A New Orleans Police Officer died in a motorcycle crash last night, State Police say.
Ricardo Jesus Silva Jr., 26, of Bush, died in the St. Tammany Parish crash, State Police say.
Silva was riding a 2017 Honda motorcycle south on La. 1082 when a car turned left in front of him, according to State Police.
Silva’s motorcycle hit the passenger side of the car and he was ejected from the bike. He was wearing a DOT-approved helmet, but he was critically injured. Silva was transported to a local hospital, where he died, State Police say.
State Police say the driver of the car, Jennifer Robinson, 52, of Covington, was tested for impairment and none was found. The investigation is ongoing, and any criminal or traffic violations will be forwarded to the St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s Office pending the completion of the investigation.
According to data from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, 97 people in Louisiana were killed in motorcycle related crashes in 2017.Troopers urge motorists to always be on the lookout for motorcycles while driving. The implementation of slogans related to motorcycle awareness such as “look twice and save a life” and “watch out for motorcycles” should be second-nature to all who drive. Troopers would also like to encourage all riders to take an approved motorcycle safety course. These courses help you apply safe riding strategies that can help reduce your chance of injury should a crash occur. More information on the Louisiana Motorcycle Safety, Awareness, and Operator Training Program can be found at http://www.lsp.org/motorcycle.html.
