Police investigate a fatal motorcycle crash Thursday evening on Interstate 86 in Horseheads. (WENY photo)

A Horseheads man was killed Thursday night when his motorcycle collided with another vehicle on Interstate 86 in Horseheads.

According to news reports, Horseheads village police said 30-year-old Shawn Stanton entered Interstate 86 westbound at the exit 52A entrance ramp at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Police said a short time later, Stanton’s motorcycle was involved in a collision with a pickup truck that was towing a trailer. Stanton was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

As is often the case in motorcycle crashes, the police are quick to blame the biker, but the crash is still under investigation. It should be investigated thoroughly. In my experience handling motorcycle crashes, police agencies often blame crashes on the motorcyclist when my own investigation determines it was not the biker’s fault. Assumptions about speed, skid marks, crash damage, and stopping distances that officers learned studying car crashes simply don’t apply to motorcycle dynamics.

Stanton, a native of Binghamton, was the manager of the Five Guys restaurant on Consumer Square in Big Flats. Our thoughts and prayers are with Stanton’s family.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident to call the village police department at 607-739-5669.

The westbound lanes near the crash scene were closed for about three hours Thursday evening and traffic was detoured as police investigated. The investigation continues.

This is the second fatal motor crash this week in the Twin Tiers. On Sunday, Deedee Carnes, 48, of Bath, was killed while riding as a passenger on a motorcycle in Tioga County, PA.

Thank you for reading,

ZiffLaw Attorney
info@zifflaw.com