Lenawee County, MI (May 26, 2026) – A 20-year-old Saline man was seriously hurt in a collision between a motorcycle and a car at the intersection of Ridge Hwy and Britton Hwy in Ridgeway Township on Tuesday, May 26, at 9:12 a.m. A 78-year-old man driving a 2005 Mercury Marquis north on Ridge Hwy was turning into a driveway when his vehicle was struck by a southbound 2003 Yamaha motorcycle. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time.
The motorcyclist was taken to a hospital in Ann Arbor with serious injuries, while the car’s driver was taken to a second hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening. Both men were alone in their vehicles.
Investigators determined that drugs and alcohol do not appear to be factors. Speed, however, is considered a contributing factor in the accident. Ridge Hwy was closed for approximately two hours while emergency units worked the scene and processed evidence.
The wreck remains under active investigation, with findings expected as the inquiry moves forward. We wish both injured drivers a full recovery.
How Does Speed Factor Into Motorcycle and Car Crashes at Rural Intersections in Michigan?
Speed is one of the most common contributing factors in crashes at rural intersections, particularly those involving motorcycles. When a motorcycle is traveling faster than expected, drivers of other vehicles have less time to judge its approach before making a turn. A car turning across a lane of traffic may clear safely at normal speeds but not when the oncoming vehicle is moving faster than anticipated.
Motorcycles are also harder to see at intersections than larger vehicles, especially when approached from certain angles. That visibility challenge, combined with higher speed, shortens the window for either driver to react. Rural highways with fewer traffic signals and wider spacing between intersections can give riders a false sense of open road, which sometimes leads to speeds that don’t allow enough stopping distance.
