Motorcycle Crash Closes Down Milwaukee Avenue

After a motorcyclist swerved to avoid a stopped minivan and crashed, the 6600 block of Milwaukee Avenue was shut down from about 7 to 10:30 a.m. Monday.

Witnesses told police the Ford Windstar minivan stopped to make a left turn, and as the 59-year-old Niles man driving a Yamaha motorcycle tried to swerve around it to the right, he fell and hit the pavement. He was not wearing a helmet, and was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Police did not know his condition.

After police shut down southbound Milwaukee Avenue in the 6600 block, a  specialized police unit called the Major Crash Assistance Team investigated and gathered evidence, finally reopening the road three and a half hours later. 

The motorcyclist was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and operation of a motor vehicle without proper classification.