Motorcyclists in Missouri are like motorcyclists everywhere else today: still in shock and mourning over the tragedy in New Hampshire. Seven bikers were killed when a pick-up truck collided with a group of 10 motorcyclists on a rural New Hampshire highway.
Officials have not identified a cause of one of the worst motorcycle crashes in recent memory. The victims include five men (ages 62, 49, 58, 45 and 58) and two women (ages 58 and 42).
“I don’t think any of us can understand how these families are doing,” an official said. “I don’t think the word devastation can begin to describe the pain and the anguish.”
The 23-year-old driver of the 2016 Dodge 2500 pick-up truck was hauling a flatbed trailer at the time, police said. He is an employee of a transportation company.
All of the male victims were members of JarHeads MC, a motorcycle club of Marines and spouses. Both of the female victims were supporters of the club.
A State Police spokesperson said, “This is one of the worst tragic incidents that we have investigated here in the state” and said he expected “a very lengthy investigation.”
Along with the seven fatalities, there were three riders injured, police said. Two were released within a day of the fiery crash that took place in the early evening on a two-lane highway.
We hope that the families of the victims will find ways to cope with their losses and that drivers and motorcyclists both proceed from this tragedy with caution and awareness of how fragile life can be.
