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Motorcycle accident injures one near Craig

Moffat County Road 7 sees high number of accidents this summer

Patrick Kelly
Emergency responders from The Memorial Hospital Emergency Medical Services and Craig Fire/Rescue stabilize a man who just crashed his motorcycle on Moffat County Road 7 before transporting him to TMH.
Patrick Kelly

One man was transported to The Memorial Hospital after losing control of his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and crashing into a ditch on Moffat County Road 7 near milepost 7.

He was not wearing a helmet, according to Colorado State Patrol.

The extent of his injuries is unknown at this time, but the man was conscious and breathing when TMH Emergency Medical Services transported him from the scene.



According to Colorado State Patrol Trooper Matthew Velasquez, excessive speed and bald tires were factors in the crash.

Dave Bradley said he was an acquaintance of the man who crashed but he did not remember his name. The two men were riding their motorcycles west on County Road 7 to Bradley’s friend’s house to help move a hot tub.



“He was going too fast around them corners,” Bradley said.

After his friend wrecked, Bradley flagged down a front-end loader driven by John Allen, who called emergency services.

According to date from the Colorado Department of Transportation, 40 motorcyclists died in the first half of 2015 and 90 were killed in 2014. Motorcycle fatalities peak during the summer months.

Head injury is the leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 1,630 lives were saved in 2013 because of proper helmet usage, and another 715 lives could have been saved if helmets had been worn. Colorado does not require motorcyclists to wear helmets.

On July 19, Hunter Zellars, 24, of Craig, was killed in a roller-over accident on the same stretch of County Road 7. The fatal accident was one of two rollovers on Moffat County Road 7 over that weekend. On July 17, a red Ford rolled over near mile point 2 after striking a deer; no one was injured.

Sgt. Kirk Gardner of Colorado State Patrol offered some basic tips for drivers trying to stay safe on the road.

“They need to follow the speed limit, if they’re not familiar with the road, they need to drive slow. Buckeling up is very important,” he said. “Another part of that is to watch out for the animals we have in Northwest Colorado.”

Reach Patrick Kelly at 970-875-1795 or pkelly@craigdailypress.com. Follow him on Twitter @M_PKelly.


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