On Monday, July 6 at approximately 6:50 pm, Plymouth Police Officer Ben McIntyre responded to a serious injury crash between a car driven by 18 year old Eric Burch and a motorcycle driven by 25 year old Jonathan Tanner, both of Plymouth.
The preliminary investigation showed that Burch was northbound on Michigan Street in a 2008 Dodge passenger car. Burch had entered the left turn lane at Plymouth-Goshen Trail and had begun to make a turn left into the Taco Bell parking lot. Burch turned into the path of Jonathan Tanner who was south bound on Michigan Street on a 1997 Yamaha motorcycle.
Tanner was thrown from the motorcycle. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and sustained serious head injuries. Tanner was airlifted to Memorial Hospital-South Bend. He was listed in “Fair” condition Tuesday afternoon.
Burch was not injured in the accident. Further investigation showed that Burch had never received a driver’s license and Tanner did not have the proper endorsement to be driving a motorcycle.
Burch was arrested and transported to the Marshall County Jail.
Both vehicles were towed from the scene by Lyon’s Wrecker Service.
Assisting in the incident were Plymouth Fire and EMS, and Marshall County Police. The investigation is still ongoing by Officer McIntyre.
Listeners and readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and are entitled to be represented by counsel and entitled to a trial by jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before a judgment of guilt may be made.
