Motorcyclist suffers serious injuries -
News-Leader.com -
A motorcyclist was airlifted to St. John's
Hospital in Springfield with serious
injuries after crashing a motorcycle in
Dallas County.
According to the Missouri Highway Patrol,
Jeffrey P. Walkwitz, of Long Lane, was
driving a 2003 Yamaha on Dallas County M, a
mile east of Charity, when he ran off the
right side of the road at a high rate of
speed and overturned in the ditch.
The accident happened at 12:22 p.m. Monday.
Walkwitz was wearing a helmet, according to
the patrol. His age was not listed.
OPD officer injured -
Opelousas Daily World -
Sgt. Roylis Gallow, an officer with the
Opelousas Police Department, is in stable
condition at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional
Medical Center in Lafayette, following a
motorcycle accident that happened about 1
p.m. Friday, said Capt. Mark Guidry with the
OPD.
Clinton deputy dies in motorcycle
crash - Lansing
State Journal - If the weather was
nice, Clinton County sheriff's Deputy
Douglas Alward would ride his motorcycle
from his Lansing home to the agency's
headquarters in St. Johns, his wife said.
The 39-year-old Alward, who died Monday
morning in an accident on his way to work,
was a motorcycle enthusiast and a member of
the Warthogs Motorcycle Club, a group that
includes police officers and firefighters.
"He's been around motorcycles all his life,"
said his wife, Alicen.
Alward was killed on northbound U.S. 127
after he hit a deer that had jumped in front
of him, was thrown from the bike then was
struck by a semitrailer, DeWitt Township
Police Chief Brian Russell said.
The accident happened at about 5 a.m., north
of Interstate 69.
The 10-year-veteran of the Clinton County
Sheriff's Office was pronounced dead at the
scene, Russell said.
Clinton County Sheriff Wayne Kangas said
dealing with tragedy is part of the job, but
never easy.
"It's tough when it happens to one of your
own," said Kangas, who had a black band
wrapped around his badge Monday.
All the agency's officers will wear similar
black bands for the foreseeable future,
Kangas said.
Kangas said Alward was struck after the
driver of another semitrailer saw Alward
lying in the roadway and was trying to back
up and block other vehicles from hitting
him.
The driver of the semitrailer that struck
Alward, who is from Windsor, Ontario, was
not injured, officials said. The crash
remains under investigation by the Eaton
County Sheriff's Office, which was called in
to handle the probe.
Alward is survived by his wife, 8-year-old
son and 5-year-old daughter.
Alward sometimes would take his son for a
ride on the motorcycle, Alicen said.
The last ride they took together, she said,
was in May to a memorial for fallen police
officers at the state Capitol.
She described her husband - who had served
on the special operations team, a narcotics
squad and was currently a gun-range
instructor - as passionate about his work.
"He just really enjoyed working with the
public," she said.
Kangas said Alward was "a very well-rounded
officer, who did a variety of things out
there and did them well."
Alward's death is the second tragedy in five
years involving one of the agency's
deputies.
In 2004, Deputy Perry Fillmore died in a car
crash while responding to a call.
"We're still dealing with that," Kangas
said.
"It never completely goes away."
Alward helped start a memorial fund in honor
of Fillmore, Alicen said.
Alward began his law enforcement career with
the Ingham County Sheriff's Office as a
parks officer. He then worked for police
departments in Ovid and DeWitt.
In 2006, Alward was injured when he was
struck by a car while directing traffic
around an accident. He suffered bruising on
his legs, but no broken bones.
Motorcyclist dies in Fourth of July crash
- The Daily Sound -
A 46-year-old Newbury Park man died Saturday
afternoon after his motorcycle collided with
a vehicle on Stagecoach Road, California
Highway Patrol officials said.
The motorcyclist, identified as Jody D.
Powell, had been riding with a friend east
of Paradise Road at speeds of 30 to 40 mph
when he passed his friend and accelerated
into a right-hand curve, according to a CHP
incident report.
