By TruckCrash News Desk · Published September 3, 2026
Fast Facts
Date & time: Thursday, September 3, 2026, at approximately 11:39 a.m.
Location: Veterans Memorial Bridge, Bay City, Bay County
Vehicles: Multiple vehicles, including a motorcycle
Injuries: One fatality — a 27-year-old Bay City man riding the motorcycle; no other injuries reported
Road impact: Bridge closed in both directions for about two hours
Investigating agency: Bay City Department of Public Safety
What Happened
A 27-year-old Bay City man was killed Thursday when the motorcycle he was riding was involved in a multi-vehicle crash on the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Bay City, according to the Bay City Department of Public Safety. The crash was reported at approximately 11:39 a.m. on September 3.
The rider was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash, Mid-Michigan NOW reported. Police have not said how many other vehicles were involved or described the sequence of events that led to the collision. No other injuries were reported.
Both directions of the Veterans Memorial Bridge were closed for approximately two hours while crews investigated and cleared the scene, according to WNEM. Investigators said there was no indication of impaired driving by any of the parties involved. The rider’s name had not been released as of Thursday evening.
Reporting: WNEM TV5 and Mid-Michigan NOW, with information from the Bay City Department of Public Safety.
The Investigation: What Happens Next
The Bay City Department of Public Safety says the crash remains under active investigation. In a multi-vehicle fatal crash, investigators typically reconstruct the sequence of impacts using physical evidence on the roadway, damage patterns on the vehicles, witness statements, and any available camera footage from the bridge and its approaches. Because a motorcycle was involved, reconstruction often focuses on sight lines, lane position, and the actions of each driver in the moments before impact.
Police have already stated that impairment does not appear to have been a factor for any involved party. The department has asked anyone with information to come forward, a sign that investigators are still assembling a complete picture of how the crash unfolded. Charging decisions, if any, would come only after the investigation is complete and reviewed by prosecutors.
The Legal Picture
How does Michigan no-fault insurance treat motorcyclists? Motorcycles occupy an unusual position in Michigan’s no-fault system: a motorcycle is not a “motor vehicle” under the no-fault act, so a rider’s benefits after a crash with a car or truck generally flow from the insurer of the motor vehicle involved. Our guide to Michigan no-fault insurance explains the framework.
What happens after a fatal multi-vehicle crash? The official crash report — often supplemented by a reconstruction report in fatal cases — becomes the foundation for how insurers and, if necessary, courts sort out what happened. In crashes involving several vehicles, that record matters enormously, because the sequence of impacts determines each party’s role.
Does a finding of no impairment end the inquiry? No. Impairment is only one factor investigators examine. Speed, following distance, lane use, and right-of-way are all evaluated separately.
Nothing in this article assumes fault by any person involved, including the rider who died. The information above is general in nature and is not legal advice about this crash.
This Stretch of Road
The Veterans Memorial Bridge is one of the drawbridges carrying traffic across the Saginaw River in downtown Bay City, linking the city’s east and west sides. Bridge decks like this one concentrate traffic into a fixed number of lanes with no shoulders to speak of, so when a crash happens mid-span there is little room for vehicles to avoid one another — and little room for emergency crews to work, which is why the entire bridge was shut down in both directions.
A closure of a Saginaw River crossing ripples quickly through Bay City traffic, pushing vehicles to the city’s other bridges. Thursday’s two-hour closure did exactly that during the midday period. The bridge has reopened in both directions.
If You Saw This Crash
The Bay City Department of Public Safety has asked anyone who witnessed the crash, or who has dashcam footage from the Veterans Memorial Bridge around 11:39 a.m. Thursday, to contact the department at 989-892-8571, Bay County Central Dispatch’s non-emergency line at 989-892-9551, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-422-5245. In a crash with multiple vehicles, independent witness accounts help investigators fix the position and speed of each vehicle before impact.
Original reporting on this crash: WNEM TV5 and Mid-Michigan NOW.
About TruckCrash News: TruckCrash News covers traffic crashes across Michigan every day, reporting what police agencies and local newsrooms have made public so that families, witnesses, and communities can find accurate information in one place. We extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of the young rider who lost his life on the Veterans Memorial Bridge. This article is based solely on information released by official sources and news outlets as of publication; details may change as the investigation continues. Nothing here is legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by reading it.