Restaurant Owner Seriously Injured in Motorcycle Crash

A local businessman suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle crash in La Grange on Thursday, June 29.

The wreck happened around 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of SH 71 Business and Country Club Dr. According to a report from La Grange Police, a black 2009 Dodge Ram pickup driven by 93-year-old Sammy Smith of La Grange had stopped on Country Club Dr. at the intersection. Smith pulled away from the stop sign but failed the yield the right-of-way to a motorcycle that was heading east on SH 71 Business, the report said.

Visar Halilaj, 41 of La Grange and owner of Ere’s Italian Restaurant, was riding a red 2022 Beta motorcycle east on the highway. The motorcycle struck the driver’s side of Smith’s pickup. Halilaj flew off the bike and landed on the ground. A helmet was lying on the ground when first responders arrived.

Traffic was busy at the time and several motorists stopped to render aid. Halilaj was unconscious when first responders arrived, the report said. Fayette County EMS began treating him at the scene. Halilaj was later flown by a PHI helicopter out of Columbus to Dell Seton Hospital in Austin.

Smith was not injured. Police issued Smith a citation for failure to yield the right of way. EMS Director Josh Vandever said Halilaj remained in critical condition as of Monday morning.

Photo by Andy Behlen