Motorcycle Accident
Lenapah Motorcyclist Killed in Catoosa Collision
A 50-year-old Lenapah man was killed in an Oklahoma motorcycle accident involving a front-end loader. According to a KJRH news report, the fatal motorcycle crash occurred on Bird Creek near a gravel service road in Catoosa. Officials say the motorcyclist was traveling northbound when he collided with a front-end loader that was in the process of turning. KOCO.com reports that the victim was not wearing a helmet. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the front-end loader was not hurt.
Under Oklahoma Statute 47-12-609 (B), only motorcycle operators and passengers who are under 18 are required to wear a safety helmet. The dangers of head injuries, however, do not go away when you become an adult. All motorcyclists in Oklahoma would be well advised to wear a helmet whenever they ride. Helmets cannot prevent all fatal injuries, but they can significantly reduce the amount of brain trauma that can occur during a violent crash.
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Passenger Killed in Oklahoma Motorcycle Crash
A 39-year-old woman was killed when the motorcycle on which she was a passenger crashed into a guardrail. According to a NewsOn6 report, the fatal motorcycle accident occurred on Avery Drive west of Chandler Park in Tulsa County. Officials say the 42-year-old man who was driving the motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed when he failed to negotiate a turn. The motorcycle left the roadway and struck the guardrail. The female passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, and the motorcyclist sustained injuries. It is not clear if the motorcyclist will be cited for the crash.
Speed is a common factor in Oklahoma motorcycle accidents. Under Oklahoma statute 47-11-801: “Any person driving a vehicle on a highway shall drive the same at a careful and prudent speed not greater than nor less than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface and width of the highway and any other conditions then existing.” Motorcyclists who lose control of their vehicle because they are traveling too fast may be held accountable for their actions.
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Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Observed in May
It is essential for all Oklahoma motorists to share the road responsibly. Sadly, many motorcyclists are injured or killed because of the negligence of a driver. To help reduce the number of motorcycle accidents, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is promoting May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
There are a number of tips provided by the NHTSA to motorcycle riders and drivers to reduce the number of fatal collisions.
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Teenager Killed in Oklahoma Motorcycle Accident
An 18-year-old man was killed in a recent Oklahoma motorcycle accident after striking an object on the roadway. According to a News OK report, the young motorcyclist was killed on State Highway 3W north of Ada. Officials say he crashed after the motorcycle he was riding struck an unspecified object on the roadway. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the fatal accident. There is no information regarding the type of debris he struck or about who may have dropped or dumped that debris on the roadway.
According to a report released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety in 2007, roadway debris causes approximately 25,000 traffic accidents and nearly 100 traffic accident-related deaths each year nationwide.
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Young Motorcyclist Suffers Burn Injuries in Oklahoma Crash
A 17-year-old Midwest City High School senior was injured in a recent Oklahoma car accident when his 1997 motorcycle collided with a Chevy Impala and caught fire. According to a KOCO news report, the motorcycle crash occurred on northeast 10th Street near Lee Avenue in Midwest City. Officials say the motorcycle struck the front passenger door of the car before bursting into flames. The high-school student was knocked unconscious and severely burned. He has been listed in extremely critical condition and has sustained third-degree burns on 50 percent of his body. Officials are looking into whether the driver made an improper left turn before the crash.
It is common for motorcycle accidents to result from a failure to yield the right-of-way. Drivers who are distracted, speeding, or otherwise negligent often miss an approaching motorcycle. It is crucial that motorists obey the law by remaining focused and by yielding the right-of-way.
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Oklahoma Motorcyclist Injured after Rear Ended by Car
A 75-year-old Claremore man was seriously injured in an Oklahoma intersection accident when his motorcycle was rear-ended by a 2012 Dodge pickup. According to a News On 6 report, the motorcycle accident occurred near County Road 380 and County Road 412 in Rogers County. Officials say the motorcyclist slowed down for stopped traffic when he was rear-ended by a driver who accidently hit the gas instead of the brakes. The victim has been listed in critical condition. It is not clear if the 76-year-old driver will face charges or citations.
