A man was tragically killed in a weekend motorcycle accident in eastern Watsonville. KION-TV reported the accident occurred at the intersection of Hushbeck Avenue and Bridge Street on Saturday afternoon July 1, 2023.
Watsonville Police responded to the scene sometime after 2:30 p.m. They discovered that a motorcycle and an SUV had collided.
The victim on the motorcycle, identified as a man in his 30s, was declared dead on the scene. The driver in the SUV was rushed to a local hospital with what were determined to be moderate injuries. The driver is expected to survive.
The Watsonville Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision. They are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to call the police department.
Dangers for Motorcyclists in Watsonville
It’s up to every motorist to be extra careful when motorcyclists are nearby. Riders travel in the open air, without seatbelts, airbags, and a steel frame around them for protection. Drivers must always stay alert and look out for any motorcyclists nearby. They must check mirrors and blind spots and check in each direction at an intersection, looking for however long it takes to spot the smaller profile of a rider.
California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) tracks motorcycle accidents in Santa Cruz County each year. The county recorded 110 motorcycle accidents involving injury in 2022. Watsonville alone documented 12 serious motorcycle accidents in 2022.
These accidents are almost always preventable when motorcyclists and drivers observe the rules of the road. They must give proper attention to the lanes to allow each other as much space as possible to return home safely.
What to Do After a Motorcycle or Car Accident in Watsonville
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a traffic collision in Santa Cruz County, you should be aware of the benefits available to you and your family through an insurance claim. Financial support should be expected to assist surviving victims with hospital bills at the very least. Families who have lost a loved one can also seek support for the coming years in a wrongful death claim.
You can read more about earning insurance support after a collision on my page about traffic accident claims in Watsonville.
