The gut-wrenching photos and story of bikers mourning a riding buddy during a memorial ride should serve as a heartbreaking reminder that the emptiness and grief felt by those who lose a family member in a motorcycle crash can be prevented.

A story on Page 1 in Sunday’s edition of the Eagle told the tale of a 40-bike memorial ride to commemorate the life of Tyler Coon, 29, who died after crashing his motorcycle on April 29 on Mars-Evans City Road in Forward Township.

The bikers revved their engines when passing the funeral home where Coon’s body waited to be laid to rest so he could hear his favorite sound one last time.

Some of Coon’s friends stopped at the site of the crash, where a simple cross surrounded by yellow flowers paid homage to a man who loved to ride his Harley-Davidson, according to his obituary.

Everyone who slides behind the wheel of their vehicle this summer — and every summer going forward — should stop and think about Coon’s family, who had to bury a much loved son, brother and grandson decades before his time.

Those pulling out onto any road should look left, right, then left again before proceeding, and motorcycles should never be followed closely.

Motorcycles should be given a wide berth on major highways, and on any road, in the interest of protecting every single biker following their passion on Pennsylvania’s roads.

The memorial ride for Coon was in part to raise awareness of biker safety. Bob Haffly, one of the ride’s organizers, said “We need people to pay better attention when they’re on the road.”

The Eagle heartily agrees with Haffly, and hopes the caring people of Butler County make a special effort to watch for motorcycles and stay alert (and off their electronic devices) all summer, so no other families will have to experience the heartbreak of losing a loved on who loved to ride.

— PG