Rider Injured in Motorcycle Accident on I-45 Feeder in Spring, TX
Spring, TX -- May 10, 2022, a man in his 50's was critically injured in a motorcycle accident on the Interstate 45 feeder road in Spring.
Reports say the incident happened around 6:00 p.m. Tuesday on the southbound I-45 feeder near Sawdust/Rayford Road. Witnesses told investigators the victim was weaving through traffic when he may have hit a curb, followed by a post. He was ejected from the bike, which continued on for another 100 feet or so.
The rider, wearing a helmet and a motorcycle vest, suffered critical injuries and was transported to an area hospital.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Motorcycle Accident on I-45 Feeder in Spring
I can't say exactly what happened here better than anyone else, but I do have some experience working with victims of motorcycle wrecks. That experience has led me to feel a measure of concern when a crash like this happens. Why? Because I've learned that the public--sometimes even investigators themselves--have an unfair and biased view of motorcyclists.
The prevailing opinion of motorcycle riders is that they're all reckless "daredevils" who pay little attention to traffic laws. Much of this impression comes from how riders are shown in popular culture, combined with the antics of the occasional bad egg on the roadway. In reality, most riders are perfectly safe when operating their vehicles--more so in many cases than car drivers because they have to make do without safety features like airbags and seat belts. Nevertheless, when they lose control on a roadway and crash as the rider supposedly did in Spring they're often accused right out of the gate of doing something wrong even enough facts are found to tell the story.
Am I saying motorcyclists can't be reckless or cause accidents? Certainly not. I'm only saying it's unfair to assume they're automatically to blame before other possibilities are considered as well. Could the bike have been defective or had a mechanical issue? Was the road slick or covered in debris that affected traction? Could the rider have had some kind of incapacitating medical problem? What if there was another vehicle that cut him off and made him lose control, then left the scene?
As I said, I don't know more than what reports tell and that's precious little at the moment. Hopefully more blanks will get filled in with time, but in the meantime it's best not to jump to any conclusions. My concern is making sure the investigators are professional enough to let only the facts, free of any bias, tell the story. Waiting around to see if the police in charge of this can exercise that discretion may not be the most prudent path forward.
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