BROOKHAVEN, NY- Patch.com reports that Tyler Joseph LeBron, 23, was killed when his motorcycle hit a utility pole at around 5:40 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. LeBron was heading east on Montauk Highway in Brookhaven when he lost control of the 2004 Suzuki motorcycle he was operating. The bike traveled across the highway before striking the pole.
A medical examiner pronounced LeBron dead Tuesday evening at the scene of the accident. Investigators have not released a cause of the collision.
Motorcyclists have a much higher risk of dying in a vehicle crash than individuals riding in passenger vehicles. The smaller size of the vehicles and the fact that motorcycles provide few protections to riders both contribute to the greater risks. Additionally, a person riding a motorcycle can lose control of the vehicle when traveling over small obstructions that would not impact a car.
Studies have indicated that the risk of death faced by motorcyclists is 37% higher than people traveling in a car when the numbers account for miles driven by each type of vehicle. Despite motorcyclists only making up a small proportion of total vehicles on the road, bikers account about 16% of fatal crashes in New York with an average of 166 motorcyclists dying in accidents every year.
Age plays a role in the risk factors as well. Riders between the ages of 20 and 24 account for the highest number of motorcycle-related deaths. The most common cause of fatal motorcycle accidents in New York is high speed.
Motorcyclists should take precautions when riding, and always wear a helmet. Helmets can reduce a biker’s risk of dying in an accident by 37%. New York State law mandates that motorcyclists and their passengers must wear helmets when operating their vehicles.
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