33-year-old motorcyclist dead after crash

Crash scene of fatality/Lucy Perry Photo

Lucy Perry Photo

A 33-year-old Vermillion County man is dead after a motorcycle and car crashed this evening in North Terre Haute.

According to Terre Haute Police Sgt. Michael Ellerman,  the motorcycle was traveling northbound on US 41 in a construction zone when a vehicle pulled out in front of the now deceased victim, Jesse Leonard.

A Terre Haute Police Department detective reportedly witnessed the accident. Ellerman said the detective called for medical assistance and began rendering aid to the motorcyclist at the scene.  The driver of the motorcycle was taken to an area hospital by Terre Haute Fire Department  paramedics, where he died from his injuries.  

"As the motorcyclist was approaching the Haythorne intersection, the driver of a black Chevrolet Impala, who was stopped at the westbound stop sign on Haythorne, pulled out into the path of the motorcycle.  The motorcycle struck the vehicle in the front drivers side and the motorcyclist was ejected from his vehicle," Ellerman said.

The driver of the Impala Gordon Smith, 30, of Chippawa Falls, Wis., was not injured in the crash, but was also taken to an area hospital for observation.
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Members of the  THPD and the Vigo County Sheriff's Department Fatal Accident Construction Team are on the scene investigating.  It is unknown at this time if speed or alcohol played a factor in this accident, Ellerman said.

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