Crime & Safety

Motorcyclist Critically Injured in Wreck

Motorcycle strikes minivan on Jefferson Davis Highway, shutting down northbound traffic for almost an hour.

The driver of a motorcycle is in critical condition after he collided with a turning minivan earlier today in Fredericksburg. The wreck shut down both lanes of Jefferson Davis Highway as police and rescue personnel cleared the scene and conducted an investigation. 

The incident happened at about 5:40 p.m. in the right-most southbound lane of Jefferson Davis Highway between Fall Hill Avenue and Mary Washington Boulevard. Police say the motorcycle was traveling southbound in the left lane at a high rate of speed. Police say that witnesses saw a black Suzuki TL1000R motorcycle suddenly move into the right lane before colliding with the van. The red Toyota Sienna XLE van was traveling north on Jefferson Davis Highway and was making a left turn across the southbound lane into a retail parking lot. The motorcycle struck the rear passenger side quarter panel of the car, breaking out two windows and forcing the curtain airbags to deploy. 

The motorcycle driver was wearing a helmet, but suffered head trauma as he was thrown off his bike and over the van. He was transported to Mary Washington Hospital in critical condition. By 7:15 p.m., the patient had gone into emergency surgery at the hospital. 

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The driver of the van, a Stafford woman, was not injured. 

Police say they have tentatively identified the motorcycle driver as a 24-year-old homeless man who lives in a camp behind Bob Evans near I-95. Police did not release the motorcycle driver's full name pending notification of next-of-kin. 

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One witness to the incident told Patch that he heard the motorcycle driver burn through three gears as he accelerated away from the intersection of Fall Hill Avenue and Jefferson Davis Highway.

Fredericksburg resident Charles Swaggart says he saw the entire accident unfold. He estimated that the motorcyclist was traveling "at least 55 to 60" mph. 

"These are the kind of incidents you don't want to see," said Swaggart, himself a motorcyclist. "I've had my license for six months and I'm a first-time rider. Learning the roads and trying to be careful and learn the rules myself, this is something I don't want to see."


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