Motorcyclist suffers critical injuries after colliding with Volvo Thursday

By Kyle Feldscher Crime and courts reporter

Posted on Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 9:21 a.m.

Pittsfield Township police have released more information on the collision between a motorcycle and car on Carpenter Road Thursday afternoon that critically injured a 44-year-old township man.

The motorcyclist was southbound on Carpenter Road just south of Packard Road at 3:45 p.m. Thursday in the through lane when a 51-year-old Adrian woman driving a 2008 Volvo pulled out in front of him, according to a police statement. The woman was making a left turn out of a parking lot to head north on Carpenter.

The traffic in the southbound curb lane had stopped to allow the woman to turn and she continued to drive into the through lane, the statement read. The 44-year-old Pittsfield Township man could not stop in time and was thrown from the 2001 Harley Davidson, landing in the roadway, according to the statement.

Pittsfield Township Deputy Police Chief Gordy Schick said Thursday the man was wearing a helmet and that decision likely saved his life. It’s no longer illegal in Michigan for motorcyclists to ride without a helmet.

Pittsfield Township firefighters and Huron Valley Ambulance personnel treated the man on scene, according to Pittsfield Township Fire Chief Sean Gleason. The man had head and leg injuries, Gleason said.

The man was taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. The woman suffered no injuries.

Alcohol and drugs do not appear to be factors in the crash, according to the statement.

View 2012 Washtenaw County Traffic Reports in a larger map