A 41-year-old woman was killed Saturday while riding on a motorcycle during a charity benefit ride for a biker who had been injured in a previous crash.
Terri Fleagle was a passenger on a motorcycle that collided with the one in front of it shortly after noon on Route 30 between North Hills Road and Sherman Street, according to Springettsbury Township Police and York County Deputy Coroner Steve Cosey. The motorcycle behind it also crashed as a result, according to police.
Fleagle and the driver of her motorcycle and the driver of the motorcycle behind them were taken to York Hospital, police said. Fleagle was pronounced dead at the hospital of multiple blunt force trauma, Cosey said. No autopsy will be performed.
Police did not released the names of those injured.
Christopher Coccia, a member of American Legion Riders from Dallastown Post 605, said he was riding the motorcycle that was struck from behind. His bike went over and he suffered a minor scrape to his left arm that was treated at the scene.
Coccia said about 60 riders from the Legion post were traveling from Red Lion when the crash occurred. He was about 10 rows from the back of the pack of 30 rows of bikes.
"He just didn't slow down in time," Coccia said of the driver behind him.
Saturday's crash resulted in the second death during a local benefit ride in the past two years.
On Sept. 14, 2008, Michael C. Weigand Jr., 25, a part-time sergeant with Latimore Township Police and full-time patrolman with Eastern Adams Regional Police, died when the motorcycle he was driving was struck during a benefit ride in Adams County. The driver who hit Weigand - 35-year-old Earl M. Wright of York, who was not part of the ride - pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle.
Two experienced York County motorcycle riders - not involved in Saturday's benefit - said riding in groups is generally safer than riding alone.
"When they see a large group like that, people pay attention," said
Golihew said his organization stresses safety, including proper spacing, during their monthly meetings. He said most of the safety tips reviewed are "common sense."
"Most of our riders are older and have been riding for a long time and understand you don't get up on the guy you're riding behind," he said.
Carl Barley, a member of a group of York County law enforcement officers who ride, the Renegade Pigs, agreed with Golihew that riding in a group is safer, because drivers in other vehicles such as cars, trucks and SUVs pay more attention.
The danger in riding in a group is what Barley calls a "whip effect." In nearly every group, there is a front and a back. If the front speeds up and gets away from the back, the back then has to use a lot of speed to catch up. By that time, the front might be slowing down, Barley said.
"If you're not really paying attention . . . sometimes it's too late or close to being too late," he said.
Saturday's benefit run was for Marc L. Shutz, 60, a Dallastown man who was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash in March.
Shutz was riding his Harley-Davidson on Church Street in Seven Valleys about 7:50 p.m. March 19 when he crossed into the opposing lane and struck a utility pole, according to state police reports.
The ride started at End of the Rainbow Day Care in Red Lion and was headed to ManorCare South in York, where Shutz is now staying.
The crash closed Route 30 westbound for about three hours.
Call police
Springettsbury Township police ask that anyone with information about the crash call 757-3525 during business hours or through 911.
