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Date: 
Saturday, October 4, 2014

Four adults hospitalized after two motorcycles crashed on state Highway 432 near Washington Way in Longview.  Jefferey Sudan, 44, of Ridgefield and his passenger Nitasha Miller, 37, of Battle Ground were traveling west on a  Harley-Davidson motorcycle. After the motorcycle struck a concrete curb Sudan and Miller were ejected from the bike. Sudan's bike was then hit by a westbound Harley-Davidson driven by Paul Haight, 48, of Portland. Haight and his passenger, Trinity Guayante, 50, of Portland. All four were injured and transported to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview.

Motorcycling – Fun and freedom tempered by increased risk of collision

For enthusiasts, motorcycling is the preferred mode of travel. A sense of freedom, a close connection to the road and nature, and the speed and maneuverability of a motorcycle are all reasons why there has been an increase in motorcycling's popularity. However, given the vulnerability of a motorcyclist to the larger, heavier vehicles sharing the road, the danger in injury or death from a motorcycle accident is significantly greater. Click here for more information on what to do next if you were in a motorcycle crash.

Motorcycle accidents are a common occurrence in Las Vegas and across Clark County, Nevada. Given the warm weather year round, Las Vegas is a popular motorcycling destination. Since there are so many bikes on the roads, the number of collisions is high. Because there is a large number of visitors to Vegas at any given time due to the tourism industry, many motorcycle crashes are caused by these drivers who don't know the roads well, have been drinking, or who are distracted by the sights.

Tips on safe motorcycling

There's an allure to motorcycle riding, as all those who love it will tell you. However, it's also one of the more dangerous kinds of vehicles when a collision does occur. Riders lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle and weigh so much less than a car... or semi-tractor trailer. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety(link is external), "the federal government estimates that per mile traveled in 2013, the number of deaths on motorcycles was over 26 times the number in cars."  For yours and other motorists' safety, learn how to ride your motorcycle safely.