The headline on yesterday's Mason County Press article: "Motorcyclists seriously injured following Branch crash", may have you believe that two motorcyclists crashed together. If you are not from Mason County, you might even be thinking that these bikers may have ran into a tree branch, rather than having their mishap occur at the township of Branch.
A totally different branch crash
But those suppositions would be wrong as the crash in the headlines in this instance was caused by a motorist wrongly turning left across a highway right into the path of motorcyclists going in the opposite direction lawfully. The recap from MCP:
BRANCH TOWNSHIP — A husband and wife were seriously injured Friday afternoon after the motorcycle they were riding was struck by an SUV on US 10. The crash occurred about 3:30 p.m. in front of Branch Grocery, 9455 E. US 10.
According to Sgt. Kyle Boyd of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, a Dodge Durango SUV, driven by a 62-year-old Ludington woman was westbound on US 10 and began to make a left-hand turn into the store parking lot. The Durango turned into the path of the oncoming eastbound Harley Davidson, driven by a 56-year-old Stanton man. Both the motorcycle driver and his 45-year-old passenger/wife, were seriously injured as a result. The driver was not wearing a helmet while the passenger was wearing a helmet. The driver of the Durango was uninjured.
Aeromed helicopter was dispatched and landed nearby. It transported the male motorcyclist to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. The female motorcyclist was transported to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital by ambulance.
The crash remains under investigation by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency units that responded included Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan Department of Natural Resources law enforcement, Michigan State Police, Branch Fire Department, Custer Fire Department, and Life EMS. Scottville Fire Department responded to a medical call on US 10 Branch Township, covering for Branch and Custer departments that were on scene of the crash.
The media offers contradictory data when they say the motorcycle was 'struck by an SUV' in the first paragraph, then explains that the SUV 'turned into the path' of the bike, signaling that the motorcyclists had no choice but to hit the SUV turning directly in front of them and violating their right-of-way, if not violating their right to live.
No, this was a totally preventable crash because it's sole cause was that 62 year old SUV driver from Ludington failing to notice these vulnerable users of the road before turning-- into somebody who has seriously injured two fellow human beings due solely to her negligence. She can't blame any nasty weather, there was none. She can't blame the sun, it was still high in the sky. She can't blame hills or road turns, there is nothing but clear and level territory where the riders came from.
But despite the cause of this accident being the fault of the SUV driver in not respecting the riders' right-of-way, the headline makes you believe that motorcyclists were crashing amongst themselves or with parts of trees. They were actually victims of a driver who couldn't take the time to make sure the 55 mph traffic lane she was crossing was clear of all traffic. A driver who should minimally be charged with reckless or careless driving causing serious injury (and possibly death).
Justice for vulnerable users of the road will never be attained without a change of priorities among the police and the media, so they can use their resources for protecting the victims and potential victims, instead of the violators and potential violators.
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A Wayland motorcyclist died in Kent County earlier today same type of accident, a car turning left into a business didn't see him. Presuming the business being turned into was the Marathon Station the car would be turning left into the parking lot below, and for some reason didn't see the motorcycle heading opposite.
The media with help from the police puts the fault in the biker's column by the title and the words they use in the story. "Wayland motorcyclist dies in Kent County crash" makes it immediately sound as if the biker was at fault. And it continues (annotations mine):
Authorities say a 44-year-old motorcyclist is dead after a crash in Kent County (still sounds like the biker crashed).
It happened around 12:45 p.m. Saturday on Alden Nash Avenue SE near 64 Street SE in Bowne Township, south of Lowell.
Authorities say a 47-year-old Springfield man was northbound on Alden Nash Avenue and turning left into a business.
The Explorer (first mention of a vehicle) then turned in front of the motorcycle. The motorcyclist, a Wayland man, was unable to stop (indicating subliminally that it was his fault for not anticipating the driver violating his right to the lane) and was thrown off the bike. He died at the scene, according to the Michigan State Police.
Troopers say alcohol nor drugs are not believed to be factors in the crash (but they won't say that the driver's inattention is at fault even in his sober state).
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