A Wednesday night collision at the intersection of Durand Avenue and Cleveland Avenue in Racine has left a local motorcyclist dead, according to police. The rider, identified as 39-year-old Benjamin Scott, suffered serious injuries when his motorcycle and a vehicle crashed.
Scott was first taken to Ascension, then flown to Froedtert Hospital for more advanced care. Despite those efforts, the Racine County Medical Examiner notified police on Thursday that Scott had died from his injuries. The vehicle's driver, a 32-year-old, stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators, authorities said.
In a statement, the Racine Police Department confirmed that Scott was operating the motorcycle at the time of the crash and said traffic investigators are working to piece together what happened. The department urged anyone with information to contact the Racine Police Department Investigations Unit at (262) 635-7816, or to share anonymous tips with Crime Stoppers at (262) 636-9330, according to TMJ4.
Police Seek Witnesses
Racine Police Traffic investigators say they are continuing to reconstruct the crash scene and are reviewing any available surveillance or dash-cam footage that might shed light on the moments before impact.
Investigators are asking anyone who saw the collision or who may have captured it on video to come forward. Police say additional details will be released as the investigation moves forward.
Motorcycle Crash Risk
The deadly wreck comes against a backdrop of longstanding concerns about motorcycle safety on U.S. roads. Federal data show motorcyclists face a much higher risk of being killed in traffic crashes than other road users.
In 2020, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled for motorcyclists was 31.64, compared with 1.34 for all vehicles combined, according to a Congressional Research Service summary of NHTSA figures. That stark gap is one reason intersections and turning movements draw particular scrutiny from crash investigators.
The Racine Police Department says the investigation into Scott's death remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information or video related to the crash is asked to contact investigators at (262) 635-7816 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at (262) 636-9330.
