A late-night motorcycle crash on Welshtown Road in Washington Township, Lehigh County left one rider dead Monday, after investigators say he lost control near the 3000 block and went off the roadway. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:51 p.m. The Lehigh County Coroner later determined the cause of death to be multiple blunt force injuries and classified the death as accidental. Officials have not yet released the rider’s name while they work to notify family members.
Coroner: rider lost control, left roadway
Investigators concluded the rider lost control of the bike, left the roadway and crashed. He was wearing a helmet at the time, according to Daily Voice. Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio pronounced the rider dead at the scene and ruled the manner of death accidental, citing multiple blunt force injuries. The same report identifies the motorcycle as a Honda CMX500 and notes that Pennsylvania State Police troopers from the Bethlehem barracks are assisting the coroner’s office with the investigation.
How the coroner’s office handles crash deaths
The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office is responsible for conducting death-scene investigations, authorizing autopsies and issuing official cause and manner determinations, duties outlined in its Lehigh County annual report. Those investigations typically involve coordination with local police departments, the county crash team and state troopers in order to collect scene evidence and medical findings. County materials explain that the coroner’s rulings rely on a combination of scene observations, autopsy results and, when appropriate, toxicology testing.
State and national crash trends
Motorcyclists continue to account for a disproportionate share of traffic deaths nationwide, and safety advocates routinely point to helmet use as one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of a fatal crash. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that helmets are about 37% effective at preventing motorcycle deaths and about 67% effective at preventing brain injuries. Pennsylvania’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration federal highway safety plan lists motorcyclist fatalities and unhelmeted rider deaths among its performance targets and countermeasures. The numbers highlight the particular danger riders face on rural and suburban roads, where a single loss of control can quickly turn deadly.
Authorities have released few personal details about the rider so far. Daily Voice notes that loved ones can share memories or information with the outlet using the email listed in its report. Investigators are asking anyone who may have relevant video footage or who witnessed the crash to contact the Pennsylvania State Police or the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office. This story will be updated if officials release the rider’s identity or additional details about the crash.