“As he did so, he allowed his motorcycle to
drift to his left, over the painted
double-yellow lines, and into the opposing
traffic lane,” according to the report.
A 72-year-old Santa Barbara man driving a
white BMW sedan traveling in the opposite
direction could not avoid the motorcyclist,
who hit the front corner and side of the
vehicle, authorities said.
The 46-year-old was ejected and came to rest
on the eastbound lane of Stagecoach Road,
while his motorcycle skidded to a stop on
the right shoulder, CHP officials said.
Despite life-saving efforts at the scene, he
was pronounced dead by fire personnel.
Authorities said the motorcyclist’s friend
stated they had just left Paradise Store
after consuming a few beers. Investigators
discovered two cans of beer in Powell’s
backpack. CHP officials said further
investigation into his sobriety at the time
of the collision is ongoing.
The driver of the BMW and his three
passengers were not injured.A 46-year-old
Newbury Park man died Saturday afternoon
after his motorcycle collided with a vehicle
on Stagecoach Road, California Highway
Patrol officials said.
The motorcyclist, identified as Jody D.
Powell, had been riding with a friend east
of Paradise Road at speeds of 30 to 40 mph
when he passed his friend and accelerated
into a right-hand curve, according to a CHP
incident report.
“As he did so, he allowed his motorcycle to
drift to his left, over the painted
double-yellow lines, and into the opposing
traffic lane,” according to the report.
A 72-year-old Santa Barbara man driving a
white BMW sedan traveling in the opposite
direction could not avoid the motorcyclist,
who hit the front corner and side of the
vehicle, authorities said.
The 46-year-old was ejected and came to rest
on the eastbound lane of Stagecoach Road,
while his motorcycle skidded to a stop on
the right shoulder, CHP officials said.
Despite life-saving efforts at the scene, he
was pronounced dead by fire personnel.
Authorities said the motorcyclist’s friend
stated they had just left Paradise Store
after consuming a few beers. Investigators
discovered two cans of beer in Powell’s
backpack. CHP officials said further
investigation into his sobriety at the time
of the collision is ongoing.
The driver of the BMW and his three
passengers were not injured.
Waverly man killed in crash -
Towanda Daily Review -
Tioga County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to
a fatal motor vehicle accident at 4:34 p.m.
on July 5, on Shepard Road and State Route
17C in the town of Barton, according to a
press release from the Tioga County
Sheriff’s office.
Jason R. Johnson, 28, of 591 Route 17C, lot
11, Waverly, N.Y. was operating a 2008
Kawasaki Motorcyle traveling in an easterly
direction on State Route 17C in the town of
Barton, when he struck a 1978 Ford pickup
truck that was at the intersection on
Shepard Road and State Route 17C, the
release stated. The Ford pickup truck was
operated by Keith A. Fenton, age 44, of 591
Route 17C, Lot 32, Waverly, N.Y., according
to the release.
Jason R. Johnson was pronounced dead at the
scene, the release stated. The driver and
the two passengers of the pick-up truck,
James R. Fenton, 22 of Athens, Pa. and
Charles Struble, 50, of Sayre, Pa., were
taken to Robert Packer Hospital by Greater
Valley EMS, police said. Keith A. Fenton was
listed in critical condition as of late
evening Monday, while James R. Fenton was
listed in serious condition, according to a
spokesperson for Robert Packer Hospital.
Charges are pending following the
investigation by the Tioga County Sheriff’s
Department, the release stated.
The Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the
scene by Greater Valley EMS, and the Waverly
Barton Fire Department.
Muncie man killed in motorcycle crash
- Muncie Star Press -
MUNCIE — A car-motorcycle crash left one
person dead and a portion of Ind. 32 at Gray
Street closed for three hours Monday night.
