Deadly motorcycle crashes in 2016 most in past decade

More motorcyclists died in crashes across the state in 2016 than any other year over the past decade, according to new preliminary numbers from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Last year, 121 motorcyclists died in crashes statewide up from 92 in 2015.

Troopers also saw a similar trend in Mid-Missouri where 12 motorcyclists died up from three deaths in 2015, according to the Highway Patrol’s Troop F crash data.

Another 152 people were hurt in 188 motorcycle crashes in Troop F last year, equaling an 80 percent injury rate.

“Sometimes that’s related to gas prices,” Sgt. Scott White, with Troop F, said. “So the cheaper the gas prices, the more vehicles we have out there on the highway, not only motorcycles but other cars. And when we have a higher volume of cars on the road we have a higher number of crashes.”

In late October, ABC 17 News reported a deadly motorcycle crash at Providence and I-70 in Columbia. The driver of the other vehicle involved turned left into the oncoming path of the victim’s motorcycle.

Similar causes are often the case in deadly motorcycle crashes, White said.

“We see in those crashes, if it’s a car-motorcycle crash, we find that it’s usually the car driver or truck driver that’s at fault opposed to the motorcyclist,” White said.

White said drivers can help reduce the deadly statistic by simply taking a second look.

“We also remind drivers to avoid that natural blind spot,” White said. “Make sure that you’re turning your head in all directions and do so more than once.”