A man is in jail following the death of a motorcyclist near Pittsburgh this weekend.

The motorcycle accident occurred around 3 a.m. Saturday. The 34-year-old motorcyclist was riding east on Route 989 near Harmony when he was struck by an approaching truck, which was traveling west and crossed the center line. The motorcyclist was thrown from his motorcycle after the two collided. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The truck rolled over, but landed on its wheels. The 24-year-old attempted to flee the scene but was caught about a half a mile later. When he was taken into custody, his blood-alcohol content was determined to be .17. Anyone in Pennsylvania is considered to be intoxicated above the .08 mark.

The man has now been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a valid license and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

This is an unfortunate incident for several reasons. First, it resulted in a persons’ death. Nothing will ever bring the motorcyclist back to life and now his loved ones will have to go on without him. It is also unfortunate that the truck driver’s life has been forever changed by his mistake; if the police’s allegations are correct, at just 24 years old he is looking at severe penalties as well as a life lived knowing someone is dead because of his irresponsibility.

Everyone has a responsibility to drive safely on the roads. If you have been hurt by someone who did not follow this maxim, you may want to speak with a personal injury attorney. This attorney will know how to go about seeking recompense for your injuries, medical bills and lost work time.

Source: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, “Ambridge man charged with homicide in motorcyclist’s death,” 17 July 2011.