SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — A South Carolina man was critically injured Thursday afternoon when he lost control of his motorcycle on a bridge onramp, according to police.
The 39-year-old man, whom police are not identifying, allegedly tried to pass several cars on the onramp to the Veterans Memorial Bridge, South Portland police Lt. Frank Clark said Friday.
The biker, who was not wearing a helmet, had tried to pass the vehicles in the breakdown lane, the lieutenant said.
The motorcycle dragged along a guardrail for about 100 feet before the man was thrown and landed on the Interstate 295 onramp, Clark said. The Veterans Memorial Bridge runs parallel to the freeway.
A Maine State Police reconstruction team was called in to investigate, Clark said, and police have not ruled out speed or alcohol as factors.
The man remains in critical condition at Maine Medical Center on Friday morning, according to Clark.
when will people realize that if you act like a jackass on a motorcycle, it usually ends badly for you
Exactly! My mother is petrified of motorcycles because she hears about all of these things in the news. I ride, and it scares her to death. The truth is, a great deal of these motorcycle fatalities and injuries COULD have been prevented by the cyclists himself/herself.
I hope this man survives to ride another day-hoepfully with a helmet on and in the correct lane. Those of us riding should be more cautious than ever before.Bikes are on the road 6 months out of the year. Someone texting or talking on a cell phone may not be not looking for folks on two wheels. This summer is off to a bad start with all accidents-cars and bikes-let’s all pay attention and make to the fall.
I agree that other people on the road need to pay closer attention to the road ahead of them, especially during bike season. Unfortunately, most of the accidents and deaths so far this year have been due to rider inexperience and alcohol. I had a motorcycle once upon a time, and I sold it after someone almost took me out on the highway, and a good friend got hit head on by an SUV and hasn’t been the same since. Scared the desire to ride right out of me. I think more people need to realize that motorcycles do not make you invicible and they are not meant to be treated as fast toys. It takes a lot of skill and practice to be able to properly handle a motorcycle at any speed.
Out of respect for the injured man I tried to say that as nicely as possible. Accident fatalities are up 42% year over year in Maine. ALL of us need to be safer and observe the rules of the road.
Not wearing a helmet makes you cool like the Fonz
I support individual liberty having enjoyed the wind in my hair, and even I think helmets and leather should be more strongly ‘recommended’ if not mandatory.
However, it doesn’t appear as though either one would have made much difference, here, unfortunately.
unfortunately, it’s the taxpayers who have to scoop your individual liberty off the pavement when you fail to wear a helmet.
Unless of course the person has health insurance and then the taxpayers don’t pay a dime.
Isn’t that a problem all on its own?
really? Hows that? I would really like to understand why the taxpayers would have to scoop me off the road if I fail to wear a helmet. Thats a ridiculous thing to say.
If you see me lying on the side of the road, just keep on going. I’m tired of hearing how your dollars are spent on us idiots who don’t wear helmets. This is a false argument , just like people who don’t wear seatbelts are causing your insurance rates to go up. My rates haven’t dropped since the law was passed requiring us to wear them was passed. Don’t waste everyone’s time saying they would be higher if the law wasn’t passed , you can’t prove a negative
LOL! I dont think you meant to reply to ME. it wasn’t ME who said it.
” and even I think helmets and leather should be more strongly ‘recommended’ if not mandatory.”
I thought you said that you supported individual liberty.
That’s right. I am ‘conflicted’ which is exactly the point I tried to make.
Motorcycles have routinely not provided any protection to riders. My father was a surgeon and forbade us kids to go anywhere near them, which was, of course, an invitation to do the opposite – which we did.
But he was right. One 4th of July a kid road his cycle down our Boulevard WITH a helmet, hit the median, flipped and ended up in our family driveway with a broken neck and died on scene.
My Dad pronounced him.
Never forgot it.
I’m not saying that people shouldn’t wear helmets, just that they shouldn’t get fined for not doing so.
Lesson learned hopefully he will be able to put the lesson to good use in future justice does prevail sometimes