It was a deadly weekend for motorcyclists in Western New York, as five people — four

motorcycle operators and one passenger — were killed in accidents between early Saturday

morning and late Sunday night.

That's five deaths within 46 hours.

The accidents occurred in Elma, Colden, North Tonawanda, Yorkshire and East Otto. Four of

the five fatal incidents were one-vehicle crashes, according to police reports; the other

involved a collision with a van.

Following the spate of fatal crashes over the weekend, the number of people killed in

motorcycle accidents in Western New York since April 1 has jumped to at least 14.

Experts cite several possible explanations for the rash of accidents ending in death or

serious injury this spring: a steady, significant rise in the number of motorcyclists; the

annual springtime launch of motorcycle season, when operators rush back onto the roads, and

other drivers aren't used to seeing them; a rash of younger operators driving with a

"video-game mentality;" a tendency of older motorcyclists to wear sporty "peanut" helmets; and

the lack of attention from other motorists preoccupied with texting and cell phone calls.

To some observers, the most startling fact about the five fatal accidents over the weekend

may have been the ages of the drivers. All four of the motorcycle operators involved in one-

vehicle crashes were in their 50s.

That doesn't surprise motorcycle safety experts.

Many of the older motorcycle drivers, the ones who got their licenses in the 1970s, now can

afford larger, more powerful motorcycles.

Trooper Art Pittman, a motorcycle-safety officer from the State Police at Niagara, cited

another factor concerning the operators in their 50s, or older.

"Some wear a low-profile, novelty helmet," he said. "They're getting head injuries and

fatalities even from low-speed accidents — ones they should be walking away from."

Referring to the rash of accidents this spring, Pittman also put some blame on the

non-motorcycle drivers, who often aren't paying full attention, whether they're texting,

talking on their cell phones or listening to loud music blaring from car stereos or iPods.

"Motorcyclists can keep themselves safer by wearing the proper helmets and taking a

motorcycle safety driving course that will make them better defensive drivers," Pittman noted.

"And we in law enforcement have to crack down on the cell phone users and texters and

aggressive drivers."

The latest accident occurred late Sunday night, when a 48-year-old Springville woman was

killed after she was ejected from the back of a motorcycle that went off Route 240 in Colden,

state police at Boston reported.

Beth Szymanski, of South Vaughn Street, was pronounced dead at the scene, following the

incident that occurred at about 10:15 p.m., troopers said.

The southbound motorcycle, operated by Ronald L. Tackentien, 54, traveled across the

northbound lane and onto the east shoulder, where the driver lost control, state police said.

Both Tackentien and Szymanski were ejected.

Tackentien, of Collins, was taken to Erie County Medical Center with injuries described in

the police report as minor. After administering a blood-alcohol test, troopers charged

Tackentien with vehicular manslaughter; felony driving while intoxicated, because of a

previous DWI conviction; and other traffic charges, police said.

Also late Sunday night, Michael A. Stoldt, 29, of Lancaster, died in Erie County Medical

Center, where he had been listed in critical condition following a motorcycle-van crash late

Saturday afternoon in Elma.

State police said a van heading north on Bowen Road and driven by Norman Verbanic, 79, of

Elma, turned into the driveway of the Elma Library without yielding to the southbound

motorcyclist. Though Stoldt was ejected from the cycle before it hit the van, the force of the

impact hurled the motorcycle onto him as he lay on the shoulder of the road, police added.

Investigators say they're considering ticketing Verbanic for a traffic violation, for

failing to yield the right of way.

The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office investigated another fatal motorcycle crash at

about 7:30 p.m. Sunday, when a West Falls man's motorcycle missed a curve on McKinstry Road in

Yorkshire.

Daniel H. Lynch, 50, of Davis Road, struck a guardrail and a sign post, suffering full body

trauma, sheriff's deputies said. He was thrown from his motorcycle and pronounced dead at the

scene.

Saturday night, Charles L. Bailey, 50, of Cattaraugus, was killed after he lost control of

his motorcycle on Hammond Hill Road in East Otto.

The vehicle struck a ditch, ejecting Bailey from the motorcycle. Bailey, who was wearing a

helmet, was flown by Mercy Flight to ECMC, where he later died of injuries to the upper body,

according to the Cattaraugus County sheriff.

Early Saturday morning, Wallace R. Kozakowski, 56, of North Tonawanda, was killed when his

motorcycle went off Sweeney Street in North Tonawanda and struck a utility pole.

Kozakowski was eastbound on Sweeney Street, near South Meadow Drive, when his vehicle left

the road at 12:16 a.m., ejecting both him and his passenger, Paula Kobel of North Tonawanda,

police said.

Both were taken to ECMC, where Kobel, 48, was listed in good condition Monday. Kozakowski

was pronounced dead in the Medical Center about an hour after the crash.