Just before 11am on Thursday, June 12th, a motorcyclist was injured in a collision on Missouri OO, 1.5 miles south of Duncan’s Bridge in Monroe County, Missouri. As a 71-year-old man was driving his ’97 Harley Davidson in the southbound lane, he began to slow and was hit from behind by a Toyota Scion. The man on the motorcycle was utilizing a safety device but sustained moderate injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The driver of the Toyota, a 79-year-old woman, did not sustain any injuries, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report.
This incident highlights the critical importance of attentiveness and safety for all drivers, especially when sharing the road with more vulnerable motorists like motorcyclists. The fact that the rider was not utilizing a safety device further underscores how vital protective gear can be in mitigating the severity of injuries. Although the 71-year-old motorcyclist survived with moderate injuries, the outcome could have easily been tragic.
Rear-end collisions remain one of the most preventable types of accidents, often resulting from distracted or inattentive driving, especially when drivers fail to judge speed and stopping distance accurately. The summer season typically brings more traffic to rural roads and highways like Missouri OO, making it even more important for drivers to remain alert, drive defensively, and respect space on the road.
This crash serves as a reminder that even in familiar areas or low-speed zones, a moment of inattention can lead to long-term consequences. It’s up to all of us—whether behind the wheel of a car or the handlebars of a motorcycle—to stay focused, wear appropriate safety equipment, and uphold the responsibility of protecting ourselves and others on the road.