Motorcycle rider dies when car hits rear of broken-down bike

By Cindy Heflin Associate news director

Posted on Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 9:35 a.m.

A man whose motorcycle had broken down was killed Friday evening on Pontiac Trail in Washtenaw County's Salem Township when a Ford Taurus slammed into the back of it, throwing him onto the car’s windshield, Michigan State Police said.

Willard Combs, 40, of Northville, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said in a news release.

Witnesses told police Combs was riding his 1998 Harley Davidson south on Pontiac Trail just north of Five Mile Road when it broke down. As Combs sat on his bike in the roadway, a 2005 Ford Taurus, driven south by Sarah Patton, 22, of South Lyon, struck the rear of the motorcycle.

The impact threw Combs, who police said was not wearing a helmet, onto the car’s windshield.

The crash, which occurred shortly after 6:30 p.m., caused the car’s airbag to deploy. Patton, who was wearing a seatbelt, suffered minor injuries and sought her own treatment, police said.

Police continue to investigate the crash. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor.

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