The Irony: Motorcyclist dies from crash while protesting NY’s helmet law

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A bare-headed motorcyclist riding in protest of New York state’s helmet law crashed, struck his head on the roadway and died from his injuries, state police said on Sunday.

Philip Contos, 55, was riding among a large group of motorcyclists staging an organized protest ride in western New York near Syracuse against the state law requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets.

The Parish, New York, resident crashed on Saturday on Route 11 in Onondaga, New York, and was pronounced dead later at a local hospital, state Trooper Robert Jureller said.

“The doctor felt that the death could have been prevented if he simply had been wearing a helmet,” Jureller said. “He hit the brakes, lost control, was ejected and struck his head on the road. He suffered a skull fracture.”

This feels like one of those times my mother told me “don’t do that, you’re gonna hurt yourself,” and I did it anyway. And hurt myself I did.

The law is there to protect lives, do you have any idea how many deaths can be prevented by just using a helmet while riding a bicycle or a motorcycle? It’s not like you have your trusty seat-belt, and let me remind you the ground is not made of cotton.

This is certainly tragic.