On Sunday, a crash involving a sport utility vehicle and a motorcycle took the lives of two people. KFDX News Channel Three has just released the identities of the two victims. The victims, 49-year-old Carrie Henson and 53-year-old Gary Grant, were riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle in the northbound lane of I-44 at the time of the crash. For unknown reasons, the motorcycle ended up in the southbound lane. It collided with a Chevy Tahoe, while it was passing a tractor trailer. The wreck happened near the Glendale exit in Burkburnett.
Authorities have released very few details about this case. Officials with the Burkburnett Police Department are likely still investigating the crash. They’re probably trying to determine how the motorcycle ended up in the southbound lane.
Just the Facts
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclist fatalities made up 14 percent of total traffic-related fatalities in 2011. In the last decade, the age group with the largest increase of motorcyclist fatalities has been 40-years-old and up. In 2010, motorcycle wrecks were responsible for 4,502 fatalities. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the economic burden of crash-related injuries and deaths for one year totaled $12 billion.
Riding Safely
Riders need to be incredibly vigilant. They have to pay attention to road conditions and anticipate the movements of their fellow drivers. Motorcycles don’t offer riders a whole lot of safety features. Many riders choose to wear safety gear like protective jackets and vests, boots, gloves and helmets. Even with these protective items, riders can still get injured, so drivers need to be on the lookout for motorcycles.
What Can Drivers Do?
- Never Drive Distracted
- Lookout For Motorcycles
- Check Bind Spots
- Give Motorcycles Plenty of Room to Maneuver
- Always Signal Your Intentions
- Exercise Caution Before Making Turns
- Check For Motorcycles Before Entering a Roadway
In September, we reported on a motorcyclist who was killed in a crash on Loop 11. Unfortunately, motorcycle riders don’t have side curtain airbags, seatbelts and steel cages to protect them. In addition to riding safely, they need other drivers to share the road and look out for them.
The team at the Altman Legal Group sends their deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Carrie Henson and Gary Grant. If you have lost a loved one in a motorcycle crash, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at the Altman Legal Group at 940-761-4000 for a free consultation.