Fatal motorcycle accident prompts family of motorcyclists to raise awareness about motorcyclist safety

Family urges motorcyclists’ safety after fatal crash

While Evan Adams’ death in a motorcycle accident has prompted his family to promote motorcycle safety, a director of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation says many accidents can be avoided. FOX 10’s Lindsey Ragas has more.

MESA, Ariz. – The family of Evan Adams wants to increase motorcycle safety awareness, not only among motorcyclists but also among drivers, because they believe his death could have been prevented.

Amanda Shardy was one of Adams’ best friends.

“His smile, his goofiness. Again, he was just a nice, happy soul to be around,” she said.

Adams, 37, tragically never came home from work on October 22.

Mick Degn, executive director of the Arizona Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Foundation, believes many of these accidents are preventable.

“50% of motorcycle accidents out there are the fault of a four-wheeled vehicle not seeing or distracting from whatever it may be,” Degn said.

The accident that cost Adams his life occurred when the wheels of a Ford F250 locked, causing two vehicles to be towed on a flatbed trailer, resulting in a tire blowout.

The truck driver swerved into the HOV lane and sideswiped Adams on his motorcycle.

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“Sometimes it’s hard to see a motorcycle and that’s why you always want to look in your rearview mirror and your side mirror and then turn your head to look,” Degn said.

Adams was pinned between the concrete barrier and the truck and did not survive the collision.

“You see the news articles and you never think it’s someone you know until it actually is. When you discover that information, it just hits you in a different way,” Shardy says.

His mother described her son as unique, caring for others, appreciative of family and generous, even to strangers.

“He was a wonderful person. He would always do something for someone and it didn’t matter if he knew you or not. If he knew you needed something, he would be willing to step in and help,” she said.

His loved ones hope this tragedy will be a reminder to all motorists to be more vigilant and check twice before changing lanes. They urge people to be more aware of their surroundings to prevent such incidents.

To assist with funeral expenses, a GoFundMe campaign has been created, with details available on the FOX 10 Phoenix website. Adams will be buried on November 9.