MILTON, Del.- Delaware State Police are investigating a serious crash between a motorcycle and and another vehicle near Milton.
Police say it happened around 7 p.m. Friday on the southbound side of the highway near Hudson Road.
They say 27-year-old Amanda McDonald of Lewes was stopped in a Mercury Montego on Hudson Road, waiting to cross over to Coastal Highway. According to police, 54-year-old Kenneth Tarburton Sr. and his wife, 53-year-old Elizabeth, were riding a Harley Davidson in the right lane of Coastal Highway. Police say McDonald did not see the motorcycle and pulled out onto the highway. The force of the impact threw the Tarburtons off the motorcycle.
Kenneth, who was driving the motorcycle and wearing an approved DOT helmet, was airlifted to Christiana Medical Center in critical condition. Elizabeth Tarburton was taken to Beebe Healthcare with serious, but non life threatening injuries. McDonald and a juvenile passenger were wearing their seat belts, and were also taken to Beebe and treated and released as a precautionary measure.
State Route 1 southbound at Hudson Road was closed for about three hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.
Delaware State Police gave WBOC the following guidelines to ensure everyone "shares the road" during bike week.
- Allow a motorcyclist the full lane width. Although it may seem as though there is enough room in a traffic lane for an automobile and a motorcycle, the motorcycle needs the full room to maneuver safely. Do not share the lane.
- Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic. This allows the motorcyclist to anticipate traffic flow and find a safe lane position.
- Remember that motorcyclists are often hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot or missed in a quick look due to their smaller size. Always make a visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections.
- Don’t be fooled by a flashing turn signal on a motorcycle – motorcycle signals usually are not self-canceling and riders sometimes forget to turn them off. Wait to be sure the motorcycle is going to turn before you proceed.
- Remember that road conditions which are minor annoyances to passenger vehicles pose major hazards to motorcyclists. Be aware that motorcyclists may need to change speed or adjust their position within a lane suddenly in reaction to road and traffic conditions such as potholes, gravel, wet or slippery surfaces, pavement seams, railroad crossings, and grooved pavement.
- Allow more following distance, three or four seconds, when following a motorcycle so the motorcyclist has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency. And don’t tailgate. In dry conditions, motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars.
