Motorcycle Accident Has PM Assistant Fire Chief in Critical Condition

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When considering accidents involving BMPs (Bicyclists/Motorcyclists/Pedestrians) this group typically looks at causative factors and prevention.  A motorcycle accident happened this Sunday which doesn't seem easily explained; it should serve as a cautionary tale to those who get on the bike, especially with their spouse or significant other and take a leisurely Sunday drive, showing that even in the best of conditions, one pebble, one overturn, one moment's lapse of attention is the difference between having a great ride or ending up in critical condition.

Dennis Grant, 65, is the Assistant Chief for the Pere Marquette Fire Department is currently in the critical care unit of Grand Rapid's Butterworth Hospital.  Grant is no stranger for riding his motorcycle and no stranger to safety, he and his wife were wearing helmets when they got into an accident when (while heading southward) they allegedly poorly negotiated a turn of Walhalla Road at where it runs into Kinney out in a very scenic area of Mason County where you would expect no trouble more than some stray wild animal running out in front of you. 

Perhaps that played a part, but Grant and his wife, as passenger, crashed around the turn of the road for some reason.  Both roads are paved, so one would not expect loose gravel or sand causing the spill.  The paving is in good shape, so hitting a pothole is not as likely.  The conditions were slightly windy, but otherwise dry and sunny, but when the accident happened (around 5 PM) the sun would be west and still fairly high in the sky. 

Margaret "Peggy" Grant, who was recuperating from her less critical injuries at Spectrum Ludington, has apparently not indicated anything special as the cause, nor has anything been released saying there was.  Maybe Dennis Grant realized the turn was coming a moment too late, maybe a bee flew under his helmet, maybe a car was poised to turn in front of him. 

In the end, perhaps it doesn't matter; he was probably riding safely with his wife on the back and something unexpected made him crash and now he's fighting for his life.  Operating a motorcycle has a long list of risks, the best you can hope for is to be able to avoid those that you can by always being aware of your surroundings and never allowing yourself to be distracted. 

For more information see:  Motorcycle accident involved Denny, Peggy Grant

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Subsequent reports allege that Dennis Grant waved at a biker coming from the opposite direction, which made him lose control of the motorcycle in negotiating the turn.  Always try to ride with both hands on the handlebars, even Evel Knievel endorsed this: “Riding a motorcycle on today's highways...you have to have both hands and both feet on the controls at all times. ”