SAN DIEGO — A motorcyclist and his passenger were both seriously injured Tuesday after a crash in Ocean Beach that ejected the passenger from the bike.
The motorcyclist, 42, was traveling west on Voltaire Street shortly after 4:30 p.m. when he ran into the back of a Honda CR-V stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Bacon Street, San Diego police said.
The BMW motorcycle caught fire, leaving the rider with burns that police called life-threatening. His passenger, 38, was thrown from the bike and suffered a pelvic fracture, as well as a large laceration to her scalp. Both were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Police said the driver of the Honda, a 49-year-old man, complained of back pain after the collision.
While the investigation is ongoing, officers believe that alcohol intoxication may have been a factor in the crash.
“My thoughts are with everyone involved in this accident,” said Brett Schreiber, a partner at Singleton Schreiber and a longtime Ocean Beach resident. “Hopefully the medical professionals that treat them are able to get them on track for quick recoveries.”
Alcohol and motorcycles are an extremely dangerous mixture.
Data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that motorcycle riders are routinely overrepresented in fatal crashes, representing just 1% of total vehicle miles traveled but 15% of traffic fatalities.
In all, more than 6,200 people were killed in crashes while riding in 2022, the highest number since at least 1975.
Adding alcohol to that mix only further spikes the level of danger involved, with reaction times proven to start declining at a blood alcohol content of 0.02% — well before the threshold for DUI in every state.
“If you are injured in a crash that involves a driver who has been drinking,” Schreiber said, “you should consider consulting a personal injury attorney. We’re there to assess the legal options that you have available to you, to make sure that you recover the money that you deserve for unexpected expenses like medical bills or lost wages.”
If you or a loved one has been in an accident that involves a drunk driver, contact the San Diego, CA motorcycle accident attorneys at Singleton Schreiber by calling (619) 771-3473 or email at info@singletonschreiber.com.