ROCHESTER HILLS, Oakland County, Mich., Sept. 17, 2026 — A man riding an electric motorcycle was seriously hurt on Tuesday morning, September 15, after a pickup truck struck him at an intersection in Rochester Hills.
The crash happened just before 7:30 a.m. on West Avon Road near Old Perch Road, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said. Investigators said a 42-year-old Rochester Hills man was riding an electric motorcycle on the sidewalk and attempted to cross West Avon Road at the intersection. A 20-year-old Lake Orion man was reportedly driving a pickup truck eastbound on West Avon Road at the same time.
According to investigators, a car stopped in the crosswalk blocked the motorcyclist's path, so he rode around it and outside the marked crosswalk before continuing into the road. The pickup then struck him. Witnesses told deputies the pickup entered the intersection against a red light, though that account remains under investigation.
The motorcyclist, who authorities said was not wearing a helmet, was taken to a hospital with multiple serious injuries. The driver and a passenger in the pickup truck were not hurt, officials said.
The sheriff's office said the electric motorcycle was unregistered and was not legally allowed on either the sidewalk or the roadway. The investigation is ongoing, and no citations have been announced.
Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the person who died.
A Common Misconception About Sidewalk E-Motorcycle Riding
Many riders assume that switching to a sidewalk or crosswalk makes an electric motorcycle safer than riding in traffic. In practice, that assumption can create new hazards, because drivers turning or crossing at intersections are not looking for a motorcycle-speed vehicle coming from a pedestrian path, and riders usually enter the roadway outside a driver's normal field of view.
Another belief is that motorcycle injuries mostly come from high-speed highway riding. But a large share of serious motorcycle injuries happen at intersections, where a vehicle turning or crossing meets a rider who has limited protection.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists accounted for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2023. That figure includes riders on standard motorcycles as well as other two-wheeled vehicles sharing the road with cars and trucks, a reminder that exposure to injury does not depend only on speed or road type.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common causes of motorcycle accidents?
Intersection collisions, left-turning vehicles, and drivers failing to see a rider in traffic are among the most frequent factors reported in motorcycle crashes.
Why do motorcycle crashes tend to cause more serious injuries?
Riders have little protection compared to occupants in a car or truck, so even lower-speed impacts can cause broken bones or head injuries, especially without a helmet.
How do left-turning or crossing vehicles cause collisions with motorcycles?
Drivers sometimes misjudge a motorcycle's speed or distance, or simply do not see it, and proceed into its path while turning or crossing an intersection.
What can drivers do to watch for motorcycles at intersections?
Checking twice before turning or crossing, and scanning sidewalks and crosswalks as well as travel lanes, can help drivers spot smaller or slower-moving vehicles before pulling out.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Rochester Hills, MI
Anyone involved in a motorcycle crash in Rochester Hills should get checked by a medical provider even if injuries seem minor at first, since some injuries take hours to become apparent. Call police to the scene so a report is filed, and exchange information with everyone involved. If you witnessed a crash, staying to speak with deputies can help investigators sort out what happened. Keep any photos or notes about the scene in case they're needed later, and follow up with your own doctor after the initial hospital visit.
