Motorcyclist deaths surge on Victorian roads, leaving families in grief

SOME 24 motorcyclists have been killed since New Year’s Day — only six fewer than all of last year — leaving police searching for answers and families in grief. READ THEIR STORIES

Leanne Jokic. Leanne Jokic is the partner of motorcycle crash victim Tim Pysarenko. Leanne and Tim' three children, 2 year old Liam, 10 week old Emma and 1 year old Taylor. Picture: Eugene Hyland

FATHERS, sons, brothers. These are the faces of motorcyclists who have lost their lives on Victoria’s roads this year.

A total of 24 riders have been killed since New Year’s Day — about one every three days. Last March, the tally was just nine, and the toll for all of 2015 was 30.

This year’s shocking statistic has left police and road safety authorities searching for reasons for the spike in deaths of riders — all men.

The death toll has left families and friends grieving, and many children ­fatherless.

Ages of the dead ranged from 18 to 75, but most were aged over 35.

The toll includes Tim Pysarenko, a Carrum Downs father of three children aged under three; Simon Carter, a married off-duty Moonee Ponds policeman; and 22-year-old Ben Capuano, a go-kart racer.

Simon Carter.

Police this weekend launched Operation Nexus — a safety blitz to reduce the carnage on our roads.

Today, the Herald Sun launches a ­campaign to raise motorcycle safety awareness among both riders of the bikes and other motorists.

Katrina Riley, whose 75-year-old father, Bob Knight, died on the Mansfield-Whitfield Rd on February 25, backed moves to make the roads safer for everyone.

“My dad was so loved and will be dearly missed. Please bring as much awareness as you can to this tragic issue,” Ms Riley said.

Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer, himself a motorcycle rider, has said the victims are not “faceless men in black helmets”.

Robert Knight died on Mansfield-Whitfield Rd on February 25.

Police have tried to discover a pattern in the crash data, looking at the times of crashes, the road conditions, rider error, driver error, and any alcohol and drug use.

But the only common factor so far has been a hot dry summer luring more motorcyclists out on to the roads.

“It is statistically significant that we are up 200 per cent,” Mr Fryer said, “but it appears to be an aberration.

“We do know that the long-term trend data highlights that riding a motorcycle in Victoria — when looking at 20-year trend data — has never been safer.”

In a touching Facebook tribute to her father Branislