It is common knowledge that riding a motorcycle can be markedly more dangerous than traveling the roads in an enclosed vehicle. Statistically speaking, accidents involving motorcycles increase the likelihood of victims suffering serious or fatal injuries. Furthermore, if a driver is involved in a car accident with a motorcycle in Ohio, it is illegal to leave the scene of that accident if one of the persons involved is injured. The driver of a pickup truck recently left the scene of a fatal car accident involving a motorcycle.
Just after noon, a pickup truck was traveling along U.S. 40 when the driver came up to an intersection in Prairie Township, near Columbus. When the pickup truck reached the stop sign, according to the initial investigation into the crash, the driver may have committed a crucial traffic violation. Supposedly, the driver failed to yield at the stop sign.
When the driver came through the intersection, a motorcycle was also attempting to drive through. The pickup driver’s actions caused the motorcycle operator to lose control, killing the passenger on the motorcycle. The driver of the pickup then left the scene of the accident, but he was later arrested for hit-skip, as well as tampering with evidence.
The passenger of the motorcycle lost her life, and the driver of the motorcycle was transported to an area hospital in unknown condition. Even though the driver of the pickup is facing criminal charges stemming from the fatal car accident, the family of the motorcycle’s passenger is also entitled to take civil action if they choose. If successful, an Ohio wrongful death suit could monetarily reimburse the passenger’s family for the financial losses engendered by the tragedy.
Source: cleveland.com, “Ohio pickup truck driver accused of fleeing crash that killed motorcycle passenger“, , July 5, 2014