Golden City, MO — August 16, 2025, One person was killed and one was injured in a motorcycle accident that occurred at around 2:05 P.M. on Route E.

According to reports, a Harley Davidson was traveling west on Route E when it turned in front of a custom chopper motorcycle causing both vehicles to overturn.

When first responders arrive don the scene they found the 67-year-old male driver of the chopper fatally injured and pronounced him deceased, while the Harley driver was taken to the hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. Officials have not released any further details on the status of the investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When two motorcycles collide, the outcome is often severe, and the circumstances demand a closer look than a simple description can provide. A turn gone wrong doesn’t fully explain why a crash happened or whether something beyond rider error played a role. Careful investigation is the only way to separate assumption from fact.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
Collisions between motorcycles are complex and require skilled reconstruction. Did investigators map the angle of the turn and the speed of each bike? Were they able to determine whether one rider had time to react or if the collision was unavoidable? These details matter, but they’re not always gathered with the depth they deserve. Without that level of effort, the chain of events may never be fully understood.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
Motorcycles depend heavily on their steering and braking systems, and even a minor failure can turn a routine maneuver into a catastrophe. A stuck throttle, brake lock-up, or tire blowout could explain why one rider turned across another’s path. Custom motorcycles, in particular, may involve modifications that can affect handling or safety. Unless both machines are closely examined, it’s impossible to rule out the possibility of mechanical failure or design issues.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
While motorcycles don’t always have the same depth of onboard recording as cars, many still capture limited performance data. Phones and GPS units are another critical source of evidence, helping to confirm speed, location, and rider actions in the moments leading up to impact. On a public roadway, there’s also the chance that cameras nearby caught what happened. Pulling together those digital threads could provide a much clearer account than the damaged bikes alone.

Crashes like this leave behind loss and questions in equal measure. The only way to find clarity is to go beyond the obvious and examine every possible factor—from rider choices to machine performance to electronic records.

Takeaways:

• Phones, GPS, and cameras may hold critical evidence about what really happened.

• Motorcycle collisions require detailed reconstruction to fully understand the sequence of events.

• Mechanical problems, especially with modified bikes, could have contributed.