Attorney Kevin O. Hagan, left, and Joseph Beirola, of Tiverton, in Superior Court on Thursday

The Journal / Frieda Squires

NEWPORT — A motorcyclist who crashed in June, killing his passenger, was ordered to give up his driver’s license during his arraignment in Newport County Superior Court Thursday morning.

Joseph Beirola, 48, of Tiverton, was released on $25,000 personal recognizance and ordered to report to the Tiverton Police Department for processing. He was indicted by a Newport County grand jury on Friday for driving under the influence, death resulting, and driving to endanger, death resulting. He had not been charged prior to the indictment.

The police say that Beirola was driving his 1997 Harley Davidson on Route 24 on June 13 when he lost control on the Main Road off-ramp. Beirola was severely injured and his passenger, Janet C. Valcourt, 53, of 191 Lawton St., Fall River, was killed. She had been wearing a helmet.

At Beirola’s arraignment, his attorney, Kevin Hagan, argued that Beirola needed his license to travel to see his attorney and to do his job, which includes snow plowing and mowing for the state Department of Transportation. Hagan said that Beirola has worked for the state for 23 years and has lived in Rhode Island all of his life. Hagan volunteered that Beirola has visited CODAC, a substance-abuse treatment facility, and gotten on the waiting list for treatment.

Associate Justice Melanie Wilk Thunberg said the issue could be revisited at a later date, but that Beirola would have to forfeit his license.

A pretrial date has been scheduled for Jan 7.

tbuford@projo.com