Late last month, the rider of a motorcycle lost his life in a fiery crash northwest of downtown Chicago. The accident occurred on a road in Schaumburg, to the west of O’Hare International Airport.
Police reports indicate that, shortly before 5:00 p.m. in the afternoon, a van had attempted to make a left-hand turn across the motorcycle’s direction of travel. The van and the motorcycle collided, causing the motorcycle to ignite in flames. First responders rushed to the scene, but the biker had already passed away.
Law enforcement authorities were piecing together information about the crash, but they did not initially issue any charges against the 21-year-old driver of the van. There were some witnesses at the scene, and they provided statements to police that may help them determine whether failure to obey a traffic control device or excessive speed contributed to the fatal accident.
Like other motorcycle accidents we have mentioned previously on our blog, this particular incident involved a vehicle cutting across oncoming traffic in front of a motorcycle. Drivers making left-hand turns should take special care to look for motorcycles and smaller vehicles that a cursory glance could cause them to miss.
No one has a bumper sticker that reads “Start Seeing Tractor Trailers.” But people do need reminders about being aware of motorcycles. Crashes between a car and a motorcycle can show that drivers may not always observe the care required of them. Motorcyclists have an equal right to the road, and other motorists’ responsibility to drive prudently involves looking out for them.
Source: Chicago Tribune, “Man dies in motorcycle crash in Schaumburg,” Aug. 31, 2012