Available 
READING, Middlesex County, Mass., Oct. 10, 2026 — A motorcyclist suffered a leg injury Friday evening, October 9, in a crash with a sedan on I-95 south near the Interstate 93 interchange in Reading, according to Reading Fire.
The department was dispatched at 7:02 p.m. to a report of a motorcycle and sedan collision on I-95 south in the area where the highway meets I-93. The caller reported that the motorcycle operator had an injured leg, Reading Fire said.
Crews arrived on scene at 7:07 p.m. Reading Fire cleared the scene at 7:26 p.m., according to radio traffic.
No further details on the extent of the rider's injury or the circumstances of the crash have been released. The incident remains under review.
We hope everyone who was hurt makes a full and speedy recovery.
Motorcycle Crash Injury Data in Perspective
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists accounted for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2023. That figure has climbed over the past two decades even as the number of registered motorcycles has stayed a small fraction of vehicles on the road. It reflects how little protection a rider has compared to someone in a car or truck.
A motorcycle offers no door, frame, or airbag to absorb a hit. When a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle collide, the rider is often thrown from the bike and lands on pavement or strikes another vehicle directly. That is one reason leg, hip, and head injuries show up so often in these crashes, even at moderate highway speeds.
Interchange areas like the one where I-95 meets I-93 add another layer of risk. Lane changes, merging traffic, and sudden braking are common where two highways come together, and a motorcycle can be harder to spot in a driver's mirror or blind spot during those maneuvers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do motorcycle crashes tend to cause more serious injuries than car crashes?
Riders lack the structural protection a car provides, so the force of a collision is absorbed by the rider's body rather than a vehicle frame. Even low-speed impacts can cause broken bones or head injuries.
How do turning or merging cars contribute to motorcycle collisions?
Drivers sometimes misjudge a motorcycle's speed or distance, or simply don't see it, before turning or changing lanes. A motorcycle's smaller profile makes it easier to overlook in traffic, especially near on-ramps and interchanges.
What should a rider do after a motorcycle crash?
Move to a safe location if possible, call 911, and seek medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor. Documenting the scene and exchanging information with the other driver can help later if questions arise about how the crash happened.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash in Reading, MA
If you're involved in a motorcycle crash, your first priority is safety: get out of traffic if you're able, and call for emergency help right away. Leg and joint injuries like the one reported in this incident can be more serious than they first appear, so it's worth getting checked by a medical provider even if you feel you can walk away.
Once you're safe, write down what you remember while it's fresh, including where you were on the highway and what the other vehicle was doing. Request a copy of the official incident report once it's available, and keep track of any medical visits tied to the crash. Reading residents and commuters who ride I-95 regularly should also consider reporting any near-misses or visibility concerns at the I-93 interchange to local officials, since patterns at a single location can inform future safety improvements.
