Traffic moved along West 12th Street in Erie like it always does on a Thursday. Around 12:30 p.m. a motorcycle and a van met at Greengarden. The impact was sudden and final.
Lamar Smith sat on that motorcycle. He was 39 and called Erie home. The crash threw him down and ended his life before help could arrive. Officers pronounced him dead right there on the street.
Cops closed the intersection for blocks. Cars had to find other ways around. Investigators marked the road and took notes on speeds and angles. A van and a bike do not mix well when paths cross the wrong way.
People who drive that stretch know it can get tight. Greengarden feeds into West 12th with steady flow. Motorcycles sit lower and smaller than vans. One wrong move leaves little chance to recover.
Lamar never made it past that corner. His ride stopped cold in the middle of the day. The scene stayed quiet after the noise of the crash faded. Only the police tape and flashing lights remained.
Authorities keep working the case. They look for answers on who had the right of way and what each driver saw. No one wants another wreck like this on the same streets.
Erie drivers hear the same warning after every bad crash. Watch for bikes. Give them room. Patience on the road can keep a life going a little longer.
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