Motorcycle passenger killed in Dartmouth crash
For those in the northeast, it may be nearing the end of motorcycling season. It is not as pleasant out and roads can be slippery with rain or ice at this time of year. A recent motorcycle accident illustrates that although other motorists frequently are the cause of motorcycle crashes, a single-motorcycle accident is also a frequent occurrence.
A motorcycle accident took place at 4:30 in the afternoon in Dartmouth, so daylight visibility should not have been a problem. The motorcyclist had a passenger on board when he crashed his bike. The biker suffered life-threatening injuries and the 39-year-old female passenger died at the hospital from the injuries she received in the motorcycle crash. Both were wearing helmets.
According to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the number of fatal motorcycle accidents doubled between 1999 and 2008 and included 34,000 motorcyclists during that time. Also during that time period, more than 1.2 million people were treated in emergency rooms for motorcycle-related injuries.
Although the highest rate of death and injury was among 20 to 24-year-olds, there were a significant number of fatal bike accidents among motorcyclists in the riders age 40 to 54. The motorcyclist in the Dartmouth crash was 50 years old.
The 50-year-old motorcyclist crashed his bike in the intersection of Route 6 and Highland Avenue in Dartmouth. An aerial view reveals that the intersection is a V-shaped intersection as Highland Avenue ends and becomes part of Route 6. It was unclear which direction the 50-year-old was traveling at the time of the crash, but a turn from southbound on Highland to westbound on Route 6 would have been a tight turn.
An accident investigation is taking place. Should the 50-year-old be deemed negligent, the 39-year-old woman’s surviving family members could sue the 50-year-old for the wrongful death of their loved one.
Source: FOX 25 News, “Woman killed in motorcycle crash at Dartmouth intersection,” Oct. 28, 2012
