MIAMI TOWNSHIP, Montgomery County, Ohio, Oct. 11, 2026 — A motorcyclist was seriously injured Friday afternoon, October 9, after a car turning left reportedly failed to yield at a Miami Township intersection, according to a crash report. The rider was ejected and struck the car's windshield before landing in the roadway, the report said.
The crash happened around 4 p.m. at West Alex Bell Road and State Route 741, the report said. A 59-year-old man was driving a 2011 Lexus LS westbound on West Alex Bell Road and turned left onto State Route 741 on a yellow light, directly into the path of a 26-year-old man riding a 2004 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide eastbound on State Route 741, who also had a yellow light as he entered the intersection, according to the report.
The motorcycle struck the Lexus. The rider was thrown from the bike and hit the car's windshield before coming to rest in the middle of the intersection, the report said. Medics took the motorcyclist to a hospital with suspected serious injuries. The Lexus driver was treated at the scene and released.
An officer cited the Lexus driver for failure to yield. The crash report does not say whether the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet or held a motorcycle endorsement, and no further details on his condition have been released. The case remains under review.
We hope those who were hurt recover fully and quickly.
What Makes Left-Turn Motorcycle Crashes So Severe
A car turning left across an intersection and a motorcycle coming the other way can close the gap between them at a combined speed well over 50 mph, even when both vehicles are only going the speed limit. That closing speed leaves a rider very little time to brake or swerve once the turn starts.
The bigger factor is what each vehicle is built to do in a crash. A car's frame, airbags, and seatbelts are designed to absorb impact and keep a person inside a protected shell. A motorcycle has none of that. The rider's body is the first point of contact at the moment of impact, and there is no structure between the rider and whatever he collides with next, whether that is the pavement, another vehicle, or, as in this kind of crash, a windshield.
Helmets and protective gear can reduce injury to the head and skin, but they cannot replace the kind of structural protection a car cabin provides. That gap is why even a crash at moderate speed, like a car turning left into an oncoming motorcycle, can cause injuries far more serious than a comparable car-to-car collision.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 34 percent of motorcycle riders in fatal crashes had no valid motorcycle license in 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
What usually causes motorcycle crashes at intersections?
Driver inattention and failure to yield the right-of-way are consistently cited as leading factors, particularly when a car turns left across oncoming traffic.
Why do motorcycle crashes tend to cause more serious injuries than car crashes?
Riders have no enclosed cabin, airbags, or seatbelts to absorb impact, so the force of a collision is carried directly by the rider.
Why are left turns especially risky for motorcyclists?
A turning driver may misjudge a motorcycle's speed or distance, or simply not see it, because bikes present a smaller profile than cars and trucks.
What can drivers do to better spot motorcycles at intersections?
Checking twice before turning left, slowing down on yellow lights, and treating any oncoming motorcycle as if it is closer and faster than it appears can help avoid this type of collision.
What to Do After a Left-Turn Motorcycle Crash in Miami Township, OH
If you're involved in a crash like this, you should call 911 right away, even if injuries aren't immediately obvious. Adrenaline can mask pain, and some injuries, especially head or internal injuries, don't show symptoms right away.
Get checked by a medical professional as soon as possible, even if you feel okay at the scene. If you're able, take photos of the vehicles, the intersection, and any visible damage, and get contact information from witnesses. Remember to request a copy of the official crash report once it's filed, since it will be important for insurance and any follow-up questions about what happened. Residents in Miami Township dealing with the aftermath of a crash should also keep records of medical visits and any time missed from work as the situation develops.
