The Missouri State Highway Patrol says a turkey caused a late-night motorcycle accident in southern Johnson County Sunday, May 10 that seriously injured a Belton couple.

The Patrol reports that the couple was driving west on Route 2 about two miles east of Chilhowee, when at around 11:10 p.m. a turkey flew across the road, striking the 62-year-old man driving the motorcycle. That caused the bike to go off the left side of the road and overturn before striking a fence. Both occupants of the bike were taken to a Kansas City area hospital. Troopers note that the two were wearing the proper safety equipment at the time of the crash.