The motorcycle community in Arizona is in mourning following the untimely death of 37-year-old Evan Adams, who was killed in a tragic traffic accident on October 22. Recounting the incident, Amanda Shardy, a close friend of Adams, remembers him fondly to FOX 10 Phoenix, saying, "His smile, his goofiness. Again, he was just a pleasant, happy soul to have around." The family is now on a mission to raise awareness for motorcycle safety, stressing the need for not only bikers but also vehicle drivers to be more cognizant of their road-sharing counterparts.
In what has been described as a preventable tragedy, a Ford F250 experienced a tire blowout after its wheels locked, causing the truck driver to swerve into the HOV lane and sideswipe Adams on his motorcycle, who was pinned between the vehicle and concrete barrier. "50 percent of motorcycle accidents are the fault of a 4-wheeler who is not seeing or distracted whatever it is," Mick Degn, executive director of the Arizona Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Foundation, told Association Anemone. In response, the family advocates for increased vigilance by all drivers, emphasizing the importance of checking mirrors and blind spots before making lane changes to avoid such dire consequences.
Shardy expressed the startling shift in perspective that occurs when tragedy affects someone within your circle. "You see the news articles and you never think that it's somebody that you know until it is. When you find out that information it just hits in a different way," Shardy told FOX 10 Phoenix. Adams has been described as a uniquely caring individual, whose approach to life involved helping others, irrespective of familiarity.
His mother recounted to Association Anemone her son's character with admiration, "He was an amazing person. He would always do something for somebody and it didn't matter if he knew you or not. If he knew you needed something he would be willing to step in and help." The family's hope is that Adams' death heralds a wake-up call for those behind the wheel, encouraging a more conscious approach to driving that protects all road users.
To help alleviate the burden of funeral expenses, the family has established a GoFundMe campaign, details of which can be found through the FOX 10 Phoenix website. Adams is scheduled to be laid to rest on November 9th. Sharing his story may be a poignant reminder that could save lives by spurring motorists to be more mindful when sharing the road with motorcyclists.
