Police say Wife Caused Husband’s Motorcycle Death

According to the Sierra Vista Herald, a man on a motorcycle died after crashing into a lamppost late Sunday morning in Sierra Vista, Arizona, after his wife closely pursued him in her SUV.

Couple Involved in Domestic Violence Dispute, says police

On Sunday morning, Brian E. Hurdlow, 51, left the couples’ residence for a nearby convenience store on his motorcycle, according to the Sierra Vista Herald. Jennie Jones-Hurdlow, 37, followed her husband to the Circle K in her SUV, where they had a heated exchange of words, according to witnesses.

The Sierra Vista Herald reports that Jones-Hurdlow made multiple attempts to block her husband’s exit from the parking lot.

Hurdlow managed to get by his wife and ride his motorcycle down Avenida Cochise. She pursued him, following dangerously close to his motorcycle. The Sierra Vista Herald reports that Jones-Hurdlow was driving erratically, at high speeds, and in very close proximity to her husband’s motorcycle before the wreck.

The fatal crash occurred near the intersection of Copper Sunrise, when Hurdlow struck a curb, lost control of the motorcycle, and flew off the motorcycle and into a lamppost. According to the Sierra Vista Herald, the couple was traveling at over 65 mph.

After several interviews, police arrested Jones-Hurdlow and charged her with manslaughter on Monday evening.

Motorcycle Crash Statistics

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), per mile traveled in 2014, the number of deaths on motorcycles was over 27 times the number in cars. In addition,

• In 2014, 4,295 motorcyclists died in crashes.
  • Motorcycle deaths accounted for 13 percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths in 2014.
• Helmets are about 37 percent effective in preventing motorcycle deaths and about 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries.
• Forty-two percent of motorcyclist deaths in 2014 occurred in single-vehicle crashes.
  • In 2014, 62 percent of fatally injured motorcycle drivers were helmeted. Helmet use was lower, at 53 percent, for people killed as passengers on motorcycles.