Moscow, ID (July 17, 2026) – A 43-year-old Moscow man died on Wednesday evening, July 15, after his motorcycle was struck by a turning vehicle on US Highway 95 approximately two miles north of Moscow. The crash was reported just after 6 p.m.
The man was riding a 2018 Harley-Davidson southbound on US-95 when a Toyota RAV4 traveling northbound turned onto Estes Road and struck the motorcycle. Life-saving measures were attempted at the scene, but the rider was pronounced dead. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the wreck.
No further details about the identity of the motorcyclist or the RAV4’s driver were included in the initial report on the accident. The collision remains under active investigation.
We extend our sincere condolences to the family of the man who lost his life.
What Happens When a Turning Vehicle Strikes an Oncoming Motorcyclist?
Left-turn crashes involving motorcycles are among the most frequently documented collision types in traffic safety research. A driver turning across oncoming lanes must judge the speed and distance of approaching vehicles, and motorcycles are underestimated in this assessment due to their smaller visual profile compared to a car or truck. When a turning vehicle moves into the path of an oncoming rider, the motorcyclist has very little time and space to react before impact.
The force of a collision between a turning vehicle and a motorcycle traveling at highway speed is typically concentrated at the front of the bike and the side of the turning car. This angle of impact offers the rider almost no protection, since the motorcycle has no structural frame surrounding the rider, and the contact point is near the rider’s legs and torso. Helmets provide meaningful protection for the head, but cannot address the full range of injuries that can result from a high-speed side impact.
Rural highway intersections where smaller roads meet a US highway present ongoing challenges for drivers making turning movements. The speed of traffic on the main highway can be difficult to judge accurately, particularly when a vehicle is approaching from a distance that appears manageable but closes faster than expected. These miscalculations are among the most common factors reviewed when a turning crash results in serious or fatal injury.
