Two North Texas men died after separate motorcycle crashes at intersections in Collin and Jack counties on October 11, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Darryl Cloyd, 61, of Lavon, died following a collision at State Highway 205 and County Road 485 around 1:20 a.m., Fox 4 KDFW reported.
Cloyd was riding a 2019 Harley-Davidson north on State Highway 205 when a BMW 750 entered the intersection from a stop sign on County Road 485, according to the preliminary DPS findings. Troopers determined that the BMW driver failed to yield the right of way.
The motorcycle hit the rear driver’s side of the BMW. Cloyd died at a local medical facility, according to the report.
The BMW driver, Darren Dahleiden, 24, of Plano, went to a local hospital with suspected minor injuries, per Fox 4.
Later that day, Gary Higginbotham, 82, of Mineral Wells, died in a crash around 6 p.m. at U.S. Highway 281 and U.S. Highway 380 in Jack County, Fox 4 reported.
Higginbotham was riding a 1999 Harley-Davidson Road King Classic west on U.S. 380 when he entered U.S. 281 and failed to yield to a northbound 2012 Nissan Xterra, according to the preliminary DPS findings Fox 4 reported.
The SUV struck the motorcycle. Higginbotham wore a helmet and died at the scene, the report said.
The Nissan’s driver, an 80-year-old man, and passenger, a 76-year-old woman, both from Montague, wore seat belts and suffered no injuries, according to Fox 4.
DPS continued investigating both crashes.
Texas recorded 600 motorcycle fatalities in 2023, compared with 413 in 2019, the Texas Department of Transportation reported in its motorcycle safety data portal.
Riders and passengers should wear DOT-approved helmets, and other motorists should watch for motorcycles, allow them ample space, and use turn signals, TxDOT advises.
