Motorcyclist thrown from bike, dies

By News Sentinel staff
May 30, 2007

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the man killed in a morning motorcycle crash on E. Emory Road at Brackett Road in North Knox County.

Michael R. Lewis of Knoxville died around 6:50 a.m. when he left the road, went through a ditch and was thrown from the bike as he approached Brackett Road, according to KCSO spokeswoman Martha Dooley.

"He was thrown from the motorcycle and it landed on his head," Dooley said
A chaplain was called to the scene, and Rural/Metro Ambulance transported the victim to the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Authorities are still investigating the incident.

More details as they develop online and in Thursday’s News Sentinel.

Motorcycle Accident (KNOXVILLE, TN) - May 30, 2007

MOTORCYCLE RIDER DIES IN CRASH (MAY 30, 2007)

A crash in north Knox County(KNOXVILLE, TN) killed a motorcycle rider this morning. It happened on Hackett Road at Emory Road at Harbison`s Crossroads.
Sheriffs department spokesperson Martha Dooley says the motorcycle ran off the road, and the driver was thrown off. Then, the bike landed on the rider`s head.
He was dead at the scene. No name has been released.

Motorcycle, Pedestrian Deaths Rising

August 31, 2006


"An increase in motorcycle and pedestrian deaths contributed to an overall rise in highway fatalities in 2005, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The total number of fatalities rose 1.4 percent from 42,836 in 2004 to 43,443 in 2005 while the rate of fatalities was 1.47 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), up from 1.45 in 2004.

Despite the spike in motorcycle and pedestrian fatalities, Acting Secretary of Transportation Maria Cino noted other fatality trends were improving. She said the number of young drivers dying in car crashes declined in 2005 for the third straight year while the number of children who were killed in crashes also declined. The largest drop was for children ages 8-15.

"We have no tolerance for any numbers higher than zero," said Acting Secretary Cino. "Motorcyclists need to wear their helmets, drivers need to buckle up and all motorists need to stay sober."

She said the increase in vehicle fatalities comes from the dramatic rise in the number of motorcycle fatalities and increases in the number of pedestrian fatalities over the previous year.

She noted, for example, that motorcycle fatalities rose 13 percent from 4,028 in 2004 to 4,553 in 2005 and that almost half of the people who died were not wearing a helmet.

The number of pedestrian fatalities increased to 4,881 in 2005 from 4,675 in 2004, the Acting Secretary added. NHTSA is investigating this year's increase in pedestrian fatalities to determine the cause.

Cino said NHTSA is working to reduce the number of motorcycle fatalities by encouraging motorcyclists to get proper training, always wear helmets, and absolutely never drink and ride.

She added that the Department's Federal Highway Administration is working with state and local governments to improve pedestrian safety and that the agency is providing more than $600 million over the next three years to help states develop pedestrian safety programs.

Specifically, NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System shows that, between 2004 and 2005, the number of young drivers (16-20) killed declined by 4.6 percent from 3,538 to 3,374. Fatal crashes involving young drivers declined by 6.3 percent from 7,431 to 6,964. Meanwhile, the number of children 0-15 dying in crashes dropped from 2,622 in 2004 to 2,348 in 2005.

Cino added that the number of people injured in motor vehicle crashes declined 3.2 percent from 2.8 million in 2004 to 2.7 million in 2005. Passenger vehicle occupant fatalities also dropped by 451, from 31,866 in 2004 to 31,415 in 2005, the lowest level since 1994.

In addition, the number of fatalities from large truck crashes declined slightly from 5,235 to 5,212, while the number of occupants killed in rollover crashes increased 2.1 percent from 10,590 to 10, 816. And the number of SUV rollover fatalities dropped 1.8 percent from 2,929 to 2,877.

"We will not be satisfied until the fatality and injury numbers reach zero," said NHTSA Administrator Nicole Nason."consumer Affairs

Motorcycle, Pedestrian Deaths Rising

August 31, 2006


"An increase in motorcycle and pedestrian deaths contributed to an overall rise in highway fatalities in 2005, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The total number of fatalities rose 1.4 percent from 42,836 in 2004 to 43,443 in 2005 while the rate of fatalities was 1.47 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), up from 1.45 in 2004.

