On Wednesday night, 32-year-old Justin Maxwell was riding his Harley Davidson Low Rider along the back country roads of Oneida County when his bike drifted off Smith Road and hit a tree.
First responders got the call around 10:30 p.m. When Oneida County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene in Verona, they found Maxwell alone near his motorcycle. Paramedics pronounced him dead right there on the shoulder of the road.
Just hours before the crash, Maxwell had been out riding side-by-side with his brother, Jason. The two brothers shared a deep love for motorcycles, spending much of their free time taking their bikes out on open stretches of pavement.
Born in Oneida and raised in Durhamville, Maxwell graduated from VVS High School in 2012. Right after graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving his country for two years before returning home to Upstate New York.
Back home, he built a solid routine around hard work and hands-on mechanical jobs. He worked as an HVAC technician for All-Temp in Remsen, where his crew knew him as a dependable guy who was always quick to help out anyone in need.
Off the clock, Maxwell spent his time around campfires, visiting local spots, and taking care of his family. He was a protective older brother to his sisters, stayed close with his mother Tracy and stepfather Michael, and never walked past a dog without stopping to pet it.
Calling hours are set for Wednesday, September 2, at Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service in Clinton, followed by a funeral service and military honors at Westmoreland Cemetery the next morning. Deputies closed Smith Road for hours to clear the scene, and the sheriff’s office is still investigating what caused the bike to leave the road.
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