CONCORD, N.H. — State police say four motorcyclists were killed in collisions with other vehicles on Friday, a grim beginning to the final weekend of the 89th annual Laconia Motorcycle Week.
The cyclists were killed in a series of accidents spanning four hours in Nashua, Nelson, Laconia and Dummer.
In Nelson, a car driven by James Rivadeneira of Salem crossed the center line on Route 9, colliding with a motorcycle driven by David Davis of Wyantskill, N.Y. Davis’ motorcycle then hit a second motorcycle driven by Carl Davino of Stuyvesant, N.Y. All three were taken to a hospital. Davis died of his injuries while Rivadeneira and Davino were treated for injuries that were not life threatening.
In Laconia, a motorcycle driven by 38-year-old Jamie Bezanson of Concord crossed the center line of a road and hit a pickup truck driven by 47-year-old Craig Harrison of Manchester. Bezanson was pronounced dead at the scene. Harrison was treated for minor injuries at a hospital.
In Dummer, a car driven by 25-year-old Ashley Bailey of Jay, Maine, crossed the center line of Route 16, striking a motorcycle driven by 60-year-old Thomas Zappulla of Torrington, Conn. Zappulla was thrown from the bike and pronounced dead at the scene. Bailey was taken to a hospital, where she was being treated for serious injuries. One of three passengers in the car was treated for minor injuries.
And in Nashua, a motorcycle driven by 24-year-old Michael Loverme of Merrimack was on an exit ramp on the Everett Turnpike when it traveled across the median and back into the travel lanes, where it was hit by the other vehicles. Loverme was pronounced dead at a hospital. The crash caused major traffic jams at the height of the afternoon rush hour.
More than 300,000 bikers were expected at motorcycle week, which is based on Lake Winnipesaukee in Laconia and is billed as the nation’s oldest motorcycle rally. Events are also held elsewhere in the state, allowing motorcyclists to take part in scenic drives throughout New Hampshire. The festival pumps an estimated $200 million into the state’s economy.
2 out of those 4 were due to the cars crossing the line… all 4 were obviously driver in-attention. Those of us who drive cars are just as idiotic…
Ugh! That’s why I hate motorcycles. It’s so, so sad to keep reading about the loss of life. Quite often the rider isn’t at fault, but still a young life ends far too soon.
There really are many more car/truck related deaths..you just dont hear about it as often.
At least they died having fun, not like dying in a Volvo…
There mite be as many bike accidents if cops did there job an not turn a blind eye
Far too many errors in your statement-there mite be as many accidents if cops did there job?? So if the cops did not do their job the bike accidents would decrease? Regardless of what point you attempted to make, all vehicle and motorcycle accidents are ultimately the responsibility of the driver(s). Roads may be dangerous, the sun may be shining or rising or setting, it could be raining or snowing….if the majority of other drivers were able to arrive home safely under the same conditions, the external factors still only play a limited role. If your butt is in the driver’s seat of any vehicle, you hold the responsibility of the lives and health of everyone else on the road.
You hate motorcycles and make an intention non-factual statement in reference to an activity it seems you know nothing about. Experienced motorcyclists’ ride with a code-of-riding-ethics that demands the rider is always at fault for errors. You may wish to kindly review the two most comprehensive motorcycle accident causation studies, HURT report and M.A.I.D.S. Acem report, before you comment about motorcycle accidents next time. What I find sad is ignorant people, and that is the greatest loss of life. Motorcycling can foster valuable life experiences, as well as take it away if one fails to ignore the inherent truths. Isn’t that what most people seek?
Since you’ve decided to put your own erroneous spin on my comment, I will attempt to clarify it for you. As a great grandmother, I have been around long enough to have seen a senseless loss of life, over and over again. True, as pointed out, they died doing what they loved, but they are still dead, nontheless.
My sadness, when I see a headline stating, “Four motorcyclists died in crashes…” is for the horrors their families will now have to carry for the rest of their lives.
When you have lost a child, as I have (not motorcycle related), even an “adult” child, come back and we will discuss it further.
Out of all the accidents involving death in the course of a year, what are the percentages, cars/bikes, and why do people make a spectacle over bike accidents, but” keep moving on” with auto accidents? AT least none of these people were texting when they had their accident. More than I can say for car drivers.