Despite the spike in motorcycle and pedestrian fatalities, Acting Secretary of Transportation Maria Cino noted other fatality trends were improving. She said the number of young drivers dying in car crashes declined in 2005 for the third straight year while the number of children who were killed in crashes also declined. The largest drop was for children ages 8-15.

"We have no tolerance for any numbers higher than zero," said Acting Secretary Cino. "Motorcyclists need to wear their helmets, drivers need to buckle up and all motorists need to stay sober."

She said the increase in vehicle fatalities comes from the dramatic rise in the number of motorcycle fatalities and increases in the number of pedestrian fatalities over the previous year.

She noted, for example, that motorcycle fatalities rose 13 percent from 4,028 in 2004 to 4,553 in 2005 and that almost half of the people who died were not wearing a helmet.

The number of pedestrian fatalities increased to 4,881 in 2005 from 4,675 in 2004, the Acting Secretary added. NHTSA is investigating this year's increase in pedestrian fatalities to determine the cause.

Cino said NHTSA is working to reduce the number of motorcycle fatalities by encouraging motorcyclists to get proper training, always wear helmets, and absolutely never drink and ride.

She added that the Department's Federal Highway Administration is working with state and local governments to improve pedestrian safety and that the agency is providing more than $600 million over the next three years to help states develop pedestrian safety programs.

Specifically, NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System shows that, between 2004 and 2005, the number of young drivers (16-20) killed declined by 4.6 percent from 3,538 to 3,374. Fatal crashes involving young drivers declined by 6.3 percent from 7,431 to 6,964. Meanwhile, the number of children 0-15 dying in crashes dropped from 2,622 in 2004 to 2,348 in 2005.

Cino added that the number of people injured in motor vehicle crashes declined 3.2 percent from 2.8 million in 2004 to 2.7 million in 2005. Passenger vehicle occupant fatalities also dropped by 451, from 31,866 in 2004 to 31,415 in 2005, the lowest level since 1994.

In addition, the number of fatalities from large truck crashes declined slightly from 5,235 to 5,212, while the number of occupants killed in rollover crashes increased 2.1 percent from 10,590 to 10, 816. And the number of SUV rollover fatalities dropped 1.8 percent from 2,929 to 2,877.

"We will not be satisfied until the fatality and injury numbers reach zero," said NHTSA Administrator Nicole Nason."consumer Affairs

Motorcycle Death Rates Rising, Safety Chief Warns

Motorcycle Death Rates Rising, Safety Chief Warns
Helmets, Driver Education Should be Standard Equipment

February 20, 2007


"It's time to make safety helmets standard equipment for motorcyclists, as U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters sees it.

Peters is calling on manufacturers to provide free or heavily discounted DOT-certified helmets or driver safety training with the purchase of every new motorcycle sold in the United States.

"Helmets and proper training are just as important as brakes or headlights when it comes to the well-being of motorcyclists," Secretary Peters said. "We shouldn't be letting any customer take a bike out of the store without a helmet as part of the package. Safety shouldn't have to be an option when purchasing a motorcycle."

Secretary Peters said only 58 percent of riders wear helmets today, which is down 13 percent from just four years ago.

She added that manufacturers could help reverse the trend by getting helmets into riders? hands and training them how to ride safely, noting that 700 motorcyclists would survive crashes every year if they wore helmets.

During remarks to the Motorcycle Industry Council in Indianapolis, the Secretary praised those manufacturers already providing free training for riders. However, she said she was asking for help from manufacturers because while motorcycles account for only two percent of the vehicles on the road, they are involved in over 10 percent of all crashes.

She added that motorcycle fatalities have more than doubled in 10 years and now account for over 4,500 highway deaths and 78,000 injuries each year. Even worse, the crash rate among motorcyclists in the 50-plus age group has increased by over 400 percent, she said.

The Secretary noted that the helmet she was wearing during her 2005 motorcycle crash likely prevented severe head injury.

"I know from first-hand experience how effective helmets can be," she said.

Peters also said the Department of Transportation was "attacking" the challenge of motorcycle safety on several fronts. Last September, the Department awarded over $6 million in safety grants to states to support motorcycle safety.

In addition, the Federal Highway Administration has established a Motorcycle Advisory Council to focus on making roads safer for motorcyclists and will continue work begun by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on a Motorcycle Crash Causation Study to identify why motorcycle crashes occur and find ways to reduce the fatality and injury rates." consumer affairs

Motorcycle Accidents