Olive Branch Motorcycle Crash Kills Rider on Goodman Road
A motorcycle rider died Thursday night after an Olive Branch motorcycle crash at the intersection of Goodman Road and Craft Road, one of the busiest crossroads in eastern DeSoto County. Olive Branch police are investigating what caused the collision, which involved the motorcycle and an SUV.
What We Know About the Olive Branch Motorcycle Crash
The crash happened shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24. Officers with the Olive Branch Police Department found the rider unresponsive in the roadway when they arrived.
First responders tried to revive the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Here is what has been reported so far:
- Location: Goodman Road (Mississippi Highway 302) at Craft Road in Olive Branch
- Time: Shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday
- Vehicles: A motorcycle and an SUV
- Outcome: The motorcycle rider died at the scene
- Investigating agency: Olive Branch Police Department
What Is Still Unknown
As of Friday evening, authorities had not released the rider’s name or age. Police have not said what led to the crash, whether anyone in the SUV was hurt, or whether any charges or citations are being considered. It is also not clear how long the intersection was closed while officers worked the scene.
DeSoto County News will update this story if police or the city release more information, including the victim’s identity once family members have been notified.
City Urges Drivers to Watch for Motorcycles
In a statement released Friday, the City of Olive Branch said the police department and Mayor Adams offered their condolences to the man’s family and loved ones.
City leaders also asked everyone on the road, both motorcyclists and other drivers, to stay alert, keep to a safe speed, leave enough following distance, and watch for motorcycles.
Goodman Road carries heavy traffic through Olive Branch at all hours. It connects neighborhoods and shopping areas to Southaven, Horn Lake and Interstate 269, and the Craft Road intersection is a key crossing for drivers heading north toward the Tennessee line.
Motorcycles are smaller and harder to see than cars and trucks, especially at night and at intersections where drivers are turning across traffic. Safety advocates recommend that drivers look twice before turning or changing lanes, and that riders wear bright or reflective gear and a DOT-approved helmet.
Anyone who saw the crash or has information about it can contact the Olive Branch Police Department.
Related: Olive Branch reopens Centerhill Road at Goodman Road after crash with injuries
Source: Action News 5 / City of Olive Branch statement
