KINGWOOD, Preston County, W.Va., Sept. 26, 2026 — A motorcyclist was flown to the hospital on Saturday morning, September 26, after a motorcycle and a vehicle collided in Kingwood. The crash happened near Borgman Crossing Road and Company House Road, according to the Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department.
The fire department said the collision occurred just before 10:30 a.m. Crews were already in the area working the Buckwheat Festival when they were dispatched to the scene.
The motorcycle's rider reportedly suffered a broken leg in the crash, according to the fire department's account. The rider was taken by HealthNet helicopter to a hospital for further treatment. The Tunnelton Volunteer Fire Department assisted by securing the helicopter landing zone.
No additional details, including the driver's identity or a possible cause, had been released as of Saturday. The crash remains under review.
Our thoughts are with those who were injured, and we wish them a full recovery.
Who Faces the Greatest Risk in Motorcycle and Vehicle Collisions
Riders carry almost all of the physical risk when a motorcycle and a car or truck collide. A driver in a passenger vehicle is surrounded by a steel frame, airbags, and a seatbelt. A rider has a helmet and clothing, little else standing between them and the pavement or the other vehicle.
Age and experience matter too. Newer riders and those returning to motorcycles after years away are overrepresented in crash data, in part because handling a bike safely takes practice that doesn't come back automatically. Older riders, meanwhile, tend to suffer more severe injuries from the same impact speeds simply because bones and tissue recover less easily with age.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 41 percent of motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes were alcohol-impaired in 2023. That figure points to a risk riders can control themselves, separate from the hazards posed by other drivers on the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do motorcycle crashes tend to cause more serious injuries than car crashes?
A motorcycle offers no enclosed structure, airbags, or crumple zone. Riders absorb crash forces directly, so even lower-speed collisions can cause broken bones or worse.
How do left-turning vehicles end up in collisions with motorcycles?
A common pattern involves a car turning left across an intersection or driveway and misjudging a motorcycle's speed or distance, or simply not seeing it, resulting in a collision as the motorcycle passes through.
What can drivers do to spot motorcycles more reliably?
Checking mirrors and blind spots twice, allowing extra time before turning or changing lanes, and remembering that a motorcycle's smaller profile can make its speed harder to judge all help reduce close calls.
What should a rider do immediately after a crash?
Call 911, avoid moving if there's any suspected injury to the back, neck, or legs, and get a medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor at first, since some, like fractures or internal injuries, aren't immediately obvious.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash in Kingwood, WV
Anyone involved in a motorcycle collision in Kingwood should first make sure emergency responders have been called and wait for medical evaluation, even if injuries seem minor at the scene. Adrenaline can mask pain from fractures or internal injuries for hours.
It helps to document the scene if it's safe to do so: photos of the vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Get contact information from witnesses if possible. Follow up with a full medical exam in the days after the crash, since some injuries, particularly to joints or soft tissue, take time to surface. Keep copies of any medical records and incident reports for your own files.
