A Salem businessman and philanthropist died of serious head injuries he sustained after crashing his motorcycle on Millville Street.

Stephen Devito, 45, of 12 Arlington Pond Court, was not wearing a helmet on Thursday, June 12, at around 12:20 a.m., when his motorcycle went off the road near the intersection with Spring Street, and he struck a fence.

Salem police Capt. Shawn Patten said police believe Devito was heading home from his popular restaurant and night spot, Devito’s on Main Fine Dining and Stevie D’s Sports Grille. Devito was apparently turning onto Millville Street from Main Street.

“He just failed to negotiate the curve and went off the road,” said Patten, adding Devito may have been accelerating through gears when he left the road, something that usually makes it harder to steer a motorcycle.

Devito was still alive when emergency response arrived, and was transported to Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Mass., according to police. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Speed is believed to be a factor in the accident, but alcohol is not. Toxicology tests will be performed in the next several weeks.

Patten added police had one witness to the accident, whom he said didn’t see very much. Devito moved to Salem 12 years ago, according to neighbors, and quickly became a community favorite when he opened several businesses in town, the most recent being the restaurant and sports bar, which had its grand opening in March.

He frequently donated to the town’s Boys & Girls Club and athletic leagues, neighbors said. Beverly Connell of 24 Arlington Pond Court said she and her husband, Tom, knew and loved Devito dearly, as did everyone in the close-knit neighborhood.

“It’s been so devastating every time I drive by his house,” said Connell, her voice breaking. “He just couldn’t do enough for people.”

Devito was part of Salem’s initiative to revitalize the depot area of the town and turn it into a center of entertainment and commerce. The restaurant was one of the first steps in doing that, with the town planning to refurbish and put to the railroad depot building to new use.

Recently, he bought up all of the property surrounding Stevie D’s with plans to construct a retail center similar to Fanueil Hall in Boston and a condo subdivision.

“He was crucial to the revitalization of the depot,” said Patten.

Those who knew and loved Devito are still trying to understand what happened the night Devito crashed.

Ronald Oldeman of 16 Arlington Pond Court, who lives directly next door to Devito, said the family members he has spoken to seem to be holding up well under the circumstances.

“I don’t understand, personally. After seeing the accident site, it’s hard for me to comprehend how the accident happened,” Oldeman said.

He added Devito always had larger-than-life goals. “He had grand ideas. Everything he did in life was on a large scale, and he looked at things with great imagination,” Oldeman said. “I think he saw great possibilities for the depot, and I believe he just wanted to be a part of that renovation process.”

Connell said her first impressions of Devito when he moved into the neighborhood in 1996 after purchasing LL&S Wastewood Processing on Lowell Road, were that he was a “party-goer” who loved to entertain guests.

“He livened up our neighborhood. He was just a great, giving person. We’re just going to miss him tremendously,” said Connell, who added she and her husband also spent time with Devito in Pompano Beach, Fla. The Connells and Devito both own condos in the area, and Devito would invite the Connells on boating excursions.

Board of Selectmen Chairman Beth Roth, who was on the Planning Board when the site application for Stevie D’s was approved, said the restaurant’s location, ambiance, and Devito’s openness had turned it into a community meeting place.

“There’s no reason to doubt that he was anything other than an outstanding business person. Obviously, he had the interest of the town in mind,” said Roth, who was also working with Devito and others on the depot revitalization.

Connell said the neighborhood is completely devastated at Devito’s death, the third in their neighborhood in the past eight months.

“We’re just trying to get through the stress of losing our great neighbor. We’re just going to miss him tremendously,” she said.