Lockport Motorcyclist Killed in Deadly Buffalo Highway Crash
State Police said the motorcycle struck a barrier, became airborne and fell about 42 feet beneath Interstate 190.
A Buffalo motorcycle crash killed a 32-year-old Lockport man Wednesday evening after his motorcycle struck a concrete barrier on an entrance ramp to Interstate 190, according to New York State Police.
The collision occurred at about 5 p.m. on August 5 on the Elm Street entrance ramp to northbound I-190 in the city of Buffalo. Police identified the motorcyclist as Galen E. Owens.
Motorcycle Struck Barrier on Curved Ramp
State Police said Owens was operating a 2016 Yamaha motorcycle at what investigators described as a high rate of speed while traveling along the curved entrance ramp.
The motorcycle struck a concrete barrier, became airborne and hit a concrete support structure beneath I-190, according to the police account. Owens and the motorcycle then landed on the ground approximately 42 feet below the highway.
Owens was taken to the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. The State Police release did not provide additional information about whether he was pronounced dead at the scene or after emergency personnel arrived.
Police also did not say whether weather, road conditions, mechanical failure or any other factors may have contributed to the collision.
Multiple Agencies Assisted With Investigation
The New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit and Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted with the investigation. The Buffalo Police Department also responded.
Collision reconstruction teams commonly examine physical evidence such as tire marks, vehicle damage, roadway design and the final resting positions of vehicles. Their findings can help investigators estimate speed and determine how a crash unfolded.
State Police had not announced any additional findings as of Thursday morning.
Motorcycle Crashes Have Increased Across New York
The fatal crash comes during a period of growing concern about motorcycle safety in New York.
Motorcycle crashes in the state increased by 31% between 2020 and 2025, according to the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research. State officials said speed remained the leading contributing factor in those crashes.
“Riding at high speeds continues to be the number one contributing factor,” state traffic safety officials said in a May motorcycle safety announcement.
New York health officials estimate that motorcycle crashes result in nearly:
- 5,000 riders being treated and released from emergency departments each year
- 1,200 additional hospitalizations
- 200 deaths from motorcycle-related injuries
Nationally, 6,228 motorcyclists were killed in crashes in 2024, accounting for 16% of all traffic deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Motorcyclists were nearly 27 times more likely than passenger-vehicle occupants to die per mile traveled.
Why Curves Can Be Especially Dangerous
Curved ramps require riders to reduce speed before entering the turn and maintain a safe path through the curve.
The New York State motorcycle manual says a primary cause of single-motorcycle crashes is riders running wide in a curve and striking the roadway, leaving the road or hitting a fixed object. It advises motorcyclists to remain within posted speed limits and adjust their lane position for the shape of the curve and surrounding traffic.
The state’s safety manual recommends four basic steps when approaching a turn:
- Slow before entering the curve.
- Look through the turn toward the intended path.
- Lean the motorcycle in the direction of the turn.
- Roll smoothly on the throttle while exiting.
Speed matters because higher speeds and tighter turns require a motorcycle to lean farther. A rider who enters a curve too quickly may have less time and roadway space to correct course.
Speeding Remains a National Road-Safety Threat
Speeding contributed to 29% of all U.S. traffic deaths in 2024, according to NHTSA. A total of 11,288 people died in speed-related crashes that year.
Those figures include drivers and passengers in many types of vehicles, not only motorcycles. Still, motorcycles offer far less physical protection than enclosed vehicles, making riders particularly vulnerable when a collision occurs.
Safety officials advise riders to:
- Obey posted speed limits
- Reduce speed before curves
- Wear a properly approved motorcycle helmet
- Avoid alcohol and drugs
- Leave adequate following distance
- Take professional rider-training courses
- Keep motorcycles properly inspected and maintained
New York operates a rider-funded Motorcycle Safety Program offering courses in turning, braking, obstacle avoidance, traffic strategy and protective equipment. Riders who successfully complete an approved basic course may qualify to have the standard motorcycle road test waived.
A Tragic Reminder for Riders and Drivers
The death of Galen Owens is another reminder that one mistake or moment of excessive speed can have irreversible consequences.
Investigators will determine whether other circumstances played a role in the crash. For now, the known facts point to a motorcycle entering a curved ramp at high speed, striking a barrier and falling from an elevated section of highway.
Motorcyclists and drivers share responsibility for safer roads. Riders must control their speed and remain alert to changing road conditions. Drivers must look carefully for motorcycles, allow extra following distance and avoid turning into their path.
As the summer riding season continues, New Yorkers can honor those lost in motorcycle crashes by slowing down, staying sober and treating every curve, intersection and highway ramp with care.
SOURCES
- New York State Police
- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
- Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
