A weekend ride along Highway 66 ended in tragedy last Saturday when a 68-year-old motorcyclist lost control of his bike and crashed into a roadside ditch in Hunt County. Authorities identified the rider as George Bee and said he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Crash details
The single-vehicle wreck happened around 6:45 p.m. last Saturday on Highway 66 near County Road 2112, according to FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth. The Texas Department of Public Safety told the station that Bee was heading south on the highway when he lost control, sending the motorcycle sliding into a ditch. DPS said he was not wearing a helmet and died at the scene. Investigators have not yet determined what caused him to lose control.
Helmet rules and safety
Texas law requires motorcycle operators and passengers under 21 to wear protective headgear. Riders 21 and older can qualify for an exemption if they have completed a state-approved motorcycle safety course or carry certain health insurance coverage, as outlined in Texas Transportation Code §661.003.
Federal safety researchers have long argued that helmets dramatically improve survival odds. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates helmet use cuts the risk of fatal head injuries by roughly 37 percent, according to NHTSA, a figure that often anchors public safety campaigns.
Statewide trend
Bee’s death comes amid a troubling trajectory for motorcyclists on Texas roads. Nearly 600 riders were killed in 2024, and more than 2,500 were seriously injured statewide, the Texas Department of Transportation reported in its most recent summary, as noted by TxDOT. The agency has responded with its "Share the Road" campaign, urging drivers to look twice for motorcycles and reminding everyone that riders have far less protection than people in cars when something goes wrong.
Investigation ongoing
The Texas Department of Public Safety is continuing to investigate the crash and has not released additional information, according to FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth. Troopers are expected to complete a formal crash report, which could include witness statements and a reconstruction of the scene, before publicly identifying a probable cause.
