According to Bangor police, a man from Lopatcong Township crashed his pickup into a group of motorcyclists last Friday just before 5 o’clock in the evening, leaving two men from Passaic County dead and six others injured.

The group of motorcyclists involved in the accident were reportedly members of the Last Chance Motorcycle Club, a motorcycle group of about 60 members dedicated to leading clean and sober lives. At the time of the motorcycle accident, they were en route to a funeral home in Gilbert, Pennsylvania for the viewing of a deceased fellow club member.

After the accident, the injured bikers were transported to local hospitals for treatments. As of Friday, their current condition was unknown. Sources said several individuals left the wake and came directly to the crash scene on Friday night. According to one club member, who wasn’t present at the time of the accident, the pickup had driven directly into the group of motorcyclists on the wrong side on the winding road.

District Attorney John Morganelli said alcohol played a part in the crash. The pickup driver, while not currently in police custody, will likely face charges.

The crash is currently under investigation by the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office, the Bangor Police Department and the Pennsylvania State Police.

The Last Chance Motorcycle Club has chapters in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Of all vehicles on the road, motorcyclists are at particularly heightened risk when it comes to highway crashes. Even where a motorcyclist takes necessary precautions to avoid an accident, not all accidents can be avoided. When they happen, they can be devastating to the victims, if not fatal.

Source: The Express Times, “Coroner identifies motorcyclists killed in Route 512 crash in Bangor – UPDATE,” Jim Deegan, 2 July 2011