Mental illness may have had role in tricyclist's death: Mother said son had seizures, blackouts on regular basis

Nov. 11--ROCHESTER -- Jonathan Fisk was likely experiencing severe mental health symptoms when he rode his adult-sized tricycle on the Spaulding Turnpike in Rochester, where he was killed after being struck by two vehicles Thursday.

Fisk, 34, of Lebanon, Maine, who suffered seizures and blackout episodes on a regular basis, went to ride his tricycle Thursday afternoon from his home at the Salmon Falls River campground to Gary's Sports Bar in Rochester, according to his mother Cheryl Flood. It was there that he likely had a blackout and got lost on the way home, she said.

According to Flood, Fisk was diagnosed with epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and severe social anxiety accompanied by panic attacks. Although his symptoms have been controlled by prescription medication for much of his life, in May things got worse after he learned one of his dogs was diagnosed with cancer, said Flood. His blackouts have been getting more frequent and he began hallucinating, she said.

Meanwhile, he was fighting to get access to better affordable health care. Flood said his insurance plan was dropped about two years ago, and he was recently denied disability benefits because the state claimed he was able to work.

Over the past year, Flood and her husband, Martin, have accumulated about $20,000 in medical bills for Fisk, she said.

Despite Fisk's symptoms worsening over the past few months, Flood said his doctors at times seemed skeptical when he talked about his mental health issues.

"I think nobody believed his stories," said Flood. "He was not a fall-over drunk. It was not the way doctors made it sound. I know, I lived with him."

Before Thursday's accident, Fisk reportedly only had three drinks at the bar, said Flood.

When Fisk did not come back home around 6 p.m. Thursday, his family began searching for him all over the area. Flood said the family searched up and down Route 125, River Road, and other side roads, to no avail. Around 8:30 p.m., Flood got the phone call that her son had died.

Flood on Monday described how happy Fisk was when he got his tricycle this past summer.

"He was just so proud of that bike, she said.

Flood said that when riding the tricycle from the Salmon Falls River campground, he never usually traveled past Route 125 in Rochester. She said he must have been lost when he ended up on the Spaulding Turnpike (Route 16) Thursday.

Thursday's accident occurred in a northbound lane around 7 p.m., just north of Exit 15. State Police say Fisk was struck by a Chrysler Pacifica and then a Kia Rio5, as he was crossing the highway.

He died on scene.

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