A 48-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene Tuesday night after a head-on accident involving a motorcycle and a semi-truck. The accident occurred on Route 20 in Hamburg, New York.
The motorcyclist, who has been identified as Allan Wittmeyer, was headed westbound on Route 20 just south of Lakeview Avenue. He crossed the yellow line and collided with the eastbound semi-truck.
Police do not know why Wittmeyer crossed onto the wrong side of the road, and their investigation is ongoing.
Wittmeyer is remembered as an active member of the Hamburg community and a dedicated youth sports coach.
The truck caught fire following the crash and the cab “completely burned up,” according to Lt. Michael Lavelle of the Hamburg police. Fortunately, the driver managed to escape through the passenger side door without injury. The truck driver’s name has not been released.
Route 20 was closed overnight as hazmat crews cleaned up the scene. Police have not said what the truck driver was carrying that necessitated the cleanup. The cargo was bound for Canada.
This motorcycle accident is a tragic reminder of the danger that riders face on our roads every day. Though it seems that the motorcyclist was at fault in this case, many collisions are caused by inattentive drivers who don’t notice motorcycles in adjacent lanes due to their small size.