ST. GEORGE – Two people were hospitalized Sunday night after a motorcycle collided with a car on River Road in St. George.
The St. George Communications Center received a report of a motorcycle-versus-car accident shortly after 9 p.m., Sunday. Two people had been riding a motorcycle southbound on River Road when a Honda Civic pulled out of the Mr. D’s Chevon gas station parking lot, triggering a collision between the two vehicles, St. George Police Sgt. Sam Despain said.
The 19-year-old male driver of the motorcycle and his 18-year-old female passenger were thrown off by the impact, Despain said. Both were injured, with the passenger receiving more serious injury to her head. Neither were wearing helmets.
Both were transported to the hospital. Based on preliminary information, Despain said it appears the driver of the Honda Civic failed to yield to oncoming traffic.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by the authorities and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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Motorcycle vs car accident on River Road by Mr. D's Chevon, St. George, Utah, May 4, 2014 | Photo courtesy of the St. George Police Department, St. George News
Motorcycle vs car accident on River Road by Mr. D's Chevon, St. George, Utah, May 4, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Marty Martec, St. George News
Motorcycle vs car accident on River Road by Mr. D's Chevon, St. George, Utah, May 4, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Marty Martec, St. George News
Motorcycle vs car accident on River Road by Mr. D's Chevon, St. George, Utah, May 4, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Marty Martec, St. George News
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This is the reason we need helmet laws. Both drivers sustained head injuries and one of them is still in the hospital. This accident happened because the driver of the car did not look to his or her left immediately before proceeding out into the street. Both riders were thrown from the motorcycle and both reportedly sustained head injuries. If they had both been wearing a helmet the chances of the injuries being as bad as they were probably would have been lessened dramatically. Do helmets protect every rider from death or serious injury in every accident? Of course not but statistics do show that drivers who wear them are far less likely to sustain major injuries or die as a result of injuries sustained in a crash.
Helmet laws exist to protect motorcycle riders from inattentive drivers and those inattentive drivers from criminal charges that could find them in prison for years to come. I hope that both people survive the accident and the driver is prosecuted if they do not but I also feel that their death or serious injury might have been prevented or lessened if they were wearing helmets. The state of Utah should pass legislation that requires the use of helmets for all motorcycle operators and their passengers because helmets, like seat belts, save lives. I hope some good comes out of this and others senseless tragedies like it.
When I was first learning to drive my father, a retired police officer, told me that I should assume everyone else on the road is an idiot who doesn’t know how to drive and that I need to do everything I can to protect myself from them. I am reminded of those wise words on a daily basis in St George when I see people cut me off, pull in front of me, talk on their cell phone, text, eat, yell at their children, read, or are simply not paying attention to their driving.
While I always wear my helmet, it is my choice to do so, I would like to point out that most wrecks involving motorcycles are with motor vehicles who’s driver has their head where the sun dont shine. Honestly I have seen more idiots behind a wheel of cars/trucks then on a bike. Cagers have no sense of their surroundings or concern for others out on the roads. To insist that helmet laws would solve the issue is idiotic.
Wake up people and Yield to on coming traffic regardless what it is and stop being in such a dam hurry.
Do we ask our already intrusive government to become even more overbearing with laws that should be common sense anyway? I say nay. It’s like seatbelt laws – if an adult does not seatbelt a child or have them in a proper seat, they can be pulled over and cited, but if they themselves are stupid and don’t buckle-up, it’s only a secondary offense (meaning they can’t be pulled over for that offense alone but if pulled over for something else, they can be cited for the other traffic issue and the seatbelt violation). This is how it should be – protect those who can’t act for themselves or are at the mercy of their idiotic parents or guardian and let Darwinism take care of the rest.
I always wear a helmet and I’m not going to get into helmet laws here. One thing that bugs me is all the accidents caused by someone who isn’t paying attention. I read over and over how the ones that caused the crash get ticketed for things like, following to close, failure to yield, speeding, and such. I think the fines for these acts are to low when an accident occurred because of it. I believe when an accident is caused by someone doing something wrong, the law should throw the book at them, it should be considered aggravated failure to yield and so on, fines that cost thousands. Maybe then we can start to make people think about what they are doing behind the wheel.
People watch out for motorcycles. The passenger is a friend of mine. Please pray for a speedy recovery.
With dh being a motorcycle driver I try to be aware of motorcyclists and give them plenty of room. A friend of mine was in an accident on his bike not too long ago and he said it was the car driver not paying attention. He has a rod in his leg now.
I try to make sure dh and I always wear our helmets when we drive anything with a small engine. Sometimes we forget and I bet there are alot of people who have done this too.
On another note sometimes not having a helmet on can save your life. My mil told me that once her daughter & daughter’s boyfriend were both saved from decapitation cause they didn’t have their helmets on.
That being said. A helmet being worn or not will not always protect you cause if it’s your time to go then it’s your time to go.
dont want no gubmunt tellin me what to do!!! dont need no silly helmut
I ride, my husband rides and we belong to a local bike club. We always wear our helmets and feel people are foolish for not wearing them. Not only do I see bikers without helmets, but they are riding in shorts and flip-flops (that goes for scooter riders as well). People in cars do not see bikes on a normal basis, let alone when they are distracted by food, phones, and kids…so riders need to take every precaution including leathers, boots, gloves, etc. I understand how some folks feel about government dictating rules, but some people are just too foolish to look out for themselves, then everyone else ends up footing the bill for defaulted hospital bills. AND here’s another opinion…my best friend, a kidney transplant patient, feels there should be no helmet laws because we need more organ donors.
Yes the motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet, but received MANY more serious injuries than the head…. It is always a good idea to wear your helmet, but even so, they would still be in very critical condition in this situation, helmet or not. The biggest thing to be said is towards drivers on the road that are careless. PLEASE pay attention. Careless driving can drastically hurt lives – to everyone involved.
It’s an accident. No politics here. I hope everyone involved recovers from this.
The monkey from Coral Canyon was crossing the intersection at the same time.
Very similar to my 7/20/13 motorcycle accident. I was wearing a helmet. most likely saved my life. Wear a helmet only if you want to live…..
I couldn’t agree more Stephen. Glad you came through that okay!