Man hospitalized after motorcycle crash on I-94
A Belleville man is in stable condition after sustaining a head injury during a motorcycle crash Sunday morning on Interstate 94, according to Michigan State Police.
Troopers responded about 11 a.m. Sunday to westbound I-94 about one mile west of Rawsonville Road for a crash. According to police, Charles Rice Sr. was riding his 2006 Kawasaki motorcycle as a part of a group of retired Detroit firefighters riding their motorcycles to Milwaukee.
Police said Rice lost control of his motorcycle and crashed, sustaining a head injury. Huron Valley Ambulance took him to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in stable condition.
Rice was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, police said.
Ypsilanti Township Fire Department firefighters and troopers from the MSP Brighton post and Metro post responded to the crash. The investigation continues.
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Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
TinyArtist
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 1:18 p.m.
Why pick on the poor victim, aside from the fact that it makes such fun reading? What's really at issue here is that Lafontaine Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram has an annoying bent page that keeps interrupting our reading, and we should all boycott them.
A A Resident
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 11:30 a.m.
I'm one more motorcycle rider who deplores the helmet law being revoked. You'd think a firefighter would place a premium on protective gear, it being a normal part of their job. But I was once riding with a large police-escorted group which included a cop who was riding without a helmet.
YpsiGirl4Ever
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 4:58 a.m.
Praying for the victim as a rider myself and this is ANOTHER reason Michigan's Helmet Law NEVER should have been repealed. Riders please practice, ATGATT -- All The Gear, All The Time despite what State Law says all it can save your life.
egcthree
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 10:34 a.m.
More nanny state is the last thing we need. Where a helmet it or don't it is that person's choice. What is so hard to understand.
JRW
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 3:05 a.m.
Someone in public service such as firefighting should know the benefits of wearing safety equipment such as a helmet. No excuse for not wearing a helmet. None. Now everyone else's insurance premiums go up because of this accident that could have had a far better outcome. It is a choice, albeit a dumb one IMO, not to wear a helmet, but the rest of us should not have to pay higher insurance premiums because of it. If you choose not to wear a motorcycle helmet on a motorcycle or motorbike, then you should have to carry additional insurance for any sustained injuries.
clownfish
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 2:19 p.m.
Of course there is an excuse...don't want gubment taking our FREEDOMS!! Better to make tax payers pay the medical bills. That is how we fight tyranny and high taxes.
YpsiGirl4Ever
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 5:05 a.m.
JRW, The only problem with extra insurance coverage as it stands right now, the rider can cancel it once obtaining their tags and title. Thus the only solution is to RESTORE Michigan's Helmet Law.
Ypsi Russell
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 5:07 p.m.
The choice of whether to wear a helmet (or ride a motorcycle, or use I-94) seems to depend on whether your view of life is Creationist or Darwinian (and btw, I'm pro-choice).
ROB 64
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 8:13 p.m.
I think you phrased something incorrectly. I'm not really sure what, as I can't tell what point you are trying to make at all. I use I-94 because it is the shortest route to and from work for me, not because of my views on wearing helmets, riding motorcycles, evolution, or abortion.
justcurious
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 8:01 p.m.
What does this have to do with abortion?
A2isNuts
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 3:35 p.m.
I certainly hope that as he made the choice not to wear a helmet that he is not entitled to lifetime care under the catastrophic medical fund we all pay into as part of our insurance.
Matt Cooper
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 8:53 p.m.
"I certainly hope that...he is not entitled to lifetime care..." Wow. I can't think of a more cruel or heartless thing to say. Instead of being mean, why not just pray the guy survives and makes a complete recovery instead of worrying about money. Isn't his life, health and safety worth a little bit more respect than that?
johnnya2
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 7:02 p.m.
Actually, due to coordinated coverages, when the motorcycle insurance ends his HEALTH insurance begins. Being he is a firefighter, that will be paid for by tax dollars.
not a billy
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 5:40 p.m.
For Ignatz - They area only required to have the extra coverage when they buy their license plates. Just like an automobile, show the certificate, pay the money, get the plate. Cancelling the next day is always a possibility. Hopefully he was responsible enough to have the coverage, however the amount of extra coverage required may not come close to covering the cost of a head injury.
justcurious
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 3:56 p.m.
Ignatz, unfortunately I don't think we'll hear another thing about this accident. That seems to be the way it goes. Something happens and no follow-up.
Ignatz
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 3:43 p.m.
Those who choose to leave their noggins unprotected are required to carry extra insurance just for this eventuality. I'd be interested to see if that's the case here.
tmc
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 3:20 p.m.
The helmet is called a "brain bucket." If you don't have brains enough to wear one, why do you need one?
justcurious
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 2:21 p.m.
I hope he will be able to recover fully from this accident. I also hope that if he does and decides to ride again that he will start wearing a helmet again - and not just a beanie. I would imagine that those riding with him have been doing some serious thinking about not wearing a helmet...but kind of doubt it.
Paul
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 1:53 p.m.
Why are motorbikes not banned from the public roads ? In a crash they are more dangerous then a model T car, yet motorbikes are 100% legal to buy brand new and ride on any public roadway. Another dumb law, IMO
YpsiGirl4Ever
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 5:02 a.m.
Paul is seeking attention. Don't give it too him. Scroll up and Paul makes a comment how motorcycle riders don't need helmets. Again, comment attention seeker, nothing more.
leaguebus
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 8:13 p.m.
