A 42-year-old Sterling Heights man was left in critical condition with life-threatening head injuries after his motorcycle slammed into the back of a car at the intersection of Schoenherr Road and Carlisle Drive on Thursday, Nov. 5. The rider was not wearing a helmet when the crash happened just before noon, and bystanders stepped in to help him before emergency crews arrived.
According to ClickOnDetroit, Sterling Heights police said the crash occurred at 11:44 a.m. A gray Harley Davidson motorcycle and a black Honda Accord were both traveling northbound on Schoenherr Road when the Honda slowed to make a turn. The motorcycle struck the car from behind, throwing the rider into a medical emergency that has kept him hospitalized in critical condition ever since.
Bystanders Rushed to Help Before Crews Arrived
Witnesses at the scene did not wait for first responders. Bystanders rendered aid to the injured man until Sterling Heights Fire Department personnel arrived on scene, the station's report notes. The motorcyclist was then taken to an area hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
The driver of the Honda Accord, described as a teen boy, was not injured in the collision. He remained at the crash scene, cooperated fully with investigators, and was later reunited with his family, per the same account.
Speed Suspected, But No Final Determination Yet
Police say speed may have been a factor in the crash, but no final determinations have been made, and the investigation remains active. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has additional information is urged to contact Officer Halapi of the Sterling Heights Police Department Traffic Safety Bureau at 586-446-2920.
This is not the only recent motorcycle crash to hit Sterling Heights. A separate collision on 18 Mile Road, east of Mound Road, left a motorcycle rider dead, CBS Detroit reported. That crash happened about 3:35 p.m. on a Monday afternoon and also remains under investigation, with police there similarly asking witnesses to come forward.
Statewide, Michigan's traffic safety data includes a dedicated Motorcycle Safety Crash Experience Trend Table maintained through the Michigan Traffic Crash Facts resource, underscoring that motorcycle safety is tracked as an ongoing concern across the state. No final determination has been made in the Schoenherr Road case, and the rider's condition had not been updated as of Thursday evening.
