“Wake me up from this nightmare. What happened can’t be real.”
Two brothers have died in separate motorcycle crashes less than a year apart from each other, leaving their families completely heartbroken. Their other brother also lost an arm in a horrific workplace accident a few months ago.
Michele Brugnaro was the first to die, in a motorbike accident on November 2 last year. In May, their brother Alessio, 42, lost an arm while trying to free the fork of a stuck forklift at his workplace. On Saturday, August 9, a third brother, Andrea, 47, died in almost identical circumstances to Michele.
It’s believed he lost traction and went off the road after making a couple of overtakes on his Benelli motorcycle. He slammed into a concrete structure near a bridge in Loreggia — north-west of Venice, Italy — sustaining fatal injuries.
Paramedics arrived quickly but could not save him, as reported by NeedToKnow. Michele, 31, died in a near-identical accident in Resana when his motorcycle veered off the road as he tried to brake for an elderly cyclist crossing outside a crosswalk.
He was thrown several yards and died, while his partner and the cyclist were seriously injured. Andrea’s brother-in-law, Massimo, told local media: “After Michele’s death, Andrea had changed. He had lost too much and carried that grief on his shoulders.
“Michele was almost like a third child to him, only 10 years older than his eldest son.” Andrea was an experienced bricklayer and led a bricklaying team at a company in Rubano.
He was devoted to his wife, Alice, and their children, Daniel and Noemi. In his free time, he enjoyed hunting and motorcycles. Friends described him as a careful rider.
His funeral will be held on Thursday, August 14, in Loreggia. Andrea is survived by his parents, Maurizio and Ornella, who said: “Wake me up from this nightmare. What happened can’t be real.”
How common are motorcycle accidents?
Motorcyclists are seen as vulnerable road users since they don’t have the protective shell of a car. They’re harder to spot and face a much greater risk of death or serious injury in accidents compared to those in cars.
Accidents that involve motorcycles tend to lead to fatalities and severe injuries. For instance, in the UK, motorcyclists are 50 times more likely to die in an accident than car drivers, as reported by Injury Lawyers 4u.
Many motorcycle accidents happen because other drivers don’t notice the motorcycle, especially at intersections. Other factors, like driver mistakes, road conditions, and even rider errors (like riding under the influence), can also play a part. Using defensive riding techniques, boosting driver awareness, and wearing proper safety gear (such as helmets) can help reduce these risks.