Police investigating 3 motorcycle crashes within six hours throughout Pittsburgh area
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Police throughout the Pittsburgh area are investigating three separate motorcycle crashes that happened within a six-hour period on Sunday.
Two of the motorcycle crashes were deadly and took place in North Versailles.
In total from the three crashes, two people were killed and three others were taken to the hospital.
Two people hurt in Pittsburgh motorcycle crash
Police are investigating after a motorcycle crashed with another vehicle at the intersection of Forbes Avenue and South Dallas Avenue near the city's Squirrel Hill neighborhood.
The crash happened just after 4 p.m.
Pittsburgh Police say that both the motorcycle driver and passenger were taken to the hospital. One had a compound leg fracture and the other had scrapes and bruises.
Motorcycle driver killed, van driver injured in North Versailles crash
Around the same time, Allegheny County Police were called to help investigate a deadly motorcycle crash in North Versailles near the intersection of 5th Avenue and Westinghouse Avenue.
The crash involved a motorcycle and a minivan.
Allegheny County Police say that the driver of the motorcycle was taken to the hospital where they were pronounced dead. The man has been identified by the Medical Examiner's Office as 23-year-old Benjamin Petkovsek of Monroeville.
The driver of the van was also taken to the hospital and was last listed in stable condition.
Motorcycle driver killed after crashing with van in second North Versailles crash
Less than five hours after Allegheny County Police were called to North Versailles for the crash at Westinghouse Avenue and 5th Avenue, another deadly motorcycle crash took place in North Versailles.
This crash happened just after 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of Route 30 and Clyde Avenue and also involved a motorcycle and a van.
Allegheny County Police say that the motorcycle driver was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital. He has been identified by the Medical Examiner's Office as 27-year-old Darien Clark of Beaver Falls.
The driver of the van was not injured.
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
All three of these crashes come amid Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
Just about anyone who sees or hears about the recent string of motorcycle-involved car accidents wants to know, 'How can I make sure that never happens to me?' What does a driver of a car do to keep themselves safe from all motorcyclists?
WATCH: KDKA-TV's Barry Pintar reports
With all that responsibility for the car driver, a new generation of motorcyclists is beginning to see it differently. PennDOT, like many states, offers free driver safety courses for motorcyclists.
Nicky Mutschler is a 21-year-old pro motorcycle racer, and he tells everyone to take the course. He also says car drivers have to be aware as well.
"I know that the majority of fatal motorcycle accidents are the rider's fault. And that hurts me to say. I love bikes, probably more than most people. I've grown up on them, race them professionally, I work at a motorcycle dealership, but we have to talk about it, I don't want to stain the motorcycle community."
What's the No. 1 thing you can do? According to PennDOT, it is keeping your distance. They also say to always be aware that a motorcyclist can be right around the corner. Stay alert!
PennDOT lists 5 things you can do to feel better about sharing the road with motorcyclists.
- Be aware that motorcycles may be difficult to see. Check mirrors and blind spots.
- More following distance: leave at least four seconds when following a motorcycle.
- Always turn-signal your intentions.
- Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width as the motorcyclist needs the room to maneuver.
- Never drive impaired.
More information about the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program can be found online.