I think that per mile traveled, the fatality risk on a motorcycle is around 13 times that of someone in an automobile. I ride and love it, but it is very dangerous, and you have to do everything you can to keep the odds in your favor.
i saw a guy texting on a motorcycle, on the interstate, in southern maine. im not kidding!!!
Man, cycle riders are at such risks. I can’t understand why they choose that means of transportation. I drive a ’60’s muscle car and love the feel of security. Each to there own I guess….
And I’ll take my 2007 4 door import over your 60’s muscle car any day in any sort of crash. I have a total of 10 air bags, I have crumble zones and when it comes to crash test ratings my car gets 4 and 5 stars.
You might think your big heavy metal box will do great in a crash but sadly you are wrong.
my 67 mack has no airbags , lets play chicken.
How can you compare a large truck to a small compact car?
Ill play chicken..you come at me while i fire 50 cal rounds into the cab then motor..sounds like fun
But your car is so boring. Also, mines not a big heavy metal box. It’s fiberglass ;-}
Corvette FTW
I think the assertion was that a car provides more occupant safety than a motorcycle, not that a muscle car provides more occupant safety than anything else on the road.
Unless it has a roll cage and five point harness.
I have a bike cause i like power and performance…Any time you want to find out what that looks like we can line up that gas hog from the 60’s that my mini van could outrun..
Sure, Dick! You failed to comprehend the word “fiberglass”. Be sure and enjoy that minivan, too. LOL
About 50% of the people I see driving old beat up Subaru’s and Volvo 240D’s laden with bumper stickers are idiots…….One narrow minded comment to another.
Haha Jay….I’ve said it for years…..Subaru’s are the WORST!
about 100% of people who make posts like yours are too.
just making an observation no need for the snide remark
That was no observation. That was a judgement. An inaccurate and prejudiced judgement at that.
the snide remark was in reply to your snide ‘observation’. Your comment was inflammatory and meant to offend others….
More idiots crossing the center line. People have to learn to drive. ……no, I guess not because there are never any charges. It must not be a serious enough violation.
Its up to the cops if they want to take the people to court that cause motorcycle accidents
It is never up to the cops to decide if someone goes to court for anything-the police can issue tickets based on the laws as they are written. Lawyers and judges take over that, and control whether the person sees a courtroom, jail, pass a fine, etc.
Yes it is up to the police if they want ti give the person a ticket because i know frist hand . I eas in a motorcycle accident an i was in bed for 3 months . So i got a lawyer an i asked him if the cop was going to take her to court an the cops said no an i ask my lawyer why he said that its up to each cop to decide if they want to take that person to court an the cop told my lawyer why he did not take the lady to court because she had to much trama at the seen from hitting me an that he did not want to put her thru any more but yet i was in bed for 3 months . So called the state DA an he told me that the cop was totally wrong for not takeing her court an that was not a good answer for not taking her to court
the police write there report, it’s turned over to the DA. the DA decides wether or not to bring charges that the police didn’t issue summonses or arrest them for.
No they did not turn a report over to the DA if it had been the da would of told me so when i called him
The driver who hit Joshua Constantine, then drove home and tried to remove her windshield to conceal her involvement in his death is facing a charge that carries at the most only five years. She paid $60 bail. I wonder what a serious violation would be?
Laconia; Cops on bicycles,cops in cruisers, deputized ROTC students with radio’s to police. cops in the air in helicopters, cops on the water in boats, undercover cops in the bars and campgrounds. This is more of a police reunion than a motorcycle event. Older bikers go to private parties only, to avoid the police and their minions. Laconia is for newby’s, and carney’s.
Those who cross the center line need to be charged with manslaughter period
There is just too much crap in the new car to do while driving these conveniences need to be disabled when you turn on the key that would solve a ton of catastrophes.
How come so many people can’t keep their vehicles between the lines? A couple of these accidents could have been easily avoided and the bad accident on Broadway in Bangor the other day could have been avoided as well. Pretty helpless feeling on some roads to have a car coming at you on your side of the road.
Not a mention of how many that were killed wearing helmuts…
how many will kill each other durning the week.. thats a lot of hoodlums in one place with manhood issues..