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A collision at the intersection of Lodi Avenue and Main Street sent a motorcycle rider with minor injuries to Lodi Memorial Hospital on Wednesday. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

Motorcyclists struck in 3 recent Lodi crashes

By Layla Bohm
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Thursday, September 17, 2009 12:38 AM PDT

Wednesday marked the third time in less than two weeks that Lodi motorcyclists have been injured in crashes caused by other drivers, police said.

None of the victims has suffered life-threatening injuries, but a soldier just home from Afghanistan is recovering from a broken pelvis. His wife suffered a broken leg, according to Lodi Police Motor Officer Chris Kaufman.

Wednesday's crash victim was more fortunate — the Kawasaki rider only suffered scrapes to his arms in a collision on Lodi Avenue at Main Street, according to Motor Officer Larry Vietz.

Around 12:15 p.m. the man was riding east when a 1963 truck and trailer pulled out on northbound Main Street. The motorcycle was only traveling about 20-25 mph due to road construction.

A day earlier, a southbound vehicle turned from Central Avenue onto Hilborn Street, in front of a northbound motorcycle at 2:40 p.m.

That rider tried to stop and slid about 22 feet before hitting the car, Kaufman said. The motorcyclist flew over the vehicle and hit the back of it but his injuries were apparently minor enough that he declined medical attention at the scene.

And, around 4 p.m. Sept. 4, a vehicle was heading east on Tamarack Street when it reached Church Street. The driver stopped at the limit line but didn't inch forward slowly enough to make sure the road was actually clear, Kaufman said.

A northbound motorcyclist couldn't stop in time to avoid the collision.

The male driver, a National Guard soldier, suffered a severely broken pelvis, Kaufman said. The man's wife, who was riding with him, had a badly broken leg.

Police said there was no connection between the collisions, but they reminded drivers to be aware of motorcycles on the roads.

Contact reporter Layla Bohm at layla@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

Carlos wrote on Sep 17, 2009 5:05 PM:

" library, The rule is not the same as for a crossing guard situation. The law
requires only that vehicles must yield to pedestrians who are in a
crosswalk, which is different from the stop order that a crossing
guard gives with the handheld sign. Therefore, it is legal for a driver
to pass through the crosswalk behind a pedestrian's path, even though
they have not made it to the other side. In my view, it's safer if
everyone waits, but it is not required. "

libraryguy wrote on Sep 17, 2009 12:47 PM:

" I work in Lodi but refuse to live here. I base this purely on the bad drivers here. If I lived in Lodi and worked here 24/7 I'd take out extra insurance. "

libraryguy wrote on Sep 17, 2009 12:45 PM:

" IMHo, you are so right on. Try walking across a clearly marked crosswalk in this town and see if drivers will stop for you. Even if you have the "walk" signal, drivers will pull out in front. I offer the crosswalks at Church and Locust and Church and Lockeford into evidence. Drivers - when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk, you cannot turn until the pedestrian is fully across the street. It's state law. "

IMHO wrote on Sep 17, 2009 12:40 PM:

" How about holding motorists in this town more accountable for their complete inability to use turn singles, make complete stops, look BOTH ways, check mirrors, talking on the cell phone?? Maybe LPD should start enforcing that! I, for one, am sick of the incompetence and stupidity of Lodi drivers. It's scary to have a motorcycle in Lodi, I hate to ride mine in this town..Lodi is full of idiot drivers. "

jbhiker wrote on Sep 17, 2009 10:23 AM:

" Oh... I just noticed it was one of those 120db ego-stroker Noise Makers. Maybe if the Lodi Police would start enforcing the city noise ordinance, there would be less Revvers for some poor truck driver to run over. It would work good for those of us who like to sleep late on the weekends. "

jbhiker wrote on Sep 17, 2009 10:20 AM:

" Never trust an auto driver (cager) when you are riding your motorcycle. My lights are on when I ride mine. Cars and trucks cannot see you unless you are bright orange with a 10'x10' banner above you. Plus it does not help that Lodi has drivers to rival those of the extremely incompetent San Bernardino rush hour drivers! "

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