ST. GEORGE – An auto-versus-motorcycle accident at the intersection of Bluff Street and St. George Boulevard Friday night temporarily impeded traffic, but did not result in major injuries.
Between 8:30 and 8:45 p.m., the St. George Police responded to an auto-motorcycle collision call at the intersection. Per standard procedure, fire and ambulance units also responded. When they arrived at the scene they found a white passenger car had run into a motorcycle.
The motorcycle rider, a man in his 50s who did not want to be identified, said he was in the turning lane on Bluff Street, waiting for the light to change so he could turn left onto St. George Boulevard when the accident occurred. The rider said his attention had been drawn to the driver of a truck next to him who was complimenting him for his bike, a Honda Valkyrie. During the exchange the rider said he suddenly saw headlights heading his way that he couldn’t avoid.
The white passenger car drifted out of its lane and struck the motorcycle, St. George Police Officer Mark Biehl said. The impact pushed the motorcycle and the rider back 4-6 feet and caused the cycle to fall over.
The rider sustained minor injuries, mainly a bruise to his lower left leg he said, and refused medical transport. The bike was picked up with assistance from others, then removed from the roadway so traffic could return to normal.
The rider joked that the first thing he was worried about was his motorcycle when he realized what had happened. “How is my bike? You killed my baby!” he said.
The rider said the motorcycle was his only mode of transportation and that while he worked in St. George, he lived in Hurricane. He was able to drive the motorcycle away from the scene and over to the Smith’s supermarket parking lot where a passerby who saw the accident was arranging for a trailer for the motorcycle and an alternate ride home for the rider, as there a worry some unforeseen damage to the motorcycle had occurred.
“This place is full of nice people,” the rider said.
Officer Biehl said the driver of the white passenger car was cited.
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