Lets ban cars too, lots more car occupants die than motorcycle riders.
djacks24
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 4:47 p.m.
Really? Do we really need to take it that far and ban motorcycles from roadways? Also, bikes are more dangerous to the rider than someone driving just about any type of automobile. If we start going crazy with legislation that protects people from themselves, then where does it end?
Kea
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 3:03 p.m.
Because they are no more dangerous to others than other vehicles.
Ypsidoodle
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 1:48 p.m.
"Police said Rice loss control of his motorcycle and crashes" Maybe meant "crashed?"
Ypsidoodle
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 3:24 p.m.
Hey, it's Monday!
Kyle Feldscher
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 1:52 p.m.
Oh man, that was a tough sentence to read again. Looks like I need some more coffee. Thanks for pointing these out.
Ypsidoodle
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 1:49 p.m.
Oops, and "lost" too!
SemperFi
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 1:43 p.m.
I hope that this individual recovers completely. Maybe he'll be able to talk to others about helmet safety. The craziest thing I see with motorcyclists is when they wear riding leathers, but not a helmet. Weird sense of priorities!
Matt Cooper
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 8:49 p.m.
I won't even go into how ridiculous it is the proposition that wearing a helmet increases the chances of breaking your neck in a motorcycle crash. I've been riding motorcycles for over 20 years and have yet to break my neck from wearing a helmet. Secondly, Reeve's injuries had nothing whatever to do with his helmet. They were caused by his horse stopping suddenly in the middle of a sequence of jumps. The horse stopped and Reeve was thrown over the horse, landing on his head which broke his 1st and 2nd vertebra. If anything, his helmet saved his life by preventing it from being smashed open on impact. I read this comment and I hope nobody takes seriously the idea that wearing a helmet increases the risks of injury.
Paul
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 2 p.m.
Huh, he might had broke his neck by wearing a helmet. That is how Christopher Reeve broke his neck, he was wearing a helmet and no neck brace when he felled off his horse. Helmets make your head heavier then your neck is made to support your head. Neck braces should be used along with helmets--those bicycle lightweight helmets might be the expedition but anything that makes your head heavier isn't good to wear without neck support
zanzerbar
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 1:42 p.m.
Riding without a helmet at high speeds makes no sense.
Pika
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 4:15 a.m.
Actually many riders consider high speeds the reason that they don't wear helmets. I've heard riders explain that at 60mph a helmet isn't going to help at all. From my own perspective I'll bet most crashes are at relatively low speeds when all of the evasive stuff is over. So I would definitely wear a helmet at high or low speeds.
justcurious
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 2:19 p.m.
Or at low speeds.
michael corleone
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 1:34 p.m.
You would think a firefighter would know the dangers of riding without a helmet. I passed this scene Sunday morning, it was in a straightaway, saw the group sitting on the side of the road, while the state police were taking pictures of area. It's sad seeing all these people get injured and killed, just because the law doesn't require you to wear a helmet. I don't want another law that tells me I HAVE to do something, but this no helmet thing is going poorly.
theodynus
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 8:50 p.m.
"When the steering wheel is DESIGNED to auto retract in a collision to provide you more room inside the cabin to flop around because there already ISN'T enough room." Funny how such an authority on automotive safety isn't aware of Audi's procon-ten system, which did the same thing as early as 1986 as an alternative to airbags.
Billy
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 2:22 p.m.
" Least in even a Smart car, you are much more safer in a crash" True...but not by much compared to a real car. They really shilled the safety of those smart cars. They're not much more than a motorcycle with a cage regardless of what they claim. You can go onto youtube an see a video of them smashing one into a concrete barrier at high speed...and then they proceed to tell you how safe the vehicle is and how the magical "tridion" frame protected the driver.... Except if you ACTUALLY watched that video... the drivers compartment is DESTROYED in the crash. They claim the tridion frame didn't buckle but you can VERY clearly see it crushed into the driver compartment. If there was a person driving that car they would DEFINITELY have suffered fatal injury....yet they go off talking about how safe the car is...you've honestly gotta see it to believe it...the audacity they have. When the steering wheel is DESIGNED to auto retract in a collision to provide you more room inside the cabin to flop around because there already ISN'T enough room...it's kinda hard to take that and make it "safe." The youtube video shows why very clearly.
justcurious
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 2:19 p.m.
We ride motorcycles and will continue. We both wear full face helmets - still. Everytime I see a helmet-less rider all I see is a melon instead of a head. If that person goes down it would be like a melon going down...only they are supposed to have a brain in it.
Paul
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 2:09 p.m.
Yeah the duckies were in the weeds and me didn't see them but they heard my car flying up and got scared and flew off and one duck didn't fly high enough and wham, I had a busted windshield in a "tough" 1977 Gran Fury. That woke me up that no matter what, you can't always avoid every impact, no matter how good you reflexes are.
Paul
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 2:06 p.m.
Helmets can only do so much and aren't perfect. The root of the problem are those "killer motorbikes" Anything can happen on the highway--I had a duck fly off as I was flying on past in my car and it crack my windshield. Was long ago when I used to ride both, cars and motorbikes, I wised up and sold my motorbike before something very bad happen. Least in even a Smart car, you are much more safer in a crash--or from stuff flying up from the roadway.