WASHINGTON — A motorcyclist who slid off Route 5 in Charles County Sunday afternoon died as a result of the wreck and was not shot as investigators initially believed.

Robert T. Anderson, 44, of Patuxent River, Maryland, died at the scene of the 2:15 p.m. wreck. A forensic examiner found evidence that suggested that Anderson had been shot but an autopsy determined that the injury was a puncture wound he suffered during the crash, according to the Maryland State Police.

State police say that Anderson left the road and struck a guard rail and was thrown from his Harley Davidson. He was found along Route 5 near Route 231 in Hughesville.

His death was ruled an accident as the result of blunt force trauma from the wreck.

Portions of the Hughesville Bypass along Route 5 were closed for hours Sunday evening for the investigation.