90-Year-Old CT Woman Charged For Fatal Crash

By Bud Wilkinson

Police in New Haven, CT have charged 90-year-old Nancy Cassella of Bethany with negligent homicide and improper turning for a Sept. 7 car-motorcycle accident that resulted in the death of 34-year-old rider Brian McCarthy of North Haven.

Cassella was arrested on a warrant Tuesday and will be arraigned March 5 in New Haven Superior Court. She is free on a promise to appear.

Cassella was driving a Toyota Camry while McCarthy was riding his Honda on Fountain Street. Police said Cassella was heading in the opposite direction when she attempted to turn on to Seneca Road, causing the accident.

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Yamaha is recalling nearly 24,000 sport and adventure touring motorcycles due to a headlight overheating problem. Among the bikes being recalled are 2012 and 2013 model year Super Teneres and 2009-2013 YZF-R1s.

“Use of the headlight may generate enough heat to cause the bulb connections to expand, resulting in arcing in the headlight bulb socket,” the NHTSA said. This could cause the bulb to overheat, melt and the cause the headlight to malfunction.

Yamaha dealers will replace the headlight socket free of charge. The NHTSA has more info here.

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More to read:

– A woman in Dorchester, England celebrated her 100th birthday recently by getting a ride around town in a sidecar rig. The “Oxford Mail” has a story about “Sidecar Mary” Tame here.

– “The Press-Enterprise” reports that a 69-year-old woman in Calimesa, CA has built a reputation for herself in motorcycle circles by owning a small riding-gear shop. The story about Sue Paver and Buckles & Belts is here.

– Yesterday’s “Mirror” newspaper in the U.K. provided a “Best of British” list of top manufacturers in the country, with Triumph listed first. The story is here.

– There’s a church in Virginia that caters to bikers. “The Washington Times” has the story of the Seven Cities Freedom Biker Church here.