ST. GEORGE – The motorcycle rider involved in Saturday evening’s collision on Bluff Street died due to injuries sustained in the accident.
Saturday, around 7:39 p.m., the motorcyclist was traveling northbound on Bluff Street at approximately 200 North when he collided with a passenger car that was traveling southbound. The passenger car had made a left-turn into Hurst Ace Hardware store parking lot, St. George Police Sgt. Sam Despain said. The motorcycle rider was transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The motorcyclist, an 85-year-old man, was wearing a helmet, Despain confirmed. The victim’s name is not being released pending the notification of next of kin and due to the ongoing investigation. The driver of the passenger car was cited for failure to yield.
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A motorcycle rider was taken to the hospital after colliding with a car on Bluff Street, St. George, Utah, Nov. 30, 2013 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
I didn’t know him but this news story of his death made me sad 🙁
It is very sad. I ride and it could be any of us. Love and prayers to his friends and family.
It’s a disservice to the subject of motorcycle safety to try to shape people’s perceptions about crashes by only stating whether or not a person was wearing a helmet at the time of their crash (to try to “justify” another push for mandatory helmet use, no doubt). Obviously, a helmet is a very important piece of safety equipment and its value cannot be denied, but for a widely distributed newspaper such as this (and the vast majority in circulation) to narrow the scope of the incident to a scorecard on helmet usage is irresponsible and ultimately damaging to the cause of safe and enjoyable motorcycling. If there’s to be a breakdown on safety equipment in news reporting, then how about reporting on “other” safety equipment used or not used, such as over-the -ankle footwear, gloves, sturdy jacket and pants? How about letting us know if the rider had graduated an MSF Rider Safety course, or had off-road experience? One of the most important factors – had the rider or the driver of the other vehicle been drinking or getting stoned? Check Utah’s crash data on motorcycle wrecks for the last 20 years and you’ll see that riders with any alcohol in their systems at all are grossly over-represented in injuries and fatalities.
This accident is a tragedy for the family of the rider as well as the person driving the other vehicle, and compassion for all is in order. I’m sure that person had no intention of harming anyone before they took off in their car, but accidents do in fact happen. A person’s level of safety while on two wheels is increased exponentially when they’ve been trained in street survival strategies, safety equipment selection and are on a machine suited to their level of expertise. Being an educated, responsible rider capable of making wise choices for his or her own safety is an concepy that this paper could easily champion, but will require more than simply reporting on whether a person was wearing a helmet or not.
He was 85 years old. Have some respect.
I do not see what the big deal is for them reporting that he was wearing a helmet. If they didn’t mention it, a lot of people would be asking or commenting if he was wearing one.
To me it’s no different than reporting on whether victims in auto accidents were wearing seatbelts. It’s relevant information to the story/situation. If it wasn’t stated, people would be asking and debating about it in the comments anyway.
i have A. rode around without a helmut and B. been to an accident where someone wasn’t wearing a helmut and it was sad… it was the only reason they passed.. thus, i think it is great news reporting on whether he had a helmut or not.. why is everyone always picking on this paper.. sometimes i think ppl from another paper are trolling.