Landscape Truck Causes Motorcycle Crash in Palatine

Headed east on Dundee Road, a motorcycle rider was blinded by leaves blowing off of a landscape truck, said one witness.

“I was coming the other direction,” Merrily Williams said, “I could tell he couldn’t see and then he just went down.”

The rider laid the bike down in the eastbound lane of Dundee Road, near Pendelton Court around 12:30 p.m. Friday. “My immediate reaction was just to pull over and help,” said Williams, “I just wanted to stay with him until someone came.”

Williams kept the motorcyclist talking until paramedics arrived. “He was wearing a helmet so he was okay,” Williams said, “I think he just broke his ankle.” Placed in a neck brace, the man was loaded into an ambulance and transported to the hospital.

“The truck didn’t even stop,” Williams said, “I’m not even sure if the driver knew what happened.” With leaves blowing in his face, the witness said the man on the motorcycle could not see; when traffic slowed in front of him, he slid and laid the bike down to avoid a collision.

As the ambulance pulled away, Williams began to cry, “I’ve just lost a lot of friends this way.” A fellow biker, Williams said, “I don’t even know him but my heart goes out to him, we’re like one big family.”

Palatine Police officers continued to investigate the scene Friday to determine who, if anyone, was at fault.