Family of motorcycle crash victims dedicate time, money to stop South Shore accidents

WEYMOUTH − Behind the black and yellow signs on overpasses throughout Weymouth that read "Motorcycles are Everywhere," there are broken hearts and broken bodies, but unbroken spirits.

They're the spirits of people who have been affected physically and emotionally by motorcycle accidents, and those who are determined to prevent future crashes.

Mayor Robert Hedlund issued a proclamation Tuesday designating the dates between March 25 and April 30 as a "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Period." At the ceremony, Hedlund recognized a Weymouth Water Department worker and father of two, Patrick Jordan, who recently returned to work after suffering grave injuries in a motorcycle accident last September.

A few dozen people gathered inside the Weymouth Department of Public Works facility to hear the proclamation Tuesday. The crowd included town employees, police officers, motorcycle safety advocates and several families affected by accidents.

Paul Cote, coordinator of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Motorcyclist Association, thanked those in attendance for their support, noting that "every little bit adds up to a lot."

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Cote began his advocacy more than 20 years ago when he organized a charity ride to support the family of fallen Essex motorcyclist Nelson "Nellie" Selig. That fundraiser evolved into the Massachusetts Motorcyclists' Survivors Fund, which continues to provide financial assistance to injured and fallen motorcyclists and their families. The fund helped Jordan with his bills during his absence from work.

"Don't wait for someone to ask you," Cote said. "If you see something wrong, fix it."

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In September, Jordan was returning from Cape Cod to his Plymouth home when a woman driving with a suspended license turned left in front of him at an intersection, he said.

"She hit me and then took off," Jordan said.

The accident left Jordan with a rod in his lower left leg and a five-month recovery period before he could work again.

"It helped keep the bills paid," Jordan said of the Motorcyclists' Survivors Fund. "It kept food on the table and a roof over my wife and kids' heads while I was out of work and couldn't make any money."

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Also in attendance were Rockland's Michael and Lisa Garner, whose 24-year-old son Michael died in 2017 when his motorcycle struck a delivery truck that had backed into a 50 mph flow of traffic.

"He was our only child," Lisa Garner said.

In their son's honor, the Garners established "Legacy 24," a nonprofit that raises money and organizes awareness campaigns to help prevent accidents like the one that claimed their son's life. They also contribute money to the families of fallen riders.

"Mortgage payments, bills, funeral expenses − we help with all of that," Michael Garner said.

Elisa Mello, of Pembroke, lost her husband, Brian Mello, 16 years ago when a driver failed to check twice before turning left at an intersection. The same accident put her brother into intensive care.

"We were married eight months. I was a young widow. Who do you turn to?" she said.

The trauma led Mello to help others facing the financial and emotional difficulties that stem from unexpected loss. She joined Cote and the Southeastern Massachusetts branch of the Motorcyclists' Survivors Fund in 2008. She also organizes the annual "Brian's Ride," which raises money for victims and survivors.

"Others won't have to go without help or resources," Mello said.

In his proclamation, Hedlund noted the need for people to "increase their knowledge of the rules of the road and the rights and responsibilities of all roadway users."

An avid rider himself, Hedlund said he used to commute by motorcycle to the State House, where he was a state senator from 1996 to 2015. During his time on Beacon Hill, Hedlund and Cote collaborated on six bills, including the 2002 law establishing a safety awareness month and another that incorporated motorcycle awareness into the driver's education curriculum.

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Reach Peter Blandino at pblandino@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Motorcycle safety takes center stage after Weymouth employee's crash