Man dies, wife hurt in motorcycle crash
Fifth fatal wreck this year in township. Rider wore "novelty" helmet, cops say.
Monday, July 25, 2005
By RUSS FLANAGAN
The Express-Times
L. MT. BETHEL TWP. -- A Baltimore man traveling with a group of motorcyclists was killed Sunday and his wife seriously injured when he lost control of his bike along a stretch of Belvidere-Martins Creek Highway and struck a utility pole.
Pennsylvania State Police at Belfast said Johnny R. Meddings, 49, was headed north about 3:45 p.m. around a curve just south of Richmond Road when he crashed. Meddings and a passenger, Deborah Meddings, were thrown from the bike.
Deborah Meddings was flown by medical helicopter to St. Luke's Hospital in Fountain Hill with serious injuries.
An emergency radio report said Johnny Meddings suffered head injuries, but the Northampton County coroner made no official cause of death public on Sunday.
The wreck closed the stretch of Belvidere-Martins Creek Highway for about three hours while police investigated.
Police said Johnny Meddings was wearing a "novelty" helmet that is not approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Gov. Ed Rendell signed a law in 2003 that made wearing helmets in the Keystone State optional after 35 years of requiring the wearing of helmets by motorcyclists.
Meddings was the fifth person killed on township roads this year. The last fatal wreck occurred May 25 when 25-year-old Phillipsburg resident Mark Koppe tried to pass two stopped vehicles on his motorcycle and struck a traffic control signal box at Route 611 and Martins Creek-Bangor Highway.
Three other motorists lost their lives in wrecks late January, February and April on other stretches of road in the township.
Township officials said last month that a majority of the township's fatal crashes are attributed to human error, such as driving under the influence, drag racing or other reckless behavior.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Charles V. Palmeri said in an interview last month that the township is studying whether fatal crashes could be controlled by forming a township or regional police force, but doubted there would be enough money in the budget.
State police are currently responsible for patrolling township roads and handling other criminal matters.
Topic: "Novelty Helmets' Only work in a 'Novelty' crash II (Read 1692 times)