Jackson, NJ — June 27, 2024, Erin Doyle was killed and his wife was injured following a tow truck accident at around 3:15 p.m. on Hawkin Road.
Authorities said in their preliminary statements that the crash happened as 53-year-old Erin Doyle and his wife, 47, were on a motorcycle going northbound on Hawkin. Reports weren’t clear on what the closest cross street was.
As they traveled down Hawkin, police say that a flatbed tow truck was attempting to make a left turn into a driveway. In doing so, it crashed with Doyle’s motorcycle. Doyle was killed as a result while his wife was taken from the scene with a serious injury. Right now, it’s unclear if any charges are being considered.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
I certainly won’t speculate about what happened here given how few details are currently available. But when reports say a truck turned left and hit a motorcyclist, it seems very likely that truck may not have had the right-of-way. As likely as that is, in my experience, it’s crucial there’s as much evidence as possible backing up the victim’s side of the story. Frankly, the fact people too often blame motorcyclists without knowing all the facts can be a big problem when seeking to hold someone accountable after an accident.
For example, I had a case a while back involving a motorcyclist crashing with a large truck. When authorities finished their reports, the investigating officer ultimately blamed the rider, saying witnesses saw him speeding and weaving through traffic. When we spoke with that witness, though, it turned out the officer completely misinterpreted their statements. In reality, the motorcyclist simply passed the witness on the left. It was the truck turning out of a parking lot that actually caused the wreck, and the forensic evidence aligned with that narrative.
Simply put, if left unchecked, investigations into a motorcycle accident can prove unreliable. No one knows that more than insurance companies who want to accept as little responsibility as possible following an accident. As such, if they think they can get away with blaming the victims, they’ll do so, and it’s up to the evidence to keep the facts straight. So while it isn’t clear what all happened here, there seems to be every reason to ensure investigations are as thorough as possible.
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