Motorcylist killed in Harrisburg Pike wreck with Jeep

Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate a fatal motorcycle wreck that was reported Saturday evening shortly after 6:15 p.m. Authorities say that a 38-year-old Middletown, Pennsylvania, man was traveling west on Harrisburg Pike when the driver of a Jeep Liberty attempted to make a left-hand turn in front of the man’s Harley Davidson.

The rider was thrown from his Harley upon impact--troopers say that the motorcyclist struck the windshield of the Jeep. He was killed instantly. The 53-year-old Middletown resident driving the Jeep suffered minor injuries in the crash and was taken to a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, hospital for treatment.

Troopers say that the rider was not wearing a helmet. Accident reconstructionists are still poring over data related to the crash. State police believe that the woman driving the Jeep did not see the oncoming Harley. Authorities say that the motorcycle was traveling within the posted speed limit.

Many years ago the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiated a study on motorcycle accidents. The study, known as The Hurt Report, remains important in understanding motorcycle crashes. The NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Foundation says that The Hurt Report (named Hurt after the lead researcher) is the most influential and detailed motorcycle crash data resource.

The Hurt Report says that nearly three-quarters of all motorcycle wrecks involve crashes with other vehicles. Alongside that statistic (while there are a myriad of factors that may contribute to any kind of accident) the failure of other drivers to see a motorcycle approaching is a common cause of motorcycle accidents. The research says that roughly two-thirds of car versus motorcycle accidents involve a driver failing to see the bike and driving into the motorcyclists right-of-way.