Spokane, Washington – One Person Killed, Another Hospitalized in Car-Motorcycle Crash

Spokane, Washington (September 6, 2019) – A motorcyclist was killed and a driver was hospitalized in a car-motorcycle crash on State Highway 291 near Parkway Road on Friday morning. The motorcyclist, identified as Christopher A. Midwell from Spokane, died at the scene. The driver of the car, identified as Thomas D. Strader, was injured and taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, though he was reported to have been released.

According to the report, Midwell was driving at a high rate of speed when he struck Strader’s vehicle in the southbound lanes around 3 a.m. The Washington State Patrol has said that reckless driving caused the crash.

About Motorcycle Accidents

Because of a motorcycle’s open nature, the risks of injuries are greater to a person on a motorcycle than a person in a car. Head injuries are common in motorcycle accidents of all kinds, as are limb injuries. Much like any other vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents can easily come out of lapse of attention and careless maneuvers.  It is important to always observe proper driving and consideration for other vehicles, something which all motorcycle drivers should keep in mind as 3/4 of motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle. This is most likely due to a motorcycle’s overall visibility being less than most other vehicles, which means drivers of other vehicles tend not to see motorcycles in time.  This visibility problem makes motorcycle rides at night especially risky. Additionally, the stationary objects most often struck off-road are trees, utility poles, and traffic barriers, and driving in poor visibility conditions such as nighttime and unfavorable weather can increase the risks of collision with one of the objects mentioned above.

While motorcycles are a much-depended means of transportation, drivers should consider factors such as speed, number of other vehicles on the road, the road conditions and weather to ensure their safety while out and about. Be especially cautious when driving at night, as with any other vehicle. Any mistakes in judgement can lead to accidents, injuries and damage not only to your person, but on other people as well.

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