Three injured in chain-reaction motorcycle crash

A chain-reaction motorcycle crash injured three people Sunday afternoon, sending two by helicopter to trauma centers in Midland and Lansing.

Larry Huge Bates, 77, of Lansing was flown by Aero Med to Sparrow Hospital for treatment of head injuries and was not wearing a helmet, Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski said.

Tammy Sue Gay, 47, of St. Johns was flown by LifeNet to MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland for treatment and was wearing a helmet when the crash happened shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday on West Blanchard Road west of South Coldwater Road in Rolland Township.

Larry Alan Gay, 72, of Portland had minor injuries and refused treatment; he was not wearing a helmet, the sheriff said.

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Larry Gay, Tammy Gay, Bates and another motorcyclist were traveling west on West Blanchard Road when the lead biker slowed down because of rough pavement, the sheriff said.

Larry Gay, who was operating a 2003 Harley Davidson Electra-Glide behind the lead motorcyclist, also slowed down, but Tammy Gay, driving a 2007 Harley Davidson Dyna, didn’t see the others slow down and hit Larry Gay’s motorcycle, the sheriff said.

In an effort to avoid running into the motorcycles in front of him, Bates ended up laying his down.

All three were thrown from their motorcycles, Mioduszewski said.

Neither alcohol nor drugs were factors in the accident.

Isabella County Central Dispatch, state police from the Mt. Pleasant post, the Millbrook-Rolland Fire Department and Mobile Medical Response assisted at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation.

Three injured in chain-reaction motorcycle crash