NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — In 2022, 149 motorcyclists died on Tennessee roads. In 2023, that number jumped significantly to 200 killed. So why are motorcycle deaths climbing?
By the time Konrad Thiele was 14, he was riding a motorcycle.
“My father, Konrad, he got me into bikes as soon as he could be on one…it’s been my life for a long time, for sure,” explained Thiele.
Thiele is keenly aware of the risk he takes getting on that bike: “There are some people who treat the interstate like it’s a track and, you know, they pay accordingly.”
Lt. William Head with Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) has witnessed that reckless behavior first-hand when he’s patrolling: “Wheelies and standing on seats and stuff like that, just ridiculous, ridiculous things.”
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When the worst happens and a motorcyclist crashes, Head sees the crash data first-hand, as well. He’s in charge of the Tennessee Integrated Traffic Analysis Network (TITAN).