Two unrelated accidents in Midland both sent motorcyclists to the hospital in critical condition over the weekend.
A Midland man was transported to the hospital in critical condition Saturday after his motorcycle collided with a vehicle attempting to turn the wrong way into a right-turn only lane.
Midland Police and Fire Departments responded to an accident involving two vehicles and a motorcycle at approximately 7:49 p.m. Saturday in the 3200 block of Andrews Highway. The motorcyclist, 33-year-old Fidel Balderrama III, was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
An investigation into the accident revealed that a gray Dodge Charger driven by 20-year-old Brandon Reyes was traveling westbound on Andrews Highway when he stopped behind several vehicles in the central left-turn lane at a red light. For unknown reasons, Reyes attempted to access Midkiff Road by driving the wrong way through the right-turn only lane that is meant for northbound drivers on Midkiff Road to turn right for eastbound travel on Andrews Highway.
At that time, a northbound silver Jeep Liberty and a black Yamaha motorcycle were turning east onto Andrews Highway from Midkiff Road. The Jeep Liberty struck Reyes’ Dodge Charger. Balderrama, the motorcyclist, avoided colliding with the Jeep Liberty but did strike the Dodge Charger.
Charges are currently pending against Reyes and the investigation is ongoing.
Another man was transported to the hospital in critical condition following a major motorcycle accident at approximately 7:10 p.m. Sunday in Midland.
Midland Police and Fire Departments responded to the accident in the 1000 block of South Terrell Street. Samuel Delgado Jr., 34, was transported to Midland Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries.
An investigation into the accident revealed that Delgado was riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle south on Terrell Street when he collided with a Chevrolet Tahoe that was heading eastbound on East New Jersey Avenue. The driver of the Chevrolet Tahoe failed to stop at the stop sign, causing the motorcycle to strike the left side of the SUV.
The investigation into the accident is ongoing.
###Media Contact: Public Information Officer Sara Bustilloz