Ithaca, NY : Car driver cited in Jacksonville motorcycle crash on Wednesday morning, June 15, 2016

An 88-year-old driver was ticketed for failing to yield the right of way in a crash Wednesday morning that left a motorcyclist in critical condition.

Before the accident occurred, driver Harvey Smith, of Ulysses, was stopped on state Route 96, facing northbound at the Valero gas station in Jacksonville, said Sgt. Michael Soroka, of the New York State Police.

After one southbound vehicle passed Smith, he turned left across the southbound lane into the path of a motorcycle driven by Devan Whitaker, of Trumansburg Soroka said. The motorcycle struck the side of Smith's car.

"(Whitaker) was southbound on state Route 96 and obviously didn't have time to react when Mr. Smith turned in front of him," Soroka said.

There was no indication of excessive speed, he added.

According to Soroka, Whitaker was flown by helicopter to Upstate Medical Medical Center in Syracuse and was listed in critical condition Wednesday. His condition Thursday was not immediately available.

Whitaker was wearing a helmet, according to Lt. Dan Scherer, of the Trumansburg Fire Department.

A New York State Police collision reconstruction unit came out to map the scene after the accident, Soroka said.

Trumansburg Fire Department and Ambulance responded to the scene. The accident occurred at 6:39 a.m. and closed the road for two and a half hours Wednesday morning.

Source :
Car driver cited in Jacksonville motorcycle crash