The Ontario Provincial Police in Essex County says this has been a tough summer for motorcyclists.
Of the 14 fatal crashes so far this season, five have involved motorcycles. The most recent was last Sunday night when 54-year-old Bruce Elliott died on County Rd. 27 in Belle River.
Two weeks ago, 66-year-old Larry and Patricia Best died when their motorcycle was hit by a van on Manning Rd. at County Rd. 46. Later, police charged a 54-year-old Essex man with impaired operation of a motor vehicle causing death.
Fatal crashes involving motorcycles have also claimed the lives of James Clark of Windsor, Kevin Gagnier of Kingsville, and Lakeshore's Paul Thompson.
"Having a drivers license is a privilege and with that goes significant responsibility. With four months remaining in 2017, we have already equalled the total number of road facilities we investigated in all of 2016 in Essex County," says Essex County Detachment Commander Glenn Miller. "It takes the action of one driver to change the lives of people forever."
Police remind drivers to take extra time before pulling out of driveways, making lane changes or turns, and pulling away from stop signs to make sure the road is clear.
