A 49-year-old motorcyclist from Canton was killed Monday evening when a car turned in front of him at the intersection of Austin and Sharon roads in Manchester Township. The rider was thrown from his motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene. The car’s driver, a 68-year-old woman from Addison, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Henry Ford Jackson Hospital.
Michigan State Police told WILX that troopers from the Brighton Post were called to the crash around 6:30 p.m. Investigators said a 2010 Buick Lucerne was heading east on Austin Road and attempted a left turn onto Sharon Road, but failed to yield to a westbound Harley-Davidson. The impact forced the rider off the motorcycle. First responders pronounced him dead at the scene, while the Buick driver was hospitalized and is expected to survive, authorities said.
As reported by WWJ, police have not released the rider’s name and said it is not yet known whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash. Troopers said the investigation is ongoing.
Where It Happened
Austin Road is identified in the Manchester Township master plan as one of the township’s primary east-west corridors and a major collector route that carries regional traffic across county lines. That mix of faster-moving traffic and crossing vehicles at rural intersections like Austin and Sharon can raise the stakes for both motorcycles and drivers making turns, planners note.
State Police Warning
With warmer weather bringing more riders onto Michigan roads, state police used the crash as another reminder that motorcycles can be harder to spot, especially at intersections. Troopers urged drivers to double-check before turning left or pulling out from side roads, a message the agency relayed in a statement to WILX.
Troopers from the Brighton Post are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or who may have video of it to contact them. The Brighton Post can be reached at 810-227-1051, according to Michigan State Police. Investigators said they plan to release additional information as the case moves forward.
