IRON MOUNTAIN - A lieutenant of the Dickinson County Sheriff's Department is hospitalized following a motorcycle accident during a Patriot Guard ride on Tuesday night.
Norway Police Department officers said that at 9:16 p.m. Tuesday, a motorcycle driven by Derek Dixon of Kingsford was traveling east on U.S. 2 and O'Dill Road near the Jake Menghini Historical Museum with a group of other motorcyclists, and struck an exhaust pipe that apparently fell from another motorcycle.
Police said this caused Dixon, 35, to lose control and crash.
Dickinson County Sheriff Scott A. Celello said that Dixon, a road lieutenant with the sheriff's department, was taking part in an escort from Ford Airport in Kingsford to the home of retired Sheriff Donald Charlevoix in Norway Township when the accident occurred.
Celello said Holly Charlevoix, daughter of Don Charlevoix, had returned home from Afghanistan on leave. The Patriot Guard motorcycle organization was escorting her home, as they do for all returning soldiers.
Lt. Dixon was off-duty at the time of the accident, Celello said. As the escort was traveling east on U.S. 2 near the viaduct, a motorcycle traveling ahead of Lt. Dixon's motorcycle lost a muffler and struck the front of his bike.
Dixon, who was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, was transported to Dickinson County Memorial Hospital by North Alert Ambulance for treatment of injuries he received.
Dixon is reported to be in fair condition today at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital. He has been with the sheriff's department for 12 years, having become road lieutenant on Jan. 1 of this year.
Sheriff Celello thanks all who took part in the escort and those who assisted at the scene of the accident, including Kingsford Public Safety, Iron Mountain Police Department, Veterans Affairs Police, Norway Police Department, North Alert ambulance and Beacon ambulance services.
The Patriot Guard organized the escort.
Norway Police Department is investigating the accident.
Lisa M. Hoffmann's e-mail address is lhoffmann@ironmountaindailynews.com.