From the Maryland State Police:
(Harford County, MD): Troopers from the Bel Air Barrack responded to a two-vehicle collision that occurred on southbound Belair Rd. S/O Old Joppa Rd., Bel Air, MD.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a 1990 Oldsmobile Regency, driven by William Ross Kelly, 73 yoa, of Bel Air, MD, was attempting to make a left-hand turn from Bob Bell Chevrolet, 1230 Belair Rd., onto northbound Belair Rd. A 2009 Kawasaki Ninja operated by Kurt Mahlon Chenowith, 25 yoa, of Fork MD, traveling southbound Belair Rd., struck the driver’s side portion of the Oldsmobile, as the Oldsmobile proceeded with the left turn. Kurt Chenowith was ejected from the motorcycle.
Kurt Chenowith was transported to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, by Fallston EMS, where he was pronounced deceased. Neither the driver of the Oldsmobile, William Kelly, or his front seat passenger Joan Anne Kelly were injured in the collision.
The roadway was closed for approximately two hours while investigators from the Maryland State Police Bel Air Barrack investigated the collision. The collision remains under investigation by Trooper First Class Wargo.
What a shame. Condolences to all involved. Is there more information if speed or age was a factor? I imagine it had to be one or the other.
Think before replying. If age was a factor it was old age… Like too many in this area, the car pulled out and turned directly in front of him.
Take your own advice concerned citizen…speed or age. IE:bike or cars fault, didn’t think that took a rocket scientist to figure out. I guess you don’t work at Nasa.
NASA? Nope… In the line of work that places me at the scene of accident investigations? yes…
No further comments from me. I will not allow this to fill this story.
Kurt, rest in peace brother. You will be missed.
He didn’t specify if he meant old age or young age so you think before replying as well dear Concerned Citizen. Either way it’s a tragedy. No matter what I am sure those people are sick with grief over what happened. If they weren’t paying enough attention, although its too late for Kurt, I am sure they will pay extra attention in the future. And if some how it was because of something that was done wrong in the part of the motorcycle driver then I hope everyone can learn from it and drive safer themselves. Again, either way its horrible. People need to pay attention no matter what age and what you drive so that everyone makes it home safe at the ens of the day.
Kurt was a terrific person and a firefighter. He was extremely smart and dedicated his life to helping others. I hope people are more careful everyday and thankful for each and everyday they are given. I hope Kurt knows how happy he made people with his humor and fun-loving attitude! He will truly be missed and he made a giant impact on my life at a very early age! My prayers go out to him and his family.
I imagine this is yet another case of the notorious left turn across the right of way of a motorcycle. When I took the Motorcycle Safety Course at HCC, they stressed to watch for the left turning vehicles because most of the time they will look at oncoming traffic and look right through a motorcycle. I added extra lights to the front of my bike and its legal in every state for bikes to keep their high beams on in the daylight.
Prayers are with both families.
This doesn’t surprise me. I see people make left turns from the Bob Bell dealership constantly without yielding to S/B or N/B traffic. It’s scary to me and I’m operating a passenger car. My car most likely can stop faster than a motorcycle and I’m more protected if I am unable to avoid a collision. RIP.
It makes my wife crazy, but as a rule, I don’t make left turns without a green arrow when at all possible. I’ll turn around and make right turns if it’s reasonable to do so. In almost every case, I actually design my route to make only right turns.
Left turns are lethal.
It is very difficult to pick out motorcycles and bicycles on the backdrop of a busy road with other vehicles present. It’s not just because people are careless (which many are). It’s just hard for human eyes to grab and process all that info in such a short amount of time.
I think it also makes it more difficult that roads like that one in that spot are, in my opinion, OVER RUN with businesses and their signs, all gleaming metal and plastic designed to draw your eyes away from the road and causes all types of vehicles to blend into the clutter.
Imagine if this were a wooded green roadway, it would be much easier to pick out a vehicle against the trees.
It also doesn’t help that almsot everyone drives 5-15mph over the posted speed limits, making these turns much more difficult.
Daytime running lights on all cars have desensitized us to motorcycle lights being on and people just look thru you anymore. Motorcycles, school buses, emergency vehicle just look like every car on the road now.
Rest in Peace Kurt. HUGE PRAYERS going out to the Chenowith family and Kurt’s firefigter family. ??
Prayers go out to the BCoFD. we lost another brother.