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Organization: Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station
Date: September 17, 2008
Another Santa Clarita Motorcyclist Injured
Monday, September 15, 2008, 11:22 p.m. — Valencia:
Another Santa Clarita resident was seriously injured late Monday night, near Newhall Ranch Road and Rye Canyon Road, when the motorcycle he was riding slammed into the back of another vehicle. Witnesses report that the man, MW/23, was seen traveling at estimated speeds of 100 miles per hour just before the accident occurred. The man, whose name is not yet being released, suffered spinal injuries and a severely injured foot. He was lucky to survive the accident officials at the scene said, and he faces a long road to recovery. Deputies report that the man even had a traffic citation in his possession that was issued by the California Highway Patrol on September 5, 2008, just ten days earlier, for excessive speed.
Despite the numerous warnings and public safety campaigns launched by the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station and the City of Santa Clarita about the dangers associated with reckless and inexperienced motorcycle riding, these sport bike riders just don't seem to be getting the message. Just last Thursday a 41 year-old Canyon Country man was killed while riding a motorcycle after he collided with another vehicle. Although that accident is still under investigation and it has not yet been determined if speed, recklessness, or inexperience played a role, it still serves as yet another tragic reminder of the dangers associated with riding motorcycles on our roadways and the importance of taking extra defensive precautions and safety measures.
Last week's incident, along with the death of a 25 year-old male motorcyclist who collided with a cement truck while traveling at a hight rate of speed at the intersection of Golden Valley Road and Robert C. Lee Parkway on February 4, 2008, and the July 28, 2008, death of a 54 year-old man who struck a parked car while riding a motorcycle near Canna Valley Road and Wistaria Valley Road, Canyon Country, brings the total number of fatality related motorcycle collisions to 7 dating back to February of last year.
As yet another reminder, a Canyon Country man, Joseph Milhoan, MW/21, was sentenced to 16 months in state prison on July 23, 2008, for his involvement in several incidents of reckless driving on a motorcycle and evading Deputy Sheriffs in the Santa Clarita Valley over an 18 month period.
Additional Motorcycle related facts: Of the 60 motorcycle related accidents we had in the City of Santa Clarita last year, nearly 40 percent of them involved unlicensed motorcycle drivers. Parents need to know that of the four fatal traffic collisions last year, three of them were motorcycle riders and this year isn't looking any better with four motorcycle related fatalities to date. On behalf of the Sheriff's Department and the City of Santa Clarita, Captain Anthony La Berge would like to urge parents to enroll their teens in a motorcycle safety class before purchasing a motorcycle or allowing them to ride a motorcycle. It is a fact that unfamiliarity with the motorcycle and failure to complete a motorcycle safety test through the DMV, as well as speeding were direct contributing factors in nearly every fatal motorcycle accident in the Santa Clarita Valley in 2007.
For more motorcycle related facts, training classes, and safety information, visit the following link: Motorcycle Safety.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing and there is no further information at this time. -ref 16507
If You See Something, Say Something! Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847.
Monday, September 15, 2008, 11:22 p.m. — Valencia:
