Deadly motorbike crashes in New Hampshire attain highest degree since 2005

This has been the deadliest yr for motorcyclists in New Hampshire in practically 20 years, in keeping with the state’s Workplace of Freeway Security.

Thus far in 2023, 39 folks have died in crashes involving bikes and mopeds throughout the state, in comparison with a 20-year common of twenty-two deaths per yr, the workplace mentioned in a press launch.

Motorbike crash fatalities haven’t been this excessive since 2005 when 43 folks had been killed, the workplace mentioned. 

“For every life misplaced, many extra lives had been altered eternally,” Division of Security Assistant Commissioner Eddie Edwards mentioned within the launch.

Of those that had been killed this yr, 35 had been motorbike drivers, three had been motorbike passengers, and one was a moped driver, the workplace mentioned. Thirty-one of the fatalities had been males, whereas eight had been ladies, and 31 of the 39 fatalities had been New Hampshire residents. 

“This season’s fatality numbers are notably distressing,” Larry Crowe, the state’s motorbike schooling coordinator, mentioned within the launch. “ … None of us suppose ‘That is the trip that I crash’ after we throw our leg over the bike. Making sensible decisions, like slowing down, in addition to aggressively predicting site visitors points, may help forestall a crash.”

Amongst those that died in New Hampshire motorbike crashes this yr was a longtime firefighter and paramedic who was killed in a crash on Route 102 in January. One other New Hampshire man was killed in a bike crash on Route 16 in late April.