foot in front of him.
Pearsall owns Alan Pearsall Art and Design Studio in West Newbury and has painted murals in Haverhill and Ipswich. He was born in Boxford and attended Pratt Institute in New York City before moving to Hollywood to design movie posters for the film industry. He moved back to West Newbury to live out his dream of owning an art studio, according to a Haverhill Gazette story.