A 21-year-old Joplin man died Wednesday night after a pickup truck entered the roadway and collided with his northbound motorcycle in the 3300 block of South Range Line Road. Benjamin Hedrick was rushed to a local hospital following the roughly 9:50 p.m. crash but later succumbed to his injuries.
According to The Turner Report, the collision occurred after the pickup entered the roadway and collided with the motorcycle. The available report mentions Joplin police, the Joplin Fire Department, and M.E.T.S. Ambulance personnel. The driver and passenger inside the pickup reported no injuries, the outlet noted.
Major Crash Team Called In
The Joplin Police Department has assigned its specialized Major Crash Team to reconstruct the collision and pin down exactly what led to it, according to KOAM News Now. The unit is investigating this fatal crash, and investigators have not yet said whether speed, sightline obstructions, or driver distraction played a role in Wednesday's crash.
Range Line Road was the site of the crash, which occurred in the 3300 block of South Range Line Road.
Other Motorcycle Crashes
Joplin Police have investigated other motorcycle crashes, including one involving motorcyclist Thomas Ritter and driver Arthur Wilson, the same outlet reported. The available account does not include a police advisory about checking for motorcycles before turning.
Missouri's motorcycle helmet law and reported statistics about unhelmeted motorcyclist fatalities are part of the broader safety discussion.
Statewide Motorcycle Safety Concerns
Missouri motorcyclist fatalities and overall traffic deaths are part of the broader statewide safety discussion. The article also discusses the Siddens-Bening Act and handheld-device restrictions.
The article also references MoDOT's “Show-Me Zero” plan and traffic deaths statewide. The Joplin Police Department Major Crash Team's investigation into Hedrick's death remains ongoing, and no additional details on contributing factors have been released.
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