Alcohol suspected in motorcycle crash

It could take at least weeks for the reports to come in.

By Austin Alonzo

Published April 6, 2009

A motorcycle collided with a car containing four passengers at 9:47 p.m. Saturday at Providence Road and Elm Street.

The motorcyclist, Vern R. Dennis, 39, of Columbia, tried to merge into traffic turning north onto Providence Road from Elm Street, a Columbia Police Department news release stated. The motorcycle hit the side of a car driven by Melodie K. Record, 31, of Columbia.

Dennis was injured but none of the four passengers in the car were injured. Dennis was wearing his helmet at the time of accident. He sustained non-life threatening injuries and was taken to University Hospital, the release stated.

He was released Monday, according to University Hospital staff.

Record and her three passengers were also wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident.

Although motorcycle accidents are rare in Missouri, the Missouri Department of Transportation reports they result in death or serious injury a "considerably greater rate" than other traffic accidents. Motorcycle accidents resulted in either a fatality or a serious injury at nearly seven times more often than auto accidents, according to the department's 2008 Highway Safety Plan & Performance Plan.

Dennis was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol when he hit Record's car, the release stated.

Sgt. Shelly Jones of CPD's traffic department said it will be at least four weeks before the department can be sure if he was intoxicated.

Charges are pending against Dennis, the release stated.