Lubbock biker community share concerns on riders not wearing helmets after serious crashes

LUBBOCK, Texas — Following two serious motorcycle crashes this past weekend in Lubbock, a local biker community is pleading with its groups to protect themselves as they ride after both victims were not wearing helmets.

The Lubbock Police Department identified the first victim seriously hurt in a Saturday morning motorcycle crash as Robert Blanco, 30.

According to LPD, Blanco was not wearing a helmet and was taken to University Medical Center by EMS with serious injuries.

Wyoming Fowler, 30 was another victim who was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash Sunday afternoon in West Lubbock. According a report, Fowler was also not wearing a helmet and was transported to UMC with serious injuries.

“I have seen several bikers lately that are riding around with no helmet on and that makes no sense to me,” said Biker with 806 rides, Trae Cole. “How do you see all these posts about all these bikes going down all these people going to the hospital and you still want to ride with no helmet.”

Cole said he knows firsthand the severity that comes with motorcycle crashes after getting in three since he started riding.

He said his helmet has saved his life. From shattering his leg twice, having it rebuilt both times, and dozens of road rashes, through it all, his helmet protected him in all three instances.

“It is a terrible thing to not have a helmet. I’ve went down three times and if I [didn’t] have those helmets, I promise you I [would’ve] only went down once, and I wouldn’t have had a chance to go down two more,” Cole said.

Cole said another crash involving a member of his biker group was injured Friday night in a crash at 98th and MLK. Cole identified his friend as Ian Perez. As of Monday, Perez is still at the hospital unconscious.

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