One of the most unenviable duties law enforcement officials across the nation and here in New York have is informing families that their loved ones were killed. No one wants to tell a parent, spouse or child that a loved one was in a fatal accident. Worse than giving this type of news, however, is receiving it.In fact, at last report, police were still attempting to notify a family of the death of a motorcyclist. The motorcycle rider was heading southbound on Route 12 when the accident happened. At some point in the journey, a vehicle traveling north attempted to make a left turn into the path of the motorcycle. The car slammed head-on into the motorcycle.The rider was thrown off his bike and landed on the side of the road. By the time emergency medical personnel and officers with the New Hartford Police Department got to him, he had already passed away. The driver of the car was not injured.The Collision Reconstruction Unit with the New York State Police is assisting the New Hartford Police Accident Reconstruction Unit with the investigation, which is ongoing. Numerous witnesses are being interviewed in an attempt to gain an understanding of what happened. Officials did not indicate whether any charges are being contemplated against the 23-year-old woman who was driving the car.Hopefully, officials will have answers for them when the victim's surviving family members are notified of his passing. They retain the right to file a wrongful death claim seeking restitution for the damages sustained in connection with the fatal accident. If the court determines that the motorcyclist died due to the negligence of another, an award of damages may be entered.
