Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy 1st Class Mark Bridgham photographs the scene of a minivan-motorcycle collision as the minivan’s driver watches on Route 1 in Newcastle June 17. A 16-year-old passenger on the motorcycle sustained a broken shoulder in the accident. (J.W. Oliver photo) |
A 16-year-old Newcastle girl sustained a broken shoulder when the motorcycle she was a passenger on was involved in an accident in Newcastle June 17.
Nick McLeod, 63, of St. George, was driving a 1993 Toyota Previa minivan south on Route 1 just south of the R.H. Reny Inc. warehouse at approximately 1 p.m. June 17, according to Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy 1st Class Mark Bridgham.
Jon Margaritis, 49, of Newcastle, was driving a 2015 Harley-Davidson motorcycle southbound on Route 1 behind the minivan. Evangeline Margaritis, 16, of Newcastle, was a passenger on the motorcycle.
“Mr. McLeod attempted to make a U-turn in heavy traffic,” Bridgham said. The motorcycle attempted to avoid the van, but struck it in the area of the driver’s side rear wheel well.
Evangeline Margaritis was ejected from the motorcycle during the crash and broke her shoulder. She was wearing a helmet, Bridgham said.
The Central Lincoln County Ambulance Service transported her to the Miles Campus of LincolnHealth, where she was treated and released.
There were no other injuries in the collision, Bridgham said.
The motorcycle sustained “at least $5,000 worth of damage,” Bridgham said. The minivan was drivable despite damage to the driver’s side rear wheel well and the rear bumper.
Neither alcohol nor speed were factors in the crash. “What I would determine was an improper turn was the cause of the crash,” Bridgham said. The sheriff’s office does not assign fault in accidents, he said.
The Central Lincoln County Ambulance Service, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and the Newcastle Fire Department responded to the scene.
