Man thrown from motorcycle in Pontiac and killed; eighth fatal motorcycle crash in county in recent weeks – The Oakland Press

Archive photo (Aileen Wingblad/MediaNews Group)

For the second time in less than two days, a motorcyclist has died in a traffic accident in Oakland County.

This latest incident was reported around 2:40 a.m. Saturday morning in Pontiac, when the motorcyclist – a 39-year-old Waterford Township man – left the road and was ejected from the vehicle, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

The man was riding a 2010 Harley Davidson motorcycle north on Woodward when he “failed to negotiate a turn” and went off the road, the sheriff’s office said. He was thrown from the motorcycle into a traffic sign.

He was not wearing a helmet, the sheriff’s office said.

The man was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

This was the eighth fatal motorcycle crash reported in the county in recent weeks. The other accidents, according to police:

• On July 18, a 41-year-old motorcyclist from Clarkston died at a local hospital after being struck by another vehicle on Telegraph Road near 12 Mile Road in Southfield. Emergency crews called to the scene just before 6:30 p.m. found the man lying in the road. It is believed he was struck by a vehicle entering Telegraph Road from a bend.

• On July 6, a 42-year-old Waterford man died as a result of a crash on Sashabaw Road near Fowler Drive in Independence Township. According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, emergency crews were called to the scene around 11 p.m. after the man crossed the center line on his motorcycle, struck a Jeep Compass and was then struck by another vehicle. The motorcyclist reportedly failed to negotiate a curve on Sashabaw Road, which led to the crash. The victim was wearing a helmet, according to the sheriff’s office.

• On June 18, a 32-year-old Redford Township man was killed when his motorcycle collided with a Ford Explorer at the intersection of Eight Mile Road and Grand River Avenue in Farmington Hills. Police said he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.

• On June 16, a 40-year-old motorcyclist from Wixom was struck by a minivan while waiting to turn left from northbound Wixom Road onto Stratford Villa Way in Commerce Township. He died eight days later from injuries sustained in the crash. His wife was on the motorcycle and was also injured. According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, neither the motorcyclist nor his wife were wearing helmets at the time of the crash.

• On June 14, a 60-year-old motorcyclist from Orion Township was killed when he collided with a car that had turned in front of him in Brandon Township. The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet. His passenger, a 12-year-old identified as his grandson, was wearing a helmet and survived.

• On May 16, a 57-year-old Saginaw man was killed when he collided with a car turning in front of him in Commerce Township. He was not wearing a helmet.

• On May 1, a 66-year-old Orion Township man was killed when his motorcycle collided with a car in Oxford Township. The sheriff’s office said it was unknown if he was wearing a helmet, but family members told the Oakland Press that the man always wore a helmet when riding his motorcycle.