According to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office’s 2010 Crash Facts report, there were 1,662 motorcycle accidents in Oklahoma that year. In those accidents, 75 people were killed, 431 suffered incapacitating injuries, and 689 sustained non-incapacitating injuries. During that same year, three fatalities and 27 injuries were reported in Rogers County motorcycle crashes.
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Motorcyclist Killed in Oklahoma Car Accident
A 39-year-old man was recently killed in an Oklahoma car accident when an SUV rear-ended his motorcycle. According to a News On 6 report, the fatal motorcycle accident occurred on Oklahoma 48 north of Oklahoma 33 in Creek County. Officials say the Mannford man slowed down to make a left into a private drive when an SUV slammed into his motorcycle from behind. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. It is not clear if the 39-year-old female driver of the SUV will face charges, but the cause of the Oklahoma fatal collision is still under investigation.
There are a number of ways that a rear-end collision can occur. Drivers who are distracted may fail to notice that the vehicle in front of them has slowed down. Motorists who are tailgating may not have enough time to avoid a collision. Drivers who are drunk or speeding may not react in time to stop the rear-end collision from occurring. Drivers who are not entirely focused on the roadway may overlook a motorcycle or another smaller vehicle that has slowed down ahead.
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Woman Injured in Jefferson County Motorcycle Accident
An 18-year-old woman was injured in an Oklahoma motorcycle accident when the 24-year-old driver of the motorcycle on which she was a passenger lost control of his vehicle and crashed. According to a news report in Ardmoreite.com, the motorcycle crash occurred on Chisholm Park Road south of Chisholm Road in Jefferson County. Officials say the 24-year-old male motorcyclist was attempting to catch up to another vehicle when he lost control. The female passenger of his 2004 Yamaha motorcycle suffered arm, leg, and other injuries. The driver refused treatment at the scene. Officials believe that the motorcyclist was traveling at an unsafe rate of speed.
Oklahoma motorists must travel not only under the speed limit, but also at a speed relative to the conditions on the roadway. Under Oklahoma Statute 11-801: “Any person driving a vehicle on a highway shall drive the same at a careful and prudent speed not greater than nor less than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface and width of the highway and any other conditions then existing. No person shall drive any vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than will permit the driver to bring it to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead.”
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Woman Injured in Oklahoma Motorcycle DUI Crash
A 26-year-old woman from Ardmore was injured in an Oklahoma motorcycle accident, which officials report, involved a driver who was under the influence. According to a news report in The Ardmoreite, the motorcycle accident occurred on U.S. Highway 177 north of Dickson. Officials say the 27-year-old man operating the 2012 Harley Davidson was under the influence of illegal drugs when he failed to negotiate a curve. The injured victim was a passenger on the motorcycle at the time of the crash. She has been listed in stable condition with multiple injuries. The motorcyclist was not injured in the crash.
Motorcyclists who choose to ride while under the influence of drugs or alcohol put themselves, their passengers, and anyone else on the roadway at great risk of suffering an injury. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 27 percent of all motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol concentration of over .08 percent in the year 2006. Of the motorcyclists between the ages of 35 and 39 killed in motorcycle crashes that year, 41 percent were over the legal limit. Clearly, drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs are more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than sober riders.
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Man Killed in Adair County Motorcycle Accident
A 24-year-old man was killed in a fatal Oklahoma motorcycle accident after his motorcycle struck a pickup truck. According to a news report in NewsOK.com, the fatal motorcycle accident occurred on U.S. 59 north of Stilwell in Adair County. The man was driving south on the highway when he struck a pickup truck driven by a 66-year-old woman and then hit a mailbox and a stop sign. The motorcyclist was taken to an area hospital with severe head and internal injuries, but later died from his injuries. The man was wearing a helmet. The two women in the pickup truck were uninjured.
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, fatalities involving motorcyclists have steadily increased over the last 10 years. In fact, in 2007, there was a 7 percent increase in fatalities as compared to 2006. Per vehicle mile traveled in 2007, motorcyclists were about 37 times more likely than occupants of other vehicles to die in a motor vehicle accident and nine times more likely to be injured.
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