Tyler Chitwood Killed in Tractor-Trailer Accident in McCreary County, KY
McCreary County, KY -- August 17, 2022, Tyler Chitwood was killed following an accident where a motorcycle and a semi collided.
Investigators reported that the crash took place at around 1:15 p.m. along Highway 92 at the intersection of Oscar Bell Road, just outside of Whitley City.
In reports, officials said that 24-year-old Tyler Chitwood was on a motorcycle traveling westbound on the highway. He reportedly attempted to pass a tractor-trailer, but the tractor-trailer then attempted to turn onto Oscar Bell. The vehicles then collided.
Chitwood sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash. Right now, additional details about the crash are unavailable.
Commentary on Tyler Chitwood Tractor-Trailer Accident in McCreary County
To some, these reports are just going to come off as a biker being irresponsible and making a fatal mistake. Maybe that's what happened here--I certainly don't have any evidence not currently in the news. But when I see any motorcycle wreck, my concern is if authorities are being thorough enough. Quite frankly, even they can be quick to blame motorcyclists, and that can lead to inaccurate and incomplete reports.
A while back, for example, a family came to me with a crash involving a motorcyclist. The investigating officer said the victim was speeding and weaving through traffic, which the family knew their loved one would never do, given that he was a safe and experienced rider. When we spoke with witnesses, it showed us that the officer clearly made a mistake.
All that really happened was the biker passed someone on the left, then changed lanes back to the right. It was a semi-truck turning from a parking lot that caused the wreck. Somehow, the officer misinterpreted these details to say that the motorcyclist was being reckless and made the crash unavoidable. It took us getting sworn testimony and a mountain of forensic evidence to set the record straight and ensure that family got the help they deserved.
Maybe nothing like that happened here, but it's a concern I always express to people when possible. Understanding these potential roadblocks can be crucial in overcoming them. Whether further investigations here simply provide closure or reveal that authorities missed something important, the victim's loved ones deserve clear answers.
[jump]