Mark A. Quakenbush Jr., 52, 413 N. Bauer
St., was pronounced dead at Ball Memorial
Hospital shortly after the crash that
happened at 5:02 p.m. The victim suffered
massive head and other internal injuries,
according to Delaware County Coroner James
Clevenger Jr.
Quakenbush's motorcycle struck the back of a
Pontiac Vibe driven by Lesia Rhonemus, 41,
110 N. Gray St., who was stopped in an
eastbound lane of Ind. 32, making a left
turn onto Gray, according to police Sgt.
Bruce Qualls, who heads the city police
traffic division.
Qualls said Quakenbush apparently veered to
miss the stopped vehicle, but the back of
the motorcycle hit the rear of the SUV,
throwing him off the bike and onto the
pavement.
Rhonemus, who was headed home, told police
she saw the motorcycle coming up behind her,
saying the rider was trying to veer away
from hitting her SUV. Rhonemus was
uninjured.
"I could not do anything about it," said
Rhonemus, who said she saw the victim tumble
off the bike.
Qualls said Quakenbush was not wearing a
helmet, although one was found at the scene.
The victim skidded more than 50 feet,
according to skid marks left on the pavement
while the motorcycle landed in a nearby
yard.
It was the second motorcycle fatality
locally in the last 10 days. Jason H.
Shirley, 33, Anderson, crashed off the
Muncie Bypass near Memorial Drive on June.
27. His body was found by authorities after
they found debris on the highway. Clevenger
said there were no witnesses who came
forward or evidence of other vehicles
apparently involved in that crash.
Fatal motorcycle crash on Hwy. 126
- KMTR NewsSource 16 -
A Washington State woman died Monday
afternoon when she crashed her motorcycle
into a guardrail along Highway 126E near
Clear Lake on the Santiam pass.
According to Oregon State Police Recruit
Trooper Joshua Wetzel, on July 6, 2009 at
around noon, a 2002 Harley Davidson operated
by Ann Marie Poole, 50, from from Ravensdale,
Washington was eastbound on Highway 126E
near milepost 11 following her husband who
was operating a second motorcycle. For an
unknown reason while negotiating a slight
right curve, the motorcycle crossed the
center line and crashed into a guardrail.
Poole, who was wearing a protective helmet,
was ejected from her motorcycle and came to
rest on the highway. She was pronounced
deceased at the scene.
The highway was briefly closed and then
restricted to one lane for about 3 1/2
hours. ODOT handled traffic control duties
while OSP troopers from Springfield, Bend
and Madras investigated the crash.
US Forest Service personnel assisted at the
scene.
Motorcycle crash near downtown sends
two to hospital -
Sandusky Register - Two people were
taken to the hospital with injuries Monday
afternoon after being hit by a car while
riding on a motorcycle.
George and Christine Norcross were traveling
west on Washington Street when they were hit
by a car driven by Kory Tubbs. Tubbs, who
was traveling south on Hancock Street in a
Hyundai, stopped at the two-way stop sign
but continued on without yielding, police
said. The crash occurred just before 1 p.m.
Tubbs, 31, 2700 block North Railroad St.,
Collins, was cited for failure to yield,
police said.
George Norcross, 50, Monroeville, who was
driving the motorcycle, was thrown from the
bike and landed on a grassy area near the
street. Christine Norcross, 45, Monroeville,
was also knocked off the bike.
Resident John Franks said he was in a
parking lot on Hancock Street when he heard
a loud bang.
“I saw the woman laying in the street and
the man over there,” said Franks, pointing
in the direction where George Norcross
landed.
The Norcrosses were taken to Firelands
Regional Medical Center.
A hospital spokesperson would not provide
information on their conditions Monday.
Motorcyclist dies on I-24 during heavy rain
storm -
Examiner.com - In a torrential
downpour of rain Sunday evening, 58-year-old
Noel McFarland of Joelton, Tenn. was killed
on his motorcycle following a multi-vehicle
accident.
