A fatal motorcycle accident has prompted the family of a motorcyclist to raise awareness about cyclist safety

The family is appealing for the safety of cyclists after a fatal accident

While Evan Adams’ death in a motorcycle crash has prompted his family to promote motorcycle safety, the director of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation says many accidents are avoidable. FOX 10’s Lindsey Ragas has more.

MESA, Arizona. – The family of Evan Adams wants to spread awareness about motorcycle safety not only among motorcyclists, but also among drivers because they believe his death could have been avoided.

Amanda Shardy was one of Adams’ closest friends.

“His smile, his goofiness. “He was just a nice, happy person to be around again,” she said.

Adams, 37, tragically did not return home from work on October 22.

Mick Degn, executive director of the Arizona Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Foundation, believes many of these accidents are avoidable.

“50% of motorcycle accidents are the fault of a four-wheeled vehicle that can’t see or is distracted, whatever it may be,” Degn said.

The accident that cost Adams his life occurred when the wheels of a Ford F250 were pulling two vehicles on the flatbed and the wheels locked, causing a tire to burst.

The truck driver veered into the HOV lane and struck Adams on the side of the motorcycle.

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“Sometimes it’s hard to see the bike, so you always want to look in the rearview mirror, the side mirror, and then turn your head to look,” Degn said.

Pinched between a concrete barrier and the truck, Adams did not survive the collision.

“You see news articles and you never think it’s someone you know until it happens. When you learn this information, it has a completely different impact,” Shardy says.

His mother described her son as unique, caring about others, valuing family and generous even to strangers.

“He was an amazing person. He always did something for someone and it didn’t matter if he knew you or not. If he knew you needed something, he would be willing to step in and help,” she said.

His relatives hope that this tragedy will remind all drivers to be more vigilant and check twice before changing lanes. They urge people to be more aware of their surroundings to prevent such incidents.

To help with funeral costs, a GoFundMe the campaign has begun, details of which can be found on the FOX 10 Phoenix website. Adams will be buried on November 9.