Published: August 17, 2006 08:04 am      

Police urge caution following rash of motorcycle crashes

Police are warning motorists to be more aware on the road following a rash of wrecks involving motorcycles.

Two motorcyclists have died and one was injured in three separate crashes this week. Chester Mastalerz II, 22, of Richmond, was driving a Honda motorcycle on Boggs Lane in Richmond around 2:30 p.m. Monday when he was struck by an oncoming car. John Yellman IV, 22, of Lexington, was driving on the Eastern Bypass when he allegedly ran a red light, striking Mastalerz on the left side, Richmond Police Sgt. Willard Reardon said.

Mastalerz suffered several cuts and bruises as well as a possible fractured ankle, Reardon said. He was transported to Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries and released.

“Motorcycle riders have to be defensive drivers,” Reardon said. “Motorcycles are smaller and not as visible and people in cars have a tendency not to see them.”

It is important for those driving cars to remember that motorcycles are much more maneuverable than vehicles and can switch lanes quickly, Reardon said.

“It’s not like having a car in the lane behind you,” he said.

A Corbin man was killed Saturday in Madison County when his motorcycle struck a tree. Estill King, 62, was driving a 1998 Yamaha V Star motorcycle on KY 21 about 1.5 miles west of Berea when he approached a curve. King was unable to make the curve and ran off the roadway, said Kentucky State Police Sgt. Joel Woods. King was pronounced dead at the scene by Madison County Deputy Coroner Carlos Coyle.

King was riding with other motorcyclists at the time of the crash, but Woods said no one else was involved in the wreck. Whether or not the road was wet at the time of the crash is unknown. King was not wearing a helmet.

“Even though it isn’t the law, the best thing is to wear a helmet,” Woods said.

A Mount Vernon man who died Aug. 8 in a motorcycle crash was not wearing a helmet either, police say. Warren Eckland, 63, was driving a 2006 Harley Davidson in the 500 block of Scaffold Cane Road in Berea when he was struck by a car. James Richardson, 19, of Berea, was making a left turn in a 1986 Ford Escort when he struck Eckland, according to a police report.

“It appears that ... the driver of the vehicle just did not see the motorcycle,” Berea Police Chief Dwayne Brumley said. “I’m not sure there’s anything the motorcyclist could have done to enhance visibility.”

The majority of motorcycle-related crashes involve two things, Brumley said -- inexperience and a lack of awareness.

“Motorists need to be aware of motorcycles out there and pay a little extra attention when making turns and lane-changing maneuvers,” he said.

Kelly Foreman can be reached at kforeman@richmondregister.com or 624-6694.