ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — After three motor vehicle collisions this month led to the deaths of two motorcyclists and the hospitalization of another, Sergeant Michael F. Loukos of the N.C. State Highway Patrol shares several safety tips for riders and other motorists.
Deadly data
According to state data, motorcycle fatalities across North Carolina have exceeded 150 a year since 2023.
Statewide motorcycle fatalities
- 2025: 160
- 2024: 193
- 2023: 196
In Western North Carolina, there have been at least 10 motorcycle fatalities across Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania Counties in the last three years, with the majority occurring in Buncombe County.
Buncombe County, Henderson County, Madison County and Transylvania County motorcycle fatalities:
- 2025: 10
- 2024: 10
- 2023: 12
The Asheville area has seen three motorcycle accidents since July 1, 2026, one of which led to the death of Subastion James Samuel Cruz-Galyon, a 20-year-old motorcyclist from Canton, N.C.
“Over the last 5 years, 20-29 year olds represent about 27% of the fatalities that we’re seeing,” Loukos said. “I can also tell you that speed accounts for 33% of the fatalities.”
What causes motorcycle accidents?
Loukos serves as statewide coordinator for BikeSafe NC, a motorcycle training and safety education organization. The sergeant said that there are several factors that can cause motorcycle accidents, but that keeping an active lookout is a good method for their prevention.
“Motorcycles in North Carolina represent less than 2% of all registered vehicles, and people generally are not thinking about or looking for motorcycles because they’re not used to seeing them,” Loukos said. “Just having motorcycles on your mind can help mitigate that.”
Many motorcycle crashes occur close to work or home because riders are most comfortable and relaxed around those areas. According to the officer, motorcyclists should try to avoid becoming complacent anywhere on their bike.
“I tell people all the time, motorcycling should be somewhat mentally stressful. If you go on a long ride, when you get off that motorcycle, you should feel somewhat mentally stressed just from being that hyper vigilant. It’s not a place to relax,” Loukos said. “It should be enjoyable and motorcycling is fun, but you don’t want to relax too much because it does come with dangers.”
Loukos suggested a few strategies for motorcyclists to implement to make themselves more visible to other drivers.
“There are scientific reasons why other road users don’t see motorcyclists. There are some things we can do to try to mitigate that,” Loukos said. “Number one, stay within the laws. If you get outside of the speed limit or above the speed limit, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Number two, consider what you wear. Find something to help you stand out, something high-viz. And three, get some professional training, such as what we offer at BikeSafe.”
The benefits of BikeSafe
BikeSafe offers free, one-day motorcycle training sessions to riders across North Carolina. The classes are taught by trained motorcycle police officers at the local level and provide on-the-road assessments, allowing motorcyclists to receive safety tips in the field and classroom alike.
“We cover statistics. I think we can learn from statistics, even if they’re obvious,” Loukos said. “We also cover motorcycle handling and how to properly make maneuvers. It’s a class that’s designed for a wide range of experience. So, you know, whether you’re a brand new rider or someone who’s been riding for 30 or 40 years, you can benefit from this class.”
Loukos said that BikeSafe has been trying to enroll younger riders, especially, but that it has been difficult to find interested participants.
“It’s unfortunately a common theme, and we’re doing everything we can to promote motorcycle safety,” Loukos said. “It’s unfortunate that a lot of people, particularly young people, are just not interested in taking a motorcycle safety class. But hopefully, some of these serious crashes might be eye-opening for some of them.”
Riding a motorcycle can be exhilarating, but it should also be safe, the officer said.
“A lot of us were more daredevils when we were younger, willing to take on greater risks. Most of us who’ve ridden motorcycles growing up have had some close calls or even some crashes, and I think for a lot of us, it taught us that we weren’t invincible,” Loukos said. “Unfortunately, not everybody gets that experience.”
Available BikeSafe sessions can be found at www.bikesafenc.com.
