Bicycle lying in roadway leads to chain reaction of accidents, injuries

Monday, July 31, 2023 at 8:42 AM

bicycle-lying-in-roadway-leads-to-chain-reaction-of-accidents-injuries

A bicycle fallen from a vehicle on Interstate 65 led to multiple injuries including a man hit by a motorcycle.

A Tennessee man was seriously injured Sunday afternoon after being struck by a motorcycle while trying to provide aid to a second motorcyclist who had been involved in a previous crash on I-65 in southern Bartholomew County.

The initial investigation by Indiana State Police-Versailles Post, indicated that a bicycle had possibly fallen from a vehicle traveling southbound on I-65 near the 59-mile marker. The bicycle was lying in the far left lane of I-65 southbound when it was struck by at least two passenger vehicles.

Both vehicles, one of which was driven by Jonathan Brown, 27, of Lebanon, Tennessee, pulled to the shoulder of the interstate due to damage from striking the bicycle.

A group of motorcyclists, who were traveling together, then approached the bicycle that was still in the roadway. One of the motorcyclists, Leslie D. Spillman, 62, of Lexington, Kentucky, struck the bicycle and crashed his 2008 Kawasaki motorcycle, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries. Brown then left his stopped vehicle on foot to assist Spillman.

A 2004 Honda motorcycle, being operated by Darrell Brooks, 39, of Lexington, Kentucky, had passed the bicycle prior to Spillman’s crash. After seeing that Spillman had crashed, Brooks then turned around and began riding northbound on the southbound shoulder to respond to Spillman.

Brooks’ motorcycle struck Brown as he walked toward Spillman. Brown was seriously injured and flown by medical helicopter to a Louisville hospital for treatment. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

The investigation remains ongoing at this time. Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors in the collision.

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