In honor of the seven members of a motorcycle club who died in a tragic accident last month, thousands of bikers from across the United States met in Laconia, New Hampshire, on July 6 to take part in a memorial ride to pay their respects.
The seven members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club, referred to as “The Fallen 7,” died in a fatal crash involving a collision with a pickup truck on Route 2 in Randolph, New Hampshire, on June 21.
“I don’t think any of us can understand how these families are doing,” Jane Young, New Hampshire Deputy Attorney General, said in a press conference. “I don’t think that the word devastation can begin to describe the pain and the anguish.”
The memorial ride started at the Broken Spoke Saloon in Laconia at noon and traveled in procession to the scene of the crash at around 3 p.m.
The Jarheads Motorcycle Club that the seven deceased belonged to is made up of U.S. Marine Corps veterans and their families.
Users shared videos and posted photos to Twitter documenting the ride.
One user on Twitter said volunteers at the event estimated over 3,000 participants, and that prayer was held before the ride started.
Moment of prayer before the ride for the fallen 7 begins. We won’t have official estimates until end of the day but volunteers for the event are estimating over 3,000. pic.twitter.com/hH9scIwPOa
— Sarah Gibson (@schadgibson) July 6, 2019
American Military News posted the memorial event information on Twitter.
Ride for the Fallen 7: Local bikers organize memorial for victims of motorcycle crash in NH https://t.co/pCi5H6d5uV pic.twitter.com/Ov9Cs9lJAs
— American Military News (@AmerMilNews) July 1, 2019
Seven Charges of Homicide
The driver of the 2016 Dodge 2500 pickup truck, identified as 23-year-old Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, was arrested at his home in West Springfield, Massachusetts, at approximately 8 a.m. on June 24 for the June 21 collision, according to the New Hampshire Department of Justice.
Zhukovskyy’s black truck, which had a flatbed trailer attached, was seen in flames on the side of the road at the scene, but he sustained no major injuries.
Zhukovskyy is now charged with seven counts of negligent homicide.
Hundreds Participate
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation and the New Hampshire Department of Safety both issued public advisory statements to seek alternate routes and expect delays during the memorial ride on July 6.
Travel Advisory: On Sat July 6th – Hundreds of motorcycles will be participating in the Ride for the Fallen 7 from noon to 3 pm. Several local Laconia roads, and Routes 104, 93 and 2 will see an increase in motorcycle traffic. Motorists should expect delays and seek alt routes.
— NHDOT (@NewHampshireDOT) July 5, 2019
New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) posted to Twitter that the event came to a successful conclusion.
“Over 3,000 motorcycles participated in the Ride for the Fallen 7 to remember those lives lost,” said HSEM.
#Ride4Fallen7 UPDATE 20: The ride and memorial service has concluded. Together, and with your cooperation, today’s event was a success. Over 3,000 motorcycles participated in the Ride for the Fallen 7 to remember those lives lost on June 21, 2019. #ReadyNH #NHHSEM pic.twitter.com/z4t1VSKNTE
— NH HSEM (@NH_HSEM) July 6, 2019
