Twenty minutes after midnight on May 8th, a terrible hit and run incident occurred in the westbound lane of Missouri 180, east of Wismer Road in St. Louis County. As a fully custom motorcycle, driven by a 35-year-old man, was traveling on MO 180, an unknown vehicle cut him off in traffic, causing the bike to hit the back end of the unknown vehicle. The motorcycle rider was ejected off of his bike and flew over it, finally coming to a rest in the left lane of the highway. He sustained serious injuries and was taken to a local hospital.
Fleeing the scene is a major offense with penalties increasing as the total damage caused increases, and could be felony in some situations. The laws are carefully put into place to keep us safe with the expectation that they are followed, and luckily, they are enforced as well. Attempting to “shoot gaps” or fit into spaces too small can also be a criminal offense for Careless and Imprudent Driving. Behaviors such as reckless driving, tailgating, or failing to use caution around bikes and motorcycles can all come with serious implications like hefty fines, license suspension and subsequent reinstatement processes/fees, and time served behind bars. The laws and regulations are there to keep all of us safe, but we must all pledge to abide by those rules in an effort to put an end to these heinous crashes.