Georgetown Township, MI — Two people were injured in a bicycle accident that took place in Georgetown Township, Michigan, on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. The accident happened at the intersection of Baldwin Street and 20th Avenue.
Police have identified 73-year-old Shirley Brisbin as the woman driving east on Baldwin in a van. As she was about to drive through the green light at the intersection, Glenn Ortego began riding his bike through the intersection, in front of Brisbin’s van. She wasn’t able to avoid a collision, and crashed into him.
Following the initial crash, Brisbin drove off the road and crashed into a wall of Sandy Hill Elementary School, which sits on the corner of Baldwin.
Oretego suffered critical injuries in the accident and was taken to Spectrum Hospital for treatment. Brisbin suffered minor injuries and was treated after being extricated from her vehicle.
Scene of the Accident
View from the Road
Commentary
This accident is still being investigated, so I won’t speak to it specifically, but I can say that accidents like this one aren’t always as black and white as they seem. Yes, pedestrians and bicyclists have to watch out for drivers, but drivers also have to watch out for pedestrians. Just because a pedestrian is in a part of the road they shouldn’t be in doesn’t mean that a driver has to right to run into them. The timing of an accident, as well as a driver’s speed can also play a role in determining who’s ultimately held liable following an accident like this.
— Grossman Law Offices