That was the third serious local motorcycle crash in as many days.
Twenty-year-old Breanna Walker of Fort Wayne died after a crash Wednesday on Illinois road.
WFFT reports on how motorcyclists and other drivers can learn to share the road safely.
We spoke with law enforcement today about motorcyclists can stay safe--
And an officer told us it's a two-way street between cars and bikes.
He says with some safety measures and a little precaution, crashes like these are preventable.
With temperatures in the seventies this week, motorcycles have come out of the garage-- and onto the roads.
"And when summer hits, we tend to forget that the motorcycles are coming out in swarms," says Fort Wayne Police Department Officer Scott Tegtmeyer.
There have been three collisions this week between bikes and larger vehicles, one that resulted in a woman's death.
The coroner's report says she was not wearing a helmet.
"Indiana is a choice state. You can choose to wear a helmet or not. But I would hope everyone would choose to wear a helmet," Tegtmeyer says.
Tegtmeyer says a helmet is the best way a rider can protect themself.
"The accidents that I have personal reference on that I have worked personally generally are head injuries," Tegtmeyer says.
He says drivers and riders need to be aware.
"That's the number one thing drivers say, I just didn't see them, whether they weren't paying attention, or the motorcycle wasn't visible enough," Tegtmeyer says.
He says riders should make sure all their lights are working, and wear reflective clothing.
He also says drivers need to remember the smaller vehicles on the road.
"That's the key right there. They got to consciously get in their vehicle and say to themselves there are motorcycles on the road and they have got to make themselves aware of it," Tegtmeyer says.
If all drivers follow the rules of the road, Tegtmeyer says, there can be fewer collisions and fewer injuries.
Tegtmeyer rides his motorcycle often, and he told us what he does is he tries to make eye contact with other drivers, so they are aware of him-- especially at intersections.
He also says one way he stays safe-- he keeps his bike just below the speed limit, to give himself extra time to react.
Twenty-year-old Breanna Walker of Fort Wayne died after a crash Wednesday on Illinois road.
WFFT reports on how motorcyclists and other drivers can learn to share the road safely.
We spoke with law enforcement today about motorcyclists can stay safe--
And an officer told us it's a two-way street between cars and bikes.
He says with some safety measures and a little precaution, crashes like these are preventable.
With temperatures in the seventies this week, motorcycles have come out of the garage-- and onto the roads.
"And when summer hits, we tend to forget that the motorcycles are coming out in swarms," says Fort Wayne Police Department Officer Scott Tegtmeyer.
There have been three collisions this week between bikes and larger vehicles, one that resulted in a woman's death.
The coroner's report says she was not wearing a helmet.
"Indiana is a choice state. You can choose to wear a helmet or not. But I would hope everyone would choose to wear a helmet," Tegtmeyer says.
Tegtmeyer says a helmet is the best way a rider can protect themself.
"The accidents that I have personal reference on that I have worked personally generally are head injuries," Tegtmeyer says.
He says drivers and riders need to be aware.
"That's the number one thing drivers say, I just didn't see them, whether they weren't paying attention, or the motorcycle wasn't visible enough," Tegtmeyer says.
He says riders should make sure all their lights are working, and wear reflective clothing.
He also says drivers need to remember the smaller vehicles on the road.
"That's the key right there. They got to consciously get in their vehicle and say to themselves there are motorcycles on the road and they have got to make themselves aware of it," Tegtmeyer says.
If all drivers follow the rules of the road, Tegtmeyer says, there can be fewer collisions and fewer injuries.
Tegtmeyer rides his motorcycle often, and he told us what he does is he tries to make eye contact with other drivers, so they are aware of him-- especially at intersections.
He also says one way he stays safe-- he keeps his bike just below the speed limit, to give himself extra time to react.
