Shirley Rightmyer, 69, of Whitestown, died Sunday evening after the motorcycle she was riding on left a rural road in Morgan County. Rightmyer was pronounced dead at the scene. The 72-year-old Indianapolis man driving the motorcycle was hospitalized with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The crash occurred around 5 p.m. near West McClure Road and State Road 42, south of Interstate 70 between Cloverdale and Monrovia, according to WTHR. Morgan County deputies said the driver was traveling west on McClure Road when the motorcycle left the north side of the roadway. Both riders were ejected.
Helmet Discrepancy Noted at the Scene
Morgan County Sheriff Rich Myers said the driver was wearing a helmet, while Rightmyer was not, WTHR reported. The sheriff's office has not released further details about how helmet use factored into the crash.
The surviving driver was taken to an Indianapolis hospital for treatment of his injuries. As part of the investigation, he submitted to a blood draw, which police described as standard procedure following a crash of this nature. The station's report does not indicate whether results from that test have been returned.
Indiana’s Motorcycle Helmet Rules and Safety Data
Indiana requires helmets for motorcycle operators and passengers younger than 18, as well as operators with a motorcycle learner’s permit, according to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute’s Indiana Crash Facts 2023. The report recorded 141 motorcyclist fatalities in Indiana in 2023, up from 124 in 2022. It also found that 38% of motorcyclists involved in collisions that year were wearing helmets, compared with 30% of motorcyclists killed in crashes. These statewide figures do not determine the cause or outcome of this particular crash.
Investigation Continues, Tip Line Open
Morgan County authorities say the crash remains under investigation, and no cause has yet been determined. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Det. Zach Dodson at 765-342-1080.
No further details about the driver's identity or the motorcycle involved have been released. The case remains open as investigators continue piecing together what led the motorcycle to leave the roadway on that stretch of McClure Road.
