Distracted Driving Can Cause Fatal Motorcycle Accidents

Fall is a beautiful time to take a motorcycle ride to enjoy the fall foliage in Maryland and get in one more ride before the snow falls and the bikes are put away for the season. Two people enjoying such a ride were involved in what turned out to be a horrific crash. The crash involved a dump truck, a car and two motorcycles. As is so often the case with motorcycle accidents, this one proved to be fatal.

The accident happened at an intersection as the car was stopped and waiting to make a left-hand turn when a dump truck came up from behind and apparently rear-ended the stopped vehicle. The impact from the collision appears to have caused both the truck and the car to cross into the oncoming lane. Two motorcycles were coming from the opposite direction in that lane, and according to preliminary police reports, both of the vehicles collided with the oncoming motorcycles.

Both motorcyclists were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the car, an 85-year-old woman, also died at the scene as a result of her injuries while two others were seriously injured. One of the injured was airlifted to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. The driver of the truck was taken by ambulance to Meritus Medical Center. The cause of the accident remains under investigation and charges may be pending.

It is imperative that those behind the wheel of a vehicle remain vigilant at all times. While the beauty of fall foliage can be distracting, distracted driving can cause car and motorcycle accidents. Two people setting out for a last ride of the season don’t expect it to be the last ride of their lives.