Pittsfield Township man dies in motorcycle-van crash
Updated article: Police release name of motorcycle rider killed in crash
A 64-year-old Pittsfield Township man died Sunday afternoon when his motorcycle crashed into a van on M-36 in Livingston County’s Unadilla Township.
The vehicles collided about 12:15 p.m. when an 84-year-old Unadilla Township man attempted to turn west onto Dexter Trail from northbound M-36, and the southbound motorcycle hit the 2003 Ford Windstar he was driving.
The Pittsfield Township man, who was riding a 1967 Triumph motorcycle, was believed to have been wearing a helmet when the crash occurred, police said in a news release. Police have not released his name.
Police said they are continuing to investigate. Witness accounts indicated excessive speed was not a factor.
The Livingston County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an autopsy at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, police said. Unadilla Township firefighters, Pinckney police, crash investigators from the Livingston County Sheriff Department Traffic Safety Bureau and Stockbridge Area Emergency Service Authority Ambulance paramedics assisted at the crash scene.
Comments
A A Resident
Tue, May 8, 2012 : 12:21 p.m.
Best to the family and his friends. I too rode without injury for 40+ years, and then a similar scenario finally bit me a couple of months ago. No amount of care and caution can eliminate the risk of this, the most common cause of motorcycle accidents (car turns in front of a motorcycle). Bicyclists and pedestrians, please be careful. As most experienced motorcyclists already know, if you are in the road, and are not the same size and shape as a car, you are invisible to many drivers. Your presence totally does not register to them.
rcastentman
Mon, May 7, 2012 : 5:43 p.m.
Condolences to the family of the biker. We've lost so many good people due to accidents just like this one. To the writer of the article, technically speaking, M36 runs west and east. Although, due its winding nature, there are several portions of the road that run north or south.
thecompound
Mon, May 7, 2012 : 2:30 p.m.
84 yrs old...........
Richard
Mon, May 7, 2012 : 3:33 p.m.
The biggest hazard to driving are the over-aggresive, speeding, be first at the next stoplight, not paying attention, not using turn signals drivers. The people who make dangerous passes who I catch up to and pass at the next stop light.
Unusual Suspect
Mon, May 7, 2012 : 3:03 p.m.
No need to make an actual statement. I know what he's talking about. I thought the same thing. Ask any Floridian what the biggest hazard to driving is down there.
dougfair
Mon, May 7, 2012 : 2:55 p.m.
And? You're trying to imply something, why not make an actual statement?
Robot Charles
Mon, May 7, 2012 : 1:37 p.m.
A car failed to yield to oncoming traffic and turned in front of a motorcycle thus killing the rider. The wording in the article: "southbound motorcycle hit the 2003 Ford Windstar he was driving." really bothers me. What was the cyclist to do?
Austin
Mon, May 7, 2012 : 1:43 p.m.
I agree. The way it's worded, it sounds like the motorcyclist was at fault. According to the accident description, the van is at fault. Any info on whether the van driver was ticketed?
Ulysses Wong
Mon, May 7, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.
The infamous left turn into the path of a motorcyclist takes another... Condolences to a fellow rider and his family.