Printed from BusinessInsurance.com

OFF BEAT: Man sentenced for faking motorcycle crash for insurance payout

Posted On: May. 2, 2012 12:00 AM CST

Individuals who make fake insurance claims seldom lack creativity, and an Idaho Falls, Idaho, man proves it again after trashing his motorcycle for the insurance payout.

Jason Preston pleaded guilty to two charges of insurance fraud and damage to insured property and received 20 days in county jail, 100 hours of community service, 4 years of probation, and was ordered to pay a $750 fine, according to news reports.

The district court reportedly suspended Mr. Preston’s prison sentence of one to four years.

Mr. Preston in July reported that his motorcycle was damaged after he swerved and crashed to avoid hitting an animal on the road, according to media reports.

But investigators figured Mr. Preston’s story didn’t add up.

According to reports, Mr. Preston loaded the motorcycle in the back of his pickup truck, which was driven by his girlfriend, and, after reaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, pushed the bike off the truck and onto the road.

Enter creativity: To make the crash appear to have been an accident, Mr. Preston tied himself to the back of the truck and had his girlfriend drag him down the road, reportedly to make his clothing appear to have been damaged in a motorcycle crash.

Mr. Preston’s girlfriend left the scene and he called 911 to report the “accident.” Subsequently, he filed a false statement to his insurer, according to media reports.

Mr. Preston’s girlfriend reportedly cooperated as a witness and was not prosecuted.