Family remembers father who died in crash after hitting deer

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — A Henderson County family is mourning the loss of their father after a weekend accident.

“I just miss talking to him. I want to call him right now and ask him questions but I can’t do it,” says John Lapradd Jr.

John Lapradd Jr. says his dad died after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a deer on Highway 41 near Robards last night.

“The person that first saw it says it was a 10-point buck. He says the deer was well over 250 pounds,” says Kayla Lapradd, John Lapradd Jr.’s wife.

Lapradd says his father turned 54 in August and died doing what he loved, riding motorcycles.

“He had a need for speed. He loved riding motorcycles and working on cars,” says Lapradd.

Lapradd says his dad was a family man and taught him how to work on cars.

“He was loved. Working on cars … that is something that we both loved to do and that is something he taught me,” Lapradd says.

Lapradd says his dad was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. As he remembers his father, he and his wife are also using the accident to encourage others to protect themselves.

“Don’t ride at night. Always wear a helmet. He did not have a scratch on him, except for the back of his head,” the couple says.

“If you strike a 150 to 260 pound deer, it does not take much to throw you off that motorcycle,” says Trooper Corey King with the Kentucky State Police.

Trooper King says KSP the state sees an average of 3,500 crashes involving deer each year. He says a large portion of them happen during the months of October and November when the deer are the most active.

“Deer are on the move and this is the time of year when they come out of their safe haven and venture out don’t the roadways. When you see a deer, we recommend slowing down, and do not fear the deer. Sometimes we see people try to maneuver and lose traction, and then they overcorrect their vehicle and hit something like a tree, utility pole, or come into the path of an oncoming vehicle,” Trooper King says.

The Lapratt family says the community is helping them through this hard time. The couple says several friends have brought over food and checked on them. The couple also says donations can be made to the Johnny LaPradd Memorial at Field and Main. They say the money will help John Lapratt’s wife.

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