McFarland, riding on a 2009 Harley Davidson,
was westbound on I-24, when an earlier
accident brought traffic to a standstill.
The rider attempted to stop, but was
apparently thrown from his motorcycle,
according to metro police officials.
The Harley crashed into the guardrail, while
McFarland collided with a 2007 Suzuki SUV.
He then was struck by a 1996 Honda Accord.
McFarland died at the scene.
There were no other serious injuries related
to the accident.
This was the second deadly motorcycle
accident over the Fourth of July weekend in
Nashville.
Nicole Gill, 30, of Nashville, was killed
late Friday night, when she struck a Pontiac
Grand Prix, driven by 19-year-old Keith
Otey.
Gill reportedly ran a red light.
Preliminary figures from the Tennessee
Department of Safety show this year eight
people were killed in traffic crashes on
Tennessee roadways during the 78-hour July
4th holiday period. This is a drop from the
11 fatalities that occurred during the 2008
July 4th holiday weekend.
“While these numbers are still preliminary,
we are continuing to see a decline in the
number of fatalities during holiday weekends
and throughout the year,” said Safety
Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “There is no
question that the hard work of State
Troopers and our law enforcement partners
across the state is paying off by saving
lives.”
Four motorcyclists also died during the July
4th holiday weekend last year. There were
two this year.
Meanwhile, funeral arrangements for Gill,
who was a member of the Unexplainable
motorcycle club is Thursday, July 9, at 1
p.m. at the Beech Creek Missionary Baptist
Church. The church is located at 3101 Curtis
Street in Nashville.
Riders will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the
Unexplainable club house for the memorial
ride in honor of Gill, known as Phat Kat in
the motorcycle community. Donations are also
being taken up at the club house to help
assist Gill's two children.
Sonya Wyke, a motorcycle rider and president
of a local motorcycle club, Street Fury,
said tragedies like McFarland’s and Gill’s
make her think twice when riding.
“We think of our own mortality of course,”
she said. “But, we can’t think of it too
long because it will cause you to be
intimidated and cause you to hesitate when
you are out on the bike.
“But it strikes you close to home and so we
try to do whatever we can for the family,”
she said.
Funeral arrangements for McFarland were
unknown as of press time.
AUGUSTA Crash victim ID'd -
Kennebec Journal -
AUGUSTA -- Police on Monday identified the
motorcyclist killed Sunday afternoon in a
collision on Route 3.
Jose Diaz, 42, of Brunswick, was headed east
on Route 3 when his motorcycle, a 2009
Kawasaki Ninja, collided with a westbound
pickup truck, according to Augusta police
Sgt. Chris Massey.
Diaz's 22-year-old passenger, Bethjamie
Navarze, of Brunswick, suffered injuries to
her lower extremities. A LifeFlight
helicopter took her to Central Maine Medical
Center in Lewiston. Information about her
condition was unavailable Monday.
Massey said the driver of the 1989, half-ton
GMC truck, Keith Wilson, 24, of China, was
not injured. His passenger, Crystal Leland,
18, of China, also walked away uninjured.
Police said Diaz was attempting to pass
another motorcycle traveling east when his
bike veered into the lane with oncoming
traffic. Wilson pulled his pickup into the
westbound breakdown lane in an attempt to
avoid Diaz's motorcycle, police say; but the
motorcycle struck the driver's-side wheel
well of the pickup, ejecting Diaz and
Navarze.
Both were wearing helmets, according to
police.
Massey said Sunday that alcohol and drugs
did not appear to be factors in the
collision but that the motorcycle's speed
was largely to blame.
Investigators continued to reconstruct the
accident Monday. Massey said a report will
likely be out in two to three weeks, with
criminal charges unlikely.
The accident closed down part of Route 3,
between Riverside Drive and the accident
site, for more than three hours Sunday
afternoon.
The collision was Augusta's second fatal
accident in less than a week.
