A motorcyclist was killed when his motorcycle crashed with a car in Ellicott City, Maryland Howard County police said.
Police say an officer saw the motorcyclist speeding in the westbound lane on U.S. 40 around 11:15 a.m. Tuesday. Authorities say the officer tried to stop the vehicle, but stopped following it to avoid a high-speed pursuit.
Witnesses told police the driver sped through the red light at U.S. 40 and Normandy Drive and was running a red light at U.S. 40 and Rogers Avenue when he was struck by a 2001 Saturn sedan making a legal left turn on a green arrow from U.S. 40 onto Rogers Avenue.
The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at Howard County General Hospital. The driver of the car was taken to the hospital as a precaution but had no serious, physical injuries.
Motorcycle riders experience significantly higher rates of fatal injury as compared to motor vehicle occupants. In 2011, motorcycle riders were more than 30 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a motor vehicle traffic crash and 5 times more likely to be injured. Motorcyclist fatalities have decreased in Maryland over the past five years, but still account for 16% of all traffic fatalities. According to the CDC, after reinstating their universal helmet law, Maryland saw motorcycle deaths drop by 37%. Maryland ranks #5 in the nation for lives saved and economic costs saved due to helmet use.
No comments:
Post a Comment