A Specialist assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died in a motorcycle mishap 5 September 2025, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, at 0750 local. The Soldier was riding his motorcycle when he collided with a turning school bus. Local authorities and emergency medical services personnel transported the Soldier to a local hospital, where he died. Additional information is currently unavailable. 

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of 30 Soldiers a year to motorcycle mishaps. This mishap was the 27th motorcycle fatality of FY25 and below the number of fatalities for this same time last year.

Safety Tips

Just as motorcycle lane position is a critical part of intersection management, so is making sure you’re visible to other drivers. Intersections are dangerous for motorcycle riders, but optimizing your visibility to other drivers can go a long way toward preventing mishaps and saving your life. Skilled motorcycle riding experts follow these best practices when approaching an intersection to maintain their vision of the road while also making sure everyone else has a good view of them.

• Metacognition – Put yourself in the driver’s seat of each of the vehicles around you and ask if they can see you. The answer to this question should always be “yes.”
• Presentation – Present yourself in a way that makes your presence as obvious as possible. When everyone is completely aware of your presence, it’s less likely that you’ll be involved in a motorcycle crash at an intersection.
• Lane Selection – Decide which lane to choose when you’re approaching a larger intersection. In most cases, motorcyclists find that the left lane is among the safest for them because we can easily be seen in that position. Staying in the left lane will help put extra distance between any other vehicles merging or turning onto your street.
• Motorcycle Lane Position – As a general rule, it’s best to stay in the third of the lane that allows you the best opportunity to see and be seen. You also need to choose a position that keeps you farthest away from the nearest vehicle. Choosing correct lanes and lane positions will give you more escape routes and more time to react. It’s important to make an informed decision about your lane positioning and how your position will help with your presentation to the other vehicles.
• Motorcycle Passing – Motorcyclists are at greater risk of getting lost in another driver’s blind spot. Presentation is especially important while passing. Think about the other drivers near you and where their blind spots are; stay aware of when other drivers might lose you in their own mirrors. Minimize the time you spend in another driver’s blind spot.
• Turning a Motorcycle at an Intersection – Avoid waiting until the last minute to set up for your turn, as we see crashes resulting from improper entry speed or lane position. Get into the correct lane in advance of your turn. Once you get into the correct lane, it’s also time to reconsider your positioning within the lane. Plan the line selection of your turn in advance and make sure you have enough space to execute the turn successfully.