Montgomery County has seen nearly 100 motorcycle crashes so far in 2024

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Fort Campbell community is mourning the loss of 30-year-old Sergeant Nicholas Smith, who died on Saturday after a motorcycle crash.

Smith’s is one of many motorcycle-related crashes in Montgomery County, which is on track to surpass the total number of motorcycle crashes that the area saw in 2023.

As of Tuesday, numbers from the Department of Safety and Homeland Security showed that Montgomery County has seen 97 motorcycle crashes since the beginning of 2024. By the end of June, the county had seen nearly 20 more motorcycle crashes compared to that same time in 2023.

“Just because you don’t ride on two wheels doesn’t mean that a lot of people that surround you every day while you’re communing or riding around do,” Appleton Harley-Davidson General Manager Evan Noel said. “The motorcycle community is growing.”

Noel urged motorcyclists and non-motorcyclists to consider taking a motorcycle safety education course.

“I’ve ridden a motorcycle since I was a child,” Noel said. “I took the class at 18,19 years old and it was completely invaluable.”

Lisa McClain, an administrator for the Montgomery County Driver Safety Program, said that the county is actively studying motorcycle crashes through the Clarksville-Montgomery County Traffic Safety Task Force.

McClain added that speed was the biggest factor among area motorcycle crashes. She said that multiple motorcycle crashes had also occurred while motorists were taking left-hand-turns at intersections.

Drivers are encouraged to use turn signals, look twice before changing lanes, and for motorcyclists and drivers to avoid weaving in between traffic, McClain said. Noel added that motorcyclists should always wear proper gear, including a helmet, and make sure their bike is in working order.

“Something I see a lot of times that motorists don’t typically tend to check the safety features of their bike before they ride,” Noel said. “I always encourage a pre-ride checklist.”

Noel urged all drivers to leave extra room for motorcycles and to be especially cautious at night, as most motorcycles only have one headlight.

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“I’ve been riding motorcycles my entire life and the last thing I want to hear about is any sort of accident, especially on two wheels,” Noel said.

Appleton Harley-Davidson offers a two-and-a-half day riding academy year-round for $299. Military discounts are available. Completing the course allows Tennessee Motorcycle License applicants to have their skills and knowledge tests waived.

News 2 reached out to the Clarksville Police Department to talk about motorcycle safety and crash numbers, but were told that no one was available to speak Tuesday.

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