Police confirm motorcyclist killed in downtown crash had right of way

The crash occurred at the intersection of Portland and South Main streets; inset Michael Collins (Courtesy)

ROCHESTER - The monthlong probe into an Aug. 19 crash in the downtown that left a Rochester motorcyclist dead continues with police recently confirming which lights at the intersection of South Main and Portland streets were blinking red and which were blinking yellow.
On Monday Rochester Police Capt. Todd Pinkham revealed that through investigation police had verified what witnesses to the crash had said: that the lights for South Main Street traffic were blinking yellow, while Portland Street was blinking red.
The crash occurred on Aug. 19 around 7:40 p.m. when 54-year-old Michael Collins, who was studying to become an aviation technician, was killed when his 2010 Harley Davidson FLHTC collided with a 2016 Toyota Corolla being driven by Kimberlee Raymond, 22, of Rochester.
According to police, Collins was traveling on South Main Street headed north toward Central Square, while the Toyota had turned from Charles Street onto Portland Street by the Service Credit Union drive-thru and was going to proceed straight through the light to continue on Portland Street toward Windjammers restaurant.
In June city officials reduced the downtown speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph due to safety concerns and public input.
Pinkham noted that neither speed nor impairment were factors in the crash.
The crash occurred just a few minutes after dusk, according to sunrisesunsettime.org
It is not clear why the lights were blinking and not solid colors as they usually are.
Collins, an avid hunter and fisherman, leaves behind a son and three grandchildren.