Police Charge Driver for Exceeding Blood Alcohol Limit After Crash That Killed Motorcyclist

motorcycle helmet on roadwayOn Saturday morning, a 64-year-old on a motorcycle was killed after a collision with a car at Patillo Road and County Road 42 in Lakeshore. The motorcycle rider is the fourth person from the area to be killed in a crash since June.

The driver of the car was charged with having blood alcohol equal to or exceeding the legal limit while causing an accident that resulted in death. The driver was still in custody on Sunday, pending the result of a bail hearing, according to an update from Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

The charge against the driver is an indictable offense and carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment for life, according to the Criminal Code of Canada.

Details on the Collision

The crash happened at about 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning. The motorcycle was heading west on County Road 42 when a car heading in the opposite direction made a left turn in front of the motorcycle, causing the crash. The motorcycle rider was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

OPP media relations officer Jay Denorer said alcohol was a contributing factor in the collision. He also noted the weather was clear when the crash occurred, there was good visibility because the intersection is surrounded by wide-open farm fields.

Speed limits on either side of the intersection ranged from 80 km/h to 60 km/h, so the impact of the collision on the motorcyclist must have been significant.

After the accident, police arrived to block off County Road 42 between Lakeshore Road 103 to the west of the intersection and Lakeshore Road 105. County Road 42 was closed for much of the day while the crash was investigated.

OPP officers searched the ditch on the south side of County Road 42 up to 100 metres away from the crash site. They found a boot in a nearby field about 70 metres away from the intersection.

Increase in Motorcycle Crashes

There is an average of 18 to 20 motorcycle accidents each year in Windsor and Essex County, according to Denorer. Unfortunately, this year things have been much worse, as there were 20 motorcycle crashes by the middle of August. This is a significant increase in Windsor motorcycle accidents. Two of the last four fatal motorcycle crashes involved alcohol.

Drivers need to be particularly careful to watch for motorcycles early in the morning when the sun is still rising, Denorer said. Motorists need to reduce their speed and check twice for motorcycles.

Contact a Windsor Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

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