Location: Lighthouse Road (State Route 54) at Hudson Road, Selbyville, DE
Date of Occurrence: Saturday, July 6, 2013 at 11:54 a.m.
Vehicles and Occupants:
Operator 1: Kim V. Tran, 22, of Selbyville, DE (properly restrained, not injured)
Vehicle 1: 2006 Acura TSX
Operator 2: John C. Scott, 69, of Salisbury, MD (deceased)
Vehicle 2: 1999 Moto Guzzi V11 EV
Resume:
Selbyville- A crash this morning claimed the life of a Salisbury, MD motorcyclist.
The crash occurred 11:54 a.m. as Kim V. Tran, 22, of Selbyville, traveled east on Lighthouse Road (State Route 54). At the intersection with Hudson Road, Tran stopped her vehicle, waiting to make a left turn. When a westbound vehicle on Lighthouse Road approached the intersection and began to make a left turn, Tran began to turn left.
As both vehicles turned left from opposite sides of the intersection, a 1999 Moto Guzzi V11 EV motorcycle entered the intersection from behind the westbound turning vehicle. As the motorcycle approached the turning Acura, it fell to its side. The motorcycle struck the passenger side of the Acura, while the motorcycle's rider, John C. Scott, 69, became trapped under the Acura.
Scott was flown from the scene to Peninsula Regional Medical Center by Delaware State Police helicopter, but was pronounced dead during the flight. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Tran, who was properly restrained, was not injured.
No charges have been filed. Speeding and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the incident. The roadway was closed for approximately four hours as Troopers investigated and cleared the crash.
The Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing its investigation into this incident, and asking anyone who witnessed it to call Cpl/3 Burns at (302) 644-5020, extension 112.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
I'm sure they will blame it on the motorcycle as usual.
ReplyDeleteAppears as though the motorcyclist went around a car waiting to turn left on the shoulder and ran into another car that was making a left from the other direction. I drive 54 often and it's common when stopped to turn that vehicles will go around you on the shoulder. If I'm not mistaken this is against the law.
ReplyDeleteBikers, they WILL turn left in front of you! ALWAYS! BET ON IT! Just avoid being there when they are doing it. Stop and wait if necessary. Being "in the right" here was deadly.
ReplyDeleteNot blaming anyone at this time...but please...motorcycle riders...wear clothing, etc. that let's people see you...almost got one myself the other day turning left...black asphalt road, black bike, solid black clothing and helmet...middle of the morning and I did NOT see him/her...my fault totally, but please...do more to make yourself visible...and don't play chicken on crotch rockets on Route 50...
ReplyDelete4:28 PM...
ReplyDeleteFailing to yield the right a way is also against the law. And appears she did try to cross his path.
651, are headlights invisible to you? I mean really, all "crotch rockets" have been produced after mandatory headlights came out. Face it, you weren't paying attention.
ReplyDeleteOh, wait, my friend just texted me!
7:51 can you read? 6:51 states "my fault totally".
ReplyDeletecrotch rocket? that bike is (was) a bmw cruiser.
ReplyDelete@8:16 thank you...btw they crotch rocket and the bike I turned in front of are two separate incidents...one my fault, the other was one of the idiots on bikes playing stupid dangerous games...and neither had anything to do with this incident...just a request to bikers out there...
ReplyDeleteIt is illegal to pass on the shoulder.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like motorcyclists was going around on the shoulder a left turning car and ran into the passenger side of a car turning left coming from the other direction.
ReplyDeleteThough it is illegal vehicles are constantly going on the shoulder to get around turning cars. Patience people. If you life is that busy that you can't wait a minute for the car to turn then you really really need to reassess and get you life in order. No one is that busy!
@ 7:14am You analysis/speculation about the m/c driver going around to pass as the automobile in front of him was turning left, sounds plausible. Then only to see Tran's car turning in front of him. ALL drivers, auto and m/c should constantly be driving defensively, which means NEVER take anything for granted. A secound or third vehicle may be hidden/out of your line of sight as you start to cross after stopping at a stop sign. I wait until it's completely clear or I'm positive that I've not missed someone coming at me. I ALWAYS look 2 or more times to be positive, it's saved my bacon a ton of times. Even when you've got a green traffic, don't assume no one is going to cross in front of you light because there's always someone in a big hurry willing to try to run it. The 2 or 4 way stop signs? Let them all go first or until you're absolutely positive that anyone and everyone still left waiting to go, knows for certain that you're finally making your move. Getting killed is easy, staying alive requires constant thinking. Always travel behind other drivers at a more then safe distance, never stay beside any vehicle very long, as you are passing him in the fast lane, because he probably has not even seen you and can turn into you in a secound. Every time you take a defensive driving course you odds improve, because you learn new things and are reminded of safety regarding the safe driving techniques you've forgotten. The most important of all is this. Never allow yourself or anyone else to make you get yourself in a big a** hurry to your own death. You've got the rest of your life to get there or any other place. If the m/c driver in this article had slowed down and made sure that no one was going to turn in front of him instead of thinking the coast was probably all clear, he's be alive today and thankful that he didn't go around that turning car. Defensive driving gives you time, patience is key because allowing yourself to rush can and will kill you. Take those defensive driving courses they always help. I take them about every three years or so, here in Delaware. Lowers your insurance too. This accident happened less than two miles from where I live, Tran lives less then 1/4 mile west on 54 of Hudson'e crossroads, where the accident happened. To expect the unexpected is smart and safe driving, car or m/c. You won't have to wait long to be glad that you did.
DeleteThe motorcyclist was a close family friend of ours for as long as I can remember... this is a shame and we are heart broken, even worse to read about it on the internet and see people assuming it was the motorcycle. Both my parents have Harleys, and I have been on the road and seen horrible drivers IN CARS (texting, talking on the phone, speeding, turned around with children in the car...the list could go on and on and I am 99% positive at one time or another we have all been guilty of doing something) SO PLEASE before you are quick to point fingers at the motorcyclist, respect the family and friends of JS. RIP :(
ReplyDelete