Wild turkey flies into motorcyclist causing fatal crash in Oakland Twp

OAKLAND TWP., Mich. (FOX 2) - A single flower marks the spot where a 70-year old was killed in a tragic and bizarre motorcycle crash.

It happened at about 1 p.m. Saturday. A picture shortly after the crash shows the motorcycle hundreds of feet down the road. 

"In 400 or 500 feet all this happened," said neighbor Jeff Vanslembrouck. "The bird hit him, he lost control, bike kept going."

Witnesses tell police a number of turkeys wandered out onto Stoney Creek Road near Rochester Road, chased by a male turkey who flew into the air striking the motorcyclist in the chest.

"My boys that were home at the time, they ran over to him," Vanslembrouck said. "And there was nothing they could do for him."

The 70-year-old man lost his leg in the crash. Paramedics we are told, arrived within a few minutes but the man could not be saved.

"He's in Oxford, so this is a natural path for him to go, back to Oxford," said neighbor Pam White. "And he was probably just on his way home and this horrible tragedy happened."

Neighbors on this two-lane road say it's common to see vehicles going through this area pretty fast. It's also common to see wildlife crossing because it is spring. But a turkey vs a motorcyclist, no one has seen anything quite like this before.

Police say the motorcyclist was doing everything right wearing a helmet and protective gear.

"When it's your time to go, then it's your time to go, when a turkey flies up in front of you," White said. "I just feel so bad for his family and my heart goes out to them so much."