High School Senior Dies In Motorcycle Crash
PLAINWELL (WWJ/AP) - A 17-year-old high school senior from southwest Michigan has died in a motorcycle crash two days before his school's graduation ceremony.
MLive.com reports officials at Plainwell High School were notified Tuesday that Patrick McCormick died in the crash earlier in the day in Barry County's Orangeville Township, about 35 miles south of Grand Rapids.
School officials said they told fellow students about his death at a pre-graduation awards ceremony Tuesday night. They plan to acknowledge him during Thursday's graduation ceremony.
The sheriff's department said McCormick died at the scene after losing control of his motorcycle and leaving the roadway.
Officials reported the boy was wearing a helmet.
This latest crash comes less than a month and following much debate since a re-writing of the state's motorcycle law that allows bikers over 21 with special training to go helmet-less. (More on this, here).
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