Motorcyclist, passenger killed in Vermont crash

DERBY, Vt. (AP) — Vermont State Police say two people have died in a crash involving a motorcycle and a shuttle bus in Derby.

Police say the two victims are 23-year-old Ronald Kennedy, of Newport, who was driving the motorcycle, and his passenger, 20-year-old Kyra Birchard, of Derby. They were killed Tuesday afternoon when the motorcycle hit the Rural Transportation bus after the bus had turned onto Shattuck Hill Road.

Kennedy died at the scene. Birchard was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The driver of the shuttle bus was not injured.

Police say they believe the motorcycle’s excessive speed was a key factor in the crash.