Motorcycle rider in morning crash has message for drivers

A motorcycle rider injured in a crash Wednesday morning wants to remind drivers to pay attention to people on bikes.

The rider, Terrance McKinnon, called InMaricopa.com Wednesday afternoon after reading an article about his crash.

The article quoted a community message from the Maricopa Fire Department that stated the department encourages riders and their passengers to wear helmets when they ride. McKinnon, a Maricopa resident, did not disagree with the safety tip, but wanted to pass along his own advice to drivers.

“Pay attention to motorcycle riders,” he said.

The crash occurred around 8 a.m. northbound on John Wayne Parkway near Lakeview Drive. Authorities said McKinnon was stopped in traffic when he was rear ended by a four-door sedan.

McKinnon said he was thrown from his bike about 15 to 20 feet and was knocked unconscious.

The message from the fire department stated McKinnon was found at the scene walking around and bleeding from the head. He was taken to Chandler Regional Medical Center.

McKinnon said he was released from the hospital around noon.

Maricopa Police Department spokesman Ricky Alvarado said the driver of the sedan in Wednesday morning’s crash will be served a citation through the city court for failure to control speed.

McKinnon did not know for sure if the driver who struck him was not paying attention, but said the car was traveling at an excessive rate of speed when he was hit.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3,300 people were killed and an estimated 421,000 were injured in distraction-related crashes in 2012.

This month, the U.S. Department of Transportation launched its first-ever national ad campaign against distracted driving.

In Arizona, motorcycle operators who are 18 years or older do not have to wear a helmet.

The community message from the fire department cited statistics from the NHTSA – one being that a motorcycle rider without a helmet is 40 percent more likely to die of a head injury than a rider wearing a helmet.