For many people, riding a motorcycle is a hobby, an adventure, or even a way of life. However, motorcycle accidents cause injury and death in Missouri and across the country on a daily basis. Pedestrians and individuals on motorcycles are at an increased risk of danger due to their lack of protection compared to vehicles. If they are involved in an accident caused by a reckless or intoxicated driver, they are more likely to have major injuries such as head injuries and spinal cord injuries.
A Missouri man was involved in a motorcycle crash one evening. Investigators reported that a 25-year-old man was driving a green Nissan Sentra when he proceeded to turn left to get on a bridge, but crashed into a couple who were riding a red Harley Davidson motorcycle.
The 66-year-old motorcycle rider, who was not wearing a helmet, was killed and his wife who was riding as a passenger, was critically injured. After the fatal accident, the 25-year-old man tried to flee and he ran down a hill being pursued by two witnesses. A man in the parking lot of a local restaurant caught the man and all three men held him until police arrived.
Police said that right before the crash, the 25-year-old man was involved in a road rage incident. They said he got out of his car at a signal light and shouted at the driver behind him for honking his horn when he didn’t go after the light turned green. The man is facing several charges, including Aggravated DUI Causing Death and was being held on $125,000 bail.
Accidents like the one in this case often involve a combination of inattentive motorists and the fact that motorcycles are usually smaller than other vehicles on the road. Motorists are advised to give motorcycle riders room and check blind spots. Drivers need to carefully watch for motorcycles, and always look twice before changing lanes or entering a roadway. For riders, the advice is to always use protective gear and pay attention to your riding, including riding at the correct speed limit.
Source: fox2now.com, “Road rage incident ends in fatal motorcycle crash” Shirley Washington, Sep. 16, 2013