The Rogers man who was airlifted out-of-state following a major motorcycle crash Thursday on Interstate 540 remained in a Springfield, Mo., hospital in serious condition as of Friday afternoon, according to hospital officials.
Kenneth Rustin, 55, crashed his motorcycle on the interstate near Lowell on Thursday night just before 7 p.m., shutting down southbound lanes for about one hour while a helicopter was flown in to help Rustin. The victim was life-flighted to Mercy Hospital, also known as St. John’s, in Springfield with life-threatening injuries.
Rogers ambulances were initially dispatched to the crash site, and a helicopter was later called in and landed near the interstate to transport Rustin.
An eyewitness told 5NEWS she saw the motorcyclist lying in the middle of the road with his clothes torn up.
A Rogers ambulance responded to a separate motorcycle crash in the same area of the interstate less than one hour later. The victim was conscious and breathing, according to emergency crews, but he was transported to Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville with serious injuries.
Crews responded to a different motorcycle crash Thursday morning near Springdale, in which a patient was hospitalized with unspecified injuries.
Three people were also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries earlier Thursday on Interstate 540 when two vehicles collided near Exit 82 northbound, according to emergency crews.
