A 49-year-old Exeter Township motorcyclist died early Saturday after his bike collided with a minivan at the intersection of St. Lawrence Avenue and Shelbourne Road in Exeter Township, Berks County. The rider, identified by the Berks County Coroner’s Office as Larry Pergola Jr., was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died about an hour later. Officials said the cause of death remains pending as investigators continue to examine the scene.
According to NBC10 Philadelphia, the crash happened just after midnight on June 27 and involved a motorcycle and a minivan at the St. Lawrence and Shelbourne intersection. The coroner’s office provided Pergola’s identity and the timing of his death to the station and confirmed that the cause of death is still under review while evidence is collected. Authorities have not released any information about the driver of the minivan as the investigation continues.
Motorcycle safety in Pennsylvania
Motorcycle crashes remain a serious road safety concern in the state. Per PennDOT, there were 3,317 crashes involving a motorcyclist in 2024 that resulted in 219 fatalities statewide. National data from the NHTSA show Pennsylvania recorded 230 motorcycle rider fatalities in 2023, and a sizable share of those deaths involved alcohol impairment, which underlines common risk factors investigators consider after deadly collisions.
Investigation underway
The Berks County Coroner’s Office is overseeing the probe and will determine a formal cause of death after an autopsy and any required testing, officials said. NBC10 Philadelphia reports the coroner has listed the cause as pending while investigators continue to process the intersection and gather evidence from the crash site.
