COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A fiery collision this morning between a motorcycle and a pickup truck in Branch County’s Ovid Township caused life threatening injuries to the biker, a Coldwater man who was flown out by AirCare to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo for treatment. Michigan State Police say the accident happened around 4:45 a.m. on Central Road near Behnke Road.
According to troopers, 38-year old Shannon Siler was westbound on his motorcycle and the pickup, driven by 47-year old Carl Fairchild of Sherwood, was headed east when they sideswiped each other. The bike went down and Siler and the motorcycle ended up in the grass where the bike caught on fire. Siler, who wasn’t wearing a helmet, suffered a very serious leg injury. Fairchild wasn’t hurt.
Lifecare medics at the scene credited Troopers Michael Thyng and Kyle Sherwood with saving Siler’s life before he was placed on the helicopter. Thyng and Sherwood were first to arrive at the accident and they applied a tourniquet to Siler’s leg to halt any further loss of blood. An accident reconstruction officer was called to investigate the collision.
The Lakeland Fire Department extinguished the motorcycle fire while Sheriff’s Deputies helped provide traffic control.
