Columbia student motorcycle crash victim identified
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia Public Schools on Tuesday confirmed the name of the Rock Bridge High School student killed in a motorcycle crash on a busy stretch of road the day before.
A CPS spokeswoman said Cash Martin was the student killed in the collision between Martin's motorcycle and an SUV. Police said the SUV driver was unhurt.
Martin was traveling west on West Nifong Boulevard at about 12:30 p.m. when a driver in a Toyota Rav 4 was turning left. The Columbia Police Department said in a release the motorcycle then hit the passenger side of the vehicle, and Martin was thrown from the motorcycle.
Martin was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
School Principal Jacob Sirna wrote to families Monday about Martin's death, saying the school had extra counseling resources available. The Bruins baseball team honored his memory on social media.
#19 Cash Martin
— Rock Bridge Baseball (@RBbruinbaseball) March 7, 2023
Bruin Family Forever pic.twitter.com/LuAPfscJto
Statistics show that deadly motorcycle crashes ramp up as the temperature warms. Crashes in Missouri jumped last March and stayed elevated until November, with September and July being the deadliest months.
In 2022, there were 148 motorcycle deaths and 10 people killed in Mid-Missouri.
A Boone County crash killed 25-year-old Skylar Maddox in November 2021. Maddox was riding his motorcycle on Providence Road when police say a vehicle failed to yield, causing Maddox to crash at Sexton Road.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol Statistical Analysis Center crash data shows that motorcycle crashes tend to increase when conditions are warmer. In 2022, 125 of those 148 fatal motorcycle crashes were when conditions were clear, 20 were when conditions were cloudy, two were when it was raining and one death took place when conditions were foggy or mist.
When hitting the road on a motorcycle safety should be a top priority to prevent crashes, experts say.
It's been a few months since motorcycles have been on Mid-Missouri roads and as warmer weather ramps up drivers need to keep their eyes peeled.
Cody Robart with F&A Cycle in Columbia says, "motorcycles haven't been in the pictures since October, November and a lot of them are not even used to seeing them they aren't looking for them right now."
Robart says motorcyclists should never assume a driver as seen them.
"I think a lot of motorcyclist when they are going down the road sometimes they may used a signal or feel that they are seen sometimes the public is distracted so never feel that you're seen." Robart says.
Riders can make themselves more visible by wearing brighter gear, Robart says.
In Missouri, it is not required by law that motorcyclist wear a helmet but Robart says all riders should wear one in case of a crash.
"You only have two wheels between you and the pavement and if for any reason if you do find yourself down you're going to appreciate that you do have one." Robart says. "its not a matter if you go down all motorcyclists have to be aware that its the possibility of when you go down not if."
According to drivingtest.org, motorcycles can be difficult to see so drivers should always be checking their blind spots. Drivers should pass motorcycles with extra caution and be sure to use a signal.
Before taking your motorcycle out it's a good idea to do pre-checks to make sure everything is working properly and to take a motorcycle safety course before hitting the road.
The highway patrol reported 2,308 crashes on Missouri roads involving motorcycles in 2022.
