A recent Dayton motorcycle collision with a car was caused by the auto’s failure to yield the right of way to the lawfully operating motorcycle. Jerry Kunkle, a 75 year old Springfield, Ohio man died on Saturday October 12, 2013 as a result of injuries caused to him in the wreck.
News reports recounted a PT Cruise automobile was being driven in a northerly direction on Friday afternoon on Bosart Road. At that time Jerry Kunkle was riding his Harley Davidson in a southbound direction on Bosart. All of a sudden the PT Cruiser attempted to turn into a driveway, directly into the path of Mr Kunkle. A horrible crash between the motorcyclist and the car occurred.
Mr. Kunke had a period of survival, and had his leg being amputated , as the doctors at Miami Valley hospital struggled to save Mr Kunkle’s life. Unfortunately he died Saturday afternoon due to severe trauma to his body.
It was reported that Mr Kunkle was an avid motorcyclist, and a lifetime member of H.O.G. the Harley Ownership Group. He was a Vietnam army veteran and the youngest of 13 children.
Police spokesperson Trooper David Slanker said the car driver was at fault for turning into the path of motorcyclist Mr Kunkle.
Commentary
For the first time in my recent memory there is a straight forward report of the fault of a car driver causing serious harm or death to a motorcyclist. Often prejudices against motorcyclists surface. But I detected nothing in the report from Brian Bondus of the Dayton Daily News other than factual information.
What is Failure to Yield
Failure to yield the right of way is a very specific law of Ohio made by the legislature. There are various laws that cover different aspects of the right of way law. With regard to turning left the statute reads:
Right of Way Rule in Ohio When Turning Left
(A) The operator of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right of way to any vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley approaching from the opposite direction, whenever the approaching vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley is within the intersection or so close to the intersection, alley, private road, or driveway as to constitute an immediate hazard.
“Right-of-way” means either of the following, as the context requires:
(1) The right of a vehicle, streetcar, trackless trolley, or pedestrian to proceed uninterruptedly in a lawful manner in the direction in which it or the individual is moving in preference to another vehicle, streetcar, trackless trolley, or pedestrian approaching from a different direction into its or the individual’s path;
These right of way violations are often seen as the cause of motorcycle crashes. The automobile driver (cager) just does not look effectively. As a result many a good man or woman has been maimed or killed.
Source
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/local/springfield-man-dies-after-motorcycle-accident/nbNZ7/
Ohio Revised Code
By Anthony Castelli an Ohio motorcycle accident injury attorney that rides a Harley. For motorcycle resources or to order a free Watch For Motorcycles bumper sticker access the Ohio Motorcycle Garage .