Across the country and in states like Ohio, motorcyclists often enjoy riding their cycles well into the fall months. The thrill and joy derived from hitting the open road on a motorcycle is something that one 40-year-old father enjoyed sharing with his 8-year-old son. Sadly, a tragic motorcycle accident recently claimed both of their lives.

The 40-year-old man was known as many things to family and friends including army sergeant, art school graduate, outdoorsman and information architect. To his 8-year-old son, however, he was simply known as dad.

On a recent Saturday afternoon, the recently separated 40-year-old father took his 8-year-old son out for a ride on his motorcycle. While on that ride, the motorcycle collided with a dump truck that was turning into an auto auction that was driven by a 48-year-old man. The 40-year-old and his son sustained serious injuries and both subsequently died. The driver of the dump truck was not injured.

Specifics related to the fatal motorcycle accident are still being investigated. It’s very possible, however, that the driver of the dump truck failed to see the motorcycle.

Much smaller and more agile than other motor vehicles, motorcycles are often difficult to see. While the cause of this specific accident is not yet known, one can speculate that the motorcycle’s size and the dump truck driver’s failure to check his blind spots may have been factors.

Unfortunately individuals who are injured in motorcycle accidents often sustain serious and, as in this case, fatal injuries. Head and brain injuries, internal injuries and bleeding along with broken bones and extensive damage to skin and tissue are all common injuries suffered by motorcyclists involved in accidents.

Source: Boston Herald, “Kin mourn dad, son killed in motorcycle crash,” Laurel J. Sweet, Sept. 24, 2012