Earlier this week, we told you about a motorcyclist who was killed in an accident in West Knox County. Now, an accident on Highway 61 has left an 18-year-old motorcyclist in stable condition.
This accident happened along the highway between Clinton and Oak Ridge. The teen was riding a Yamaha XV5 motorcycle in the late morning on Wednesday. At the same time, a PT Cruiser was pulling out of the Rocky Top gas station at Mariner Point onto the highway.
That driver was attempting to turn left onto Highway 61 and says that he did not see the motorcyclist because his view was blocked by a vehicle pulling a trailer that was pulling into the Rocky Top parking lot. After the 56-year-old driver of the PT Cruiser pulled out onto the highway, the motorcyclist, who was traveling in the inside traffic lane of the highway, apparently couldn’t get out of the way in time and collided with the driver’s side door of the vehicle.
The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, but was injured and was flown by a University of Tennessee Lifestar helicopter to a Knoxville hospital for treatment of “non-incapacitating injuries.” He was listed in stable condition after his arrival at the hospital.
A passenger in the PT Cruiser was also injured and taken to a nearby hospital in an ambulance.
It’s important for all drivers to make sure they have a clear view of traffic when they turn onto a highway. Big vehicles sometimes get in the way, in which case waiting until the view is clear is the best option.
Source: Oak Ridge Today, “Oak Ridge motorcyclist in stable condition after wreck,” John Huotari, Aug. 23, 2012
• Our firm handles similar situations to the one discussed in this post. If you would like to learn more about our practice, please visit our Knoxville motorcycle accident page.