Oklahoma roads proved deadly for four motorcyclists on Friday and Saturday, authorities said.
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The latest fatalities add to a grim total. At least 31 motorcyclists have died in Oklahoma since May 1 — more than half the number killed in all of 2006, the last year for which statewide totals are available.
The state Department of Public Safety and motorcycle vendors said increasing gasoline prices have led to more motorcycle sales and more new cyclists. And, it seems, more tragedy.
•Jason Charles Patterson, 34,Mooreland
Patterson died Friday in Blaine County north of Watonga, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said.
About 5:30 p.m., a pickup driven by Ginger Lynn Merrill, 33, of Enid tried to pass a stopped vehicle on northbound State Highway 8, the patrol said.
Merrill hit the stopped vehicle, which was trying to turn left, and then Merrill's vehicle struck Patterson's southbound motorcycle head-on, the patrol said.
Patterson died at the scene.
•MacNeil D. Passi, 26, Anadarko
Passi died Friday in Caddo County west of Anadarko, the patrol said.
About 5:35 p.m., Passi was driving west on Park Road at a high rate of speed when he tried to pass a pickup attempting to turn left, troopers said. His motorcycle struck the pickup.
Passi was thrown from his motorcycle and died at the scene, the patrol said.
•Charles E. Hedvig, 25, OklahomaCity
Hedvig died Saturday in Oklahoma City, troopers said.
About 2:25 a.m., Hedvig was westbound on an elevated section of Interstate 44 just west of N Western Avenue when he lost control on a curve and struck a barrier wall, troopers said. He was thrown from the motorcycle, over the barrier and onto a vacant lot below the freeway.
Hedvig died at the scene, troopers said.
•Unnamed man, Oklahoma City
A motorcyclist died after being hit by a van Saturday night, Oklahoma City police said.
About 7:30 p.m., the cyclist was trying to turn onto Eagle Lane from eastbound NE 10 when he was struck by the westbound van, police said.
The motorcyclist died at the scene. No one in the van was injured.
Fatal car accidents
Four people died in car or pickup accidents, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Norman police.
•Ronald E. Main II, 20, Beaver
Main died Friday in Beaver County north of Beaver, the patrol reported.
About 11:30 p.m., Main was southbound on U.S. 270 when a northbound pickup driven by David Ratliff, 38, of Forgan drifted left of center on a curve, troopers said. Ratliff's pickup struck Main's car on the driver's side, and both vehicles went into a ditch. Main died at the scene.
•David Gallagher, 54, Haworth
Gallagher died Friday in McCurtain County east of Idabel, troopers said.
About 11:35 p.m., Gallagher was westbound on State Highway 3 when a car rear-ended Gallagher, forcing his pickup off the right side of the road, troopers said. Gallagher's pickup rolled and came to rest on the driver's side. Gallagherdied at the scene.
•Farrah Lloyd, 23, Wister
Lloyd died Saturday in Le Flore County south of Summerfield, the patrol said.
About 6:35 a.m., Lloyd was southbound on U.S. 271 when her pickup ran off the right side of the road and struck several road signs, troopers said. She overcorrected, ran off the road to the left and struck a tree. Lloyd died at the scene.
•Unnamed woman, Norman
A woman died in Norman about 12:10 p.m. on Saturday.
The woman was driving southbound in the 3900 block of S Classen Avenue when she tried to make a U-turn. A car struck the woman's driver's side, forcing her vehicle into a parked car. The woman and a passenger were taken to Norman Regional Hospital, where the driver died.
