Carpenter Road south of Packard closed for accident investigation
Carpenter Road, south of Packard Road, in Pittsfield Township was closed Thursday as authorities investigate a motorcycle accident, according to a department alert.
Huron Valley Ambulance spokeswoman Joyce Williams said the driver of the motorcycle has been taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in critical condition. Ambulance crews were dispatched to the area at 3:45 p.m., Williams said.
Further information about the man's injuries could not be released, Williams said.
Department of Public safety officials encouraged drivers to use alternate routes around the area.
Pittsfield Township fire and police officials were not able to comment on what the accident was Thursday afternoon. Pittsfield Township dispatchers and Huron Valley Ambulance dispatchers refused to comment on the nature of the accident Thursday.
Pittsfield Township Fire Chief Sean Gleason said the man had leg and head injuries in a voicemail to AnnArbor.com Thursday afternoon.
Update: According to Pittsfield Township Police Chief Gordy Schick, a vehicle pulled out in front of the 44-year-old Pittsfield Township man, who was heading home at the time. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet.
"I think his helmet saved his life," Schick said.
As of 6:42 p.m., Carpenter Road was still closed while police investigated the accident. Schick said he expected the road to open up soon, though.
Check back to AnnArbor.com for details on this incident as they become available.
Crime reporter John Counts contributed to this report.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
William
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 2:16 p.m.
All you guys can think about right now is the road being closed? That is sick when there is a injured man in the hospital with critical conditions. This man is my friends father we have been friends for over 6 years and his father is not a bad guy think of it this way he wore his helmet and that could have saved his life show some support for this guy
Plubius
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 1:02 p.m.
A new law is needed that prohibits police from shutting roads for accident investigation except for the most dire of situations. They have no right to inconvenience the general public to make their jobs marginally easier.
jns131
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 5:26 p.m.
Police need to shut down road areas if they need to for accident investigations. Most times they don't keep a road closed longer then they need to. Your post does not hold water and I agree with sparty? Huh?
Sparty
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 1:20 p.m.
Are you serious?
pvitaly
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 11:57 a.m.
I agree, this is a pretty terrible title for the article. Anyway, I think there should be stricter laws for hitting someone on a motorcycle. If you are at fault, you should have your license taken away. Maybe, then, people will actually pay attention.
rs
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 11:28 a.m.
The new optional helmet law is going to start making more accidents like this end in fatalities. Not many bare-skull riders survive a bike accidents over 30 mph. Kudos to the rider for having the sense to put one on.
blinktwice
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 4:27 a.m.
Yet again the readers jump to conclusions without knowing the facts and make ridiculous comments about an accident that could have been fatal. When we know better we do better so lets DO BETTER!!! Lets pray this young man pulls through.
Gyll Stanford
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 3:50 a.m.
A motorcyclist on today's roadways MUST be so careful as a defensive driver. Too many drivers in cars and trucks don't give the motorcyclist the amount of space required or don't pay enough attention to even see them. Roadways are shut down, like in this incident, to do a through investigation and document the accident scene for, several reasons, one is to support any legal charges that might be forthcoming.
caitlyn
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:58 p.m.
I really hope the motorcyclist pulls through this horrible tragedy! Some people really need to learn they are not invincible, and they are not the only ones on the road!!!..
justcurious
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:48 p.m.
Could this story be updated please to reflect what really happened? A man is in critical condition after a car pulled in front of him. That is what the headline should reflect, not that a road is closed.
William
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 2:18 p.m.
this title is hard to believe that someone would concern on the road being closed sick sick i tell you
Tru2Blu76
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 10:58 p.m.
Accidents will happen however careful you try to be, it is inevitable that some unfortunate or unforeseen events will occur : problems like these should not occur, but accidents will happen. Except: when someone driving a motor vehicle is so detached from their duties and responsibilities that they suddenly put their vehicle directly in front of another vehicle. That's not an accident, that's reckless driving.
linda Mackson
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 2:35 a.m.
well here we go again judging before we get the facts you people on here judge my daughter yesterday when her apartment caught fire. I am Praying for the man on the motorcycle and the woman that was driving the car I was there and was not a Pretty sight and I'm Praying that he lives but I feel sorry for them both because it effects both of their families
justcurious
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:51 p.m.
jcj, that is not what happened here according to the statement. This is the second such occurrence in about a week. The last motorcyclist lost his life after someone turned in front of him. I'm thinking there may be a serious problem of people not respecting motorcyclists in our area.
jcj
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:34 p.m.
Or when someone driving a motorcycle is weaving in and out of traffic. It goes BOTH ways!
Ansuz
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 10:51 p.m.
So they close the whole road for this?
ranger007
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 5:44 a.m.
Its called an investigation ..they (the police) can't investigate something while dodging cars.
caitlyn
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:53 p.m.
I'm going to have to agree as well.. However, not all of carpenter was closed down. My fiance and I were caught in this traffic.... The only part that was blocked was in front of speedway. All you had to do was cut through the Kroger parking lot and go to the light to get around it. Once we got past the speedway it was fine.
Terry Star21
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:32 p.m.
Agree with justcurious.......let the authorities do what ever they need to do and however time it takes. I know you meant to wish all involved well.
justcurious
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:17 p.m.
Are you serious? Sorry for your inconvenience.
treetowncartel
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 8:47 p.m.
Might want to fix this one Calls to HVA spokeswoman Joyce Williams and Pittsfield Township Fire Chief Sean Gleason did not immediately return calls left by AnnArbor.com Thursday afternoon. I think you could just get rid of "Calls to".
justcurious
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 12:52 p.m.
Sandalwood, headlines are often changed on this site when more information is obtained, as in this case. For some reason they chose not to change it this time. I think it is important for people to read the truth in this case because the #1 cause of motorcycle accidents with cars involve the car turning in front of a motorcyclist that has the right of way. This is the second incident, that has been published in the last week tr so. The first ending in death.
Dave
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 7:21 a.m.
Didn't know get's was a word. Hmmmm.....
sandalwood
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 7:05 a.m.
That's what get's to me about this chat site. People nit picking about the grammer, wording of the head line, miss spelled words, and so on. Just read the story. If it's grammer or you don't get enough info from the reporter, you don't like the HEAD LINE the way they posted it. Or any other nit picking thing that some of you have been complaining about. Give the reporter a break. They can only report what is given to to them and (NO, I'M NOT A REPORTER OR A FRIEND OF A REPORTER :) And I realize this is a place to post YOUR thoughts. And I've been VERY rude to some of you about what you think on different topics and would like to apologize to all of you for that! I'm going to sit back and do more reading than posting, but if I see something to speak about I will! But I won't be such a butthead about it!!! :)
nunya
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 1:22 a.m.
Ease up everyone. I see no harm in providing helpful feedback to improve the content of a story.
Terry Star21
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:28 p.m.
This was a critical injury, this man could have died.....I don't understand the nature of people commenting on grammar and such non-essential things that busybodies do. It's my opinion, and I hope others, that anything less then contributing information we aren't aware yet, or wishing the best for this man, his family or the driver of the vehicle - should left alone. Our best wishes to all involved.
justcurious
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 10:43 p.m.
snapshot is right. inappropriate and unnecessary comment.
snapshot
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 9:40 p.m.
English teacher? Get the what not the how. Another biker seriously injured and maybe a life lost and your main concern is grammer.