On Saturday, October 19th, a deadly motorcycle crash in Lancaster County (located near the Maryland – Pennsylvania border) left 5 people dead. Among the fatalities was a full-time member of a local firefighting department.
Douglas Hoffer, Jr., 32, was carrying his girlfriend on their motorcycle, Colleen Nesbitt, 27. Both riders were killed instantly when their motorcycle collided head-on with an oncoming SUV that drifted across the double-yellow center line.
After the initial impact, the SUV then collided with another motorcycle carrying David Russell, 67, and his wife, Michelle Russell, 53, who were riding along behind Hoffer and Nesbitt. The second couple was also killed. One of the passengers in the SUV, Marjorie Smith, 68, of Johnstown, also died at the scene, making the total death count five. The crash occurred just before 2 p.m. on last Saturday afternoon.
Fire Company Mourns Fallen Member
The Quarryville Fire Station, where Hoffer had served as a full time firefighter, is draped in black bunting in his memory. Hoffer served as a veteran member of the Quarryville Fire Company for more than 12 years. During that time, Hoffer also participated on a committee established to raise funds for a new rescue truck, which fellow firefighters also draped in black bunting.
“Doug joined as a firefighter and he progressed to the rank of lieutenant,” said Fire Chief Jamie Welk. “But his main passion here was driving; he wanted to be a driver.”
Motorcycle Accident Statistics in the US
- Per mile, a motorcycle rider has a mortality rate 30 times higher than a driver in a car or truck.
- Wearing a helmet reduces a rider’s chances of death in an accident by nearly 40%.
- Between 15-20% of all Florida traffic fatalities consist of motorcyclists and their passengers, yet motorcycles only account for about 3.6% of Florida’s motorists.
- Currently, 20 states require riders to wear a helmet, compared with 47 states in 1970.
- Nearly 60% of all motorcycle accidents occur at night.
- The median age of motorcyclists is 42, while the total number of riders over age 45 has increased by 174% in the past 3-4 years.
- More riders ages 25-34 were either seriously injured or killed in motorcycle crashes than any other age group, followed by riders age 45-54 simply due to the proportionate amount of riders in that group overall.
Safe Riding Tips
Developing and consistently exhibiting the following habits can help riders to avoid becoming crash statistics:
- Never drink and ride – Reflexes and coordination have exponentially greater impacts on a rider’s safety and stability over that of a driver in a car or truck.
- Wear a helmet – Full-face helmets offer the most protection, survivability statistics are based on research and fact.
- Practice/Train – Ride frequently, but take care not to become complacent on familiar roads. Seasonal riders or those with long breaks in between riding should consider taking basic instruction or refresher courses periodically. Experienced riders can still benefit from new information and updated techniques taught in Advanced-Rider courses.
References:
Ride Smart Florida
The Examiner – https://www.examiner.com/article/deadly-motorcycle-accident-statistics
