Pennslyvania - 2010 a bad year for motorcyclists in Lancaster County

OFF THE WIRE
Lancasteronline.com
By RYAN ROBINSON and JENNIFER TODD, Staff
Of the 58 people killed on county roads this year, 19 were on motorcycles, making 2010 the deadliest year for cyclists here since at least 1996..........
One person was killed and two others were injured in a one-vehicle crash Thursday in East Hempfield Township, police said, bringing to 58 the number of traffic fatalities in Lancaster County this year.
Nineteen of those 58 people were riding motorcycles or were passengers on them, according to newspaper records. That's 12 more motorcyclists killed here than last year, and it makes 2010 the deadliest year for motorcyclists in Lancaster County since at least 1996.
It's also nine more than the average number of motorcyclists killed in the previous five years, according to the state Department of Transportation.
Traffic fatalities have trended downward here, statewide and across the country, but not for motorcyclists, PennDOT spokesman Greg Penny said. Among other factors, there are older drivers whose reflexes and skills are not as sharp as when they were younger and they are driving more powerful motorcycles, he said. Also, there's the persistent problem of car drivers just not seeing motorcycles.
"A driver looks left, looks right, and is psychologically looking for a car," Penny said. "When you don't see a car or truck coming, the tendency is to pull out."
Drunken driving, speeding and not wearing helmets also play roles in some motorcyclist deaths, Wayne Harper, director of PennDOT's Center for Traffic Safety, said. Total miles traveled across the state are on the rise, and there are more older car drivers on the roads, thanks in part to aging baby boomers.
Statewide, traffic fatalities are declining in every category except two: among older drivers and motorcyclists, he said.
Another major reason the number of motorcycle fatalities rose in 2010 was the single crash that killed five motorcyclists in Penn Township.
"Usually crashes involve one person," PennDOT spokeswoman Fritzi Schreffler said.
The summer crash was the deadliest in the county this year.
Five people, including two married couples, died June 27 when a minivan struck their three motorcycles during a Sunday afternoon ride on Route 72, police said.
An investigation showed the motorcyclists were wearing helmets, driving within their lane and going below the speed limit, county District Attorney Craig Stedman said.
The 64-year-old driver of the minivan is awaiting trial on charges of vehicular homicide.
Three days before that tragedy, two 20-year-old friends died when their motorcycle hit a tree that was downed during a summer storm in Martic Township.
On Wednesday morning, Albert E. Fry, 77, of Manheim, was killed when he drove the wrong way on Route 283 and caused a four-vehicle crash, police said.
Also killed in traffic accidents here were five pedestrians, three bicyclists, an 8-year-old boy riding a scooter, two friends riding a snowmobile and a 16-year-old boy riding a horse, newspaper records show.
A 2-year-old boy was the youngest killed this year. A.J. Rivera was struck by an oil truck after reportedly darting into the first block of South Ann Street to retrieve a toy car Dec. 11.
A 16-year-old Ronks boy was killed Oct. 23 when the horse he was riding collided with a sport utility vehicle just east of Bird-in-Hand in Leacock Township, state police said.
There were between 63 and 71 traffic fatalities in Lancaster County each year from 2005 through 2008, PennDOT said. There were 49 last year.
PennDOT records before 1997 were not immediately available.
Complete statistics for 2010 are not yet available, but an estimated 1,297 people had been killed in traffic wrecks in the state through Dec. 20, according to PennDOT. The average of the five prior years was 1,471 deaths annually.
An average of 211 motorcyclists were killed in traffic accidents statewide from 2005 through 2009, according to PennDOT. Nearly half were not wearing helmets.
York and Lancaster counties have the highest number of motorcyclists per capita in the state, Harper said.
The recent spike in motorcyclist deaths in both counties spurred the formation of the Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Committee to promote rider safety, he said. Members hold monthly meetings and hope to add new programs this spring to the state's current efforts to limit motorcycle accidents.
• Investigators released few details about Thursday's accident, which occurred just before 5 p.m. in the 1600 block of South Colebrook Road, but they said it appeared the vehicle left the road and rolled several times.
One person was pronounced dead at the scene while the injured persons were taken to an area hospital, police said. Their conditions were not available Thursday night.
Investigators didn't release the names of the victims Thursday night.
Police said the crash remained under investigation.
Police ask anyone who witnessed the crash to contact Officer A.J. Lombardo at 898-3103.

rrobinson@lnpnews.com

jtodd@lnpnews.com

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2010 a bad year for motorcyclists in Lancaster County





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