On June 30, a Gardiner man was killed after
his van struck a utility pole on Old
Belgrade Road near the Harold Alfond Center
for Cancer Care.
Pecatonica man killed in motorcycle
accident - WREX-TV -
PECATONICA (WREX) - The Winnebago County
Coroner releases the name of the man killed
in a motorcycle accident this afternoon. 21
year old Brandon Spray was driving north
just before 5p.m. near the 6300 block of
Pecatonica Road. Police say a semi headed
south on Pecatonica Road turned left,
hitting Spray.
The road was closed for several hours while
investigators and clean-up crews worked at
the scene.
Easy Rider: Motorcycle run to benefit
Hospice -
Bennington Banner - BENNINGTON -- The
10th Annual Motorcycle Run to benefit the
Hospice of Bennington County will begin at
American Legion Post No. 90 in Pownal this
year.
Sunday’s event is Hospice’s second largest
fundraiser. Last year, it generated around
$2,000, according to Larry Doucette, the
ride coordinator and road captain.
"If we got every rider in Bennington County
to come to this ride, we’d shatter that 130
(rider) record," Doucette said in an
interview.
Doucette has been involved in the event
since its inception. He said it began as a
club formed by like-minded motorcyclists who
wanted to give something back to the
community. The club intended to organize a
number of events, but it disbanded after two
years.
Doucette said the club’s former executive
director approached him after the club
dispersed and asked if he would be the one
to keep the motorcycle run going. "I kind of
picked up the gauntlet on that, and it’s
been my personal crusade since to do this,"
Doucette said.
He begins planning for the ride in December,
distributing flyers and making T-shirts to
sell at the event. An experienced rider
himself, Doucette said he has met other
well-known figures in motorcycling and tried
to get them to make appearances, with
limited success. As for the event itself, he
said while the riders are away, he and his
wife speed to the grocery store to purchase
food for them when they return.
This year, the FunAddicts, a classic rock
band, will be performing. Doucette said the
band recently formed and some of its members
have lost loved ones to cancer, so they
offered their band’s services for free.
Doucette said the run has little or no
budget and runs mainly on donations of time
and space. For the 10th anniversary of the
event, he said not much has changed because
the simpler the event is, the better it
works.
"So far, it’s worked very well," he said.
Rain kept the number of riders down last
year to 45 or so, with the record somewhere
around 130 riders. Riders pay to
participate, with fees covering the cost of
lunch, some of which is donated, and the
rest going to Hospice.
Those in the ride vary in age and
experience. He said some are retired and
have just begun riding motorcycles, while
others are younger and may have been riding
for years. He said the ride is escorted by
the Bennington County Sheriff’s Department
and so far there have been no accidents or
even any major breakdowns. Doucette said the
route this year traverses a few back roads,
so the riders will be taking things slow.
Doucette said motorcyclists come from many
walks of life. He noted that years ago, the
term "biker" was used almost as though it
were a dirty word, something he doesn’t care
much for. Bikers, he said, were seen as
greasy and dirty, from working on leaky
bikes all the time, and didn’t have a good
reputation.
The increased cost and complexity of
motorcycles has changed things, he said.
Bikes these days costs between $15,000 and
$40,000 and are too complicated for
non-professionals to maintain completely
without the aid of a mechanic. "It’s not a
cheap hobby today," he said.
Sign in for the event is on Sunday, July 12,
at 9 a.m. The ride begins at 10:30 a.m. The
route will be 100 miles both ways and riders
are expected to return at around 2:30 p.m.
The riders will leave from the American
Legion and head north on Route 7, making
their way to Monument Avenue in Old
Bennington, riding past the Bennington
Battle Monument. They will head through
North Bennington until they reach Route 7A,
heading north to the Equinox Hotel in
Manchester. After that, they will make their
way out to Dorset, then Danby, and come back
on Route 7 from where they started.
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