Archive for the ‘Motorcycle Accidents’ Category

SUV driver may face charges in fatal motorcycle accident

A motorcyclist was killed in a four vehicle collision that happened yesterday afternoon on the northbound West Sam Houston Tollway at Briar Forest Drive. Precinct 5 deputies say that around 5:20 p.m. a motorcycle rider slowed for traffic ahead when he was rear-ended by an SUV. The motorcyclist was thrown from his bike: the bike traveled forward and hit another vehicle while the SUV crashed into another car. The victim, who appeared to be a middle aged man, died at the scene. Deputies say charges against the SUV driver are possible, but there is no indication alcohol impairment was the cause of the accident. Channel 13’s article states the motorcycle rider was struck from behind by a Honda Goldwing, though that is almost certainly an error since the Honda Goldwing is a type of motorcycle. The victim was probably riding a Honda Goldwing.

Fatal motorcycle accident on Boheme Drive

Investigators believe the slick roads caused by today’s heavy rains in Houston contributed to a fatal motorcycle accident on the West Sam Houston Tollway feeder near Boheme Drive. Police say it was pitch black and very wet when the accident happened at 5:30 a.m. today. Police told Channel 2 that the driver of a dark blue Chevrolet Suburban and the motorcyclist were both heading southbound on the feeder road with the intention of turning left onto Boheme. Investigators say the driver of the Suburban, instead of making the left turn, skidded in a straight line into the motorcycle. The motorcycle rider was trapped under the Suburban and died at the scene. While the Suburban driver was questioned by police and was given a breathalyzer test, police do not think alcohol was a factor in causing the accident.

Motorcycle accident on Interstate 10 – rider falls 40 feet

A motorcyclist fell 30 – 40 feet from an elevated portion of I-10 after an accident yesterday and was rushed to hospital.  The facts aren’t very clear from Channel 13’s report, but it appears the motorcycle rider either swerved to avoid an 18-wheeler truck or collided with an 18-wheeler, causing him to fall off an elevated portion of Interstate 10 East. Fortunately it appears the man wore a helmet, probably saving his life. A gold-colored Toyota appears in Channel 13’s video footage (see below) and the vehicle has passenger side front end damage, but again, there’s no indication that vehicle was involved in the motorcycle accident.

Driver charged in fatal motorcycle accident involving deputy sheriff’s dad

75-year old Neil Smith has been charged with intoxication manslaughter in connection with the death of 54-year old Danny Hunt.  On Saturday November 3rd Danny Hunt and his son Chase Hunt, an off-duty Galveston County Deputy Sheriff, were riding their motorcycles on Highway 6 near FM 2004 it Hitchcock, Texas around 1:00 a.m. Investigators say that at some point Chase’s baseball cap fell off so the men pulled to the side of the road and chase went to retrieve his hat.  At that point Neil Smith’s Ford SUV struck Danny Hunt. Smith continued driving for about a half mile until damage to the SUV forced him to stop.  Danny Hunt was pronounced dead at the sceneChannel 2’s story is hereGalveston Daily News story here. This weekend marked the conclusion of the Lone Star Rally in Galveston, a motorcycle rally that drew 500,000 people to Galveston Island. According to initial police reports, 19 people were charged with drunken driving, including Neil Smith.

Neil Smith

Off duty police officer Amado Huerta killed in motorcycle accident

Amado Huerta, 44, a husband, father of five children and 16-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, died in a motorcycle accident over the weekend. Huerta was driving his Honda Goldwing motorcycle northbound on the South Freeway Sunday evening around 8:30 p.m. when a silver-colored Pontiac Grand Am made an unsafe lane change, striking the motorcycle. Huerta was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police say the driver was likely not impaired and the accident investigation is ongoing. Huerta joined HPD in 1995 and worked as a motorcycle officer in the traffic division. The Houston Chronicle’s report is here.

Fatal motorcycle accident on I-45 when passenger falls off

Northbound lanes of Interstate 45 were shut down last night after a fatal motorcycle accident in Conroe, Texas. A woman was riding on the back of a motorcycle when the bike hit a median throwing the woman off. She was then struck and killed by another three-wheeled motorcycle/trike. The man who had been driving the motorcycle with the woman on the back then fled the scene of the accident, and police are trying to locate him. Channel 2’s report.

Deputy Constable hurt in motorcycle accident on Sam Houston Tollway

Channel 2 is reporting that a deputy constable riding a motorcycle was rushed to hospital after a wreck earlier today on the Sam Houston Tollway near Briar Forest. The wreck happened around 11:20 a.m. when a car in front of the deputy made a sudden stop and the deputy collided with the rear of the vehicle.  The news article did not indicate the deputy’s condition – he was taken to Memorial Hermann.

Photo credit: Channel 2

Shannon Garcia apprehended in hit-and-run death of Jeremy Choate

Perhaps small consolation for the family of hit-and-run motorcycle accident victim Jeremy Choate, but Shannon Garcia, the suspected hit-and-run driver wanted in connection with Jeremy’s death, has been arrested by the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force in a Gainsville hotel.

Shannon Garcia was (allegedly) driving a black Ford Fusion car that struck Jeremy Choate’s motorcycle in the Houston Heights area on Saturday night.  The 25-year old Gainsville resident then hugged her boyfriend Robert Maddux who got out of the car.  Garcia reportedly said “I’m leaving” before departing the accident scene on foot along the I-10 service road. The crash happened around 9:15 p.m. at Studemont and the Interstate 10 service road.

Tragically Jeremy Choate, a father of two girls aged 5 and 7, suffered major head trauma in the accident (he was not wearing a helmet) and died Sunday afternoon from his injuries.  Jeremy was one of Houston’s most sought-after lighting designers and a nationally recognized artist

Robert Maddux remained at the scene and identified Shannon Garcia as the driver. According to the Houston Chronicle’s story, Maddux said he had been dating Garcia for about two weeks, and prior to the accident the couple had been drinking at El Tiempo Cantina on Washington Avenue.  He said Garcia had one margarita at his (Maddux’) house before they went out, then three more margaritas at El Tiempo.  Reportedly Maddux told police Garcia was “no OK to drive.”

Woman flees after causing motorcycle accident on Katy Freeway feeder

A woman crashed her car into the back of a motorcyclist then fled on foot, leaving her passenger behind. The accident happened around 9:15 p.m. after which police arrived to find a motorcyclist lying on the ground on the Katy Freeway service road at Studemont. Police say the motorcyclist was stopped for a red light when the car ran the light and struck the motorbike. The motorbike rider was thrown into the windshield and onto the ground: he was transported to the hospital in critical condition. According to police, the woman got out of her car and ran away leaving her boyfriend behind in the passenger seat. Channel 11’s report is here.
Motorcycle accidents pose their own particular set of challenges as motorcyclists often suffer much more serious injuries than victims of car accidents, and getting large emergency room bills paid by the at-fault driver’s insurance company can be difficult. The Smith & Hassler Houston personal injury attorneys have helped literally hundreds of injured motorcyclists recover their damages.

Polk County deputy constable hurt in US 290 motorcycle accident

An off-duty Polk County deputy constable was seriously injured while riding his motorcycle in Houston yesterday. According to Channel 2’s story, investigators say the motorcycle ran into the back of a truck on eastbound Highway 290 at Huffmeister at around 7:25 a.m. The constable was transported by life flight to Memorial Hermann where he was in critical condition. Polk County officials say the constable is married and a father: he was working a second job at the time of the wreck. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
If you or a loved on has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, put Smith & Hassler’s 23-year history of helping injured clients to work for you. Check out the Google reviews from former Smith & Hassler clients, including reviews from clients seriously injured in motorcycle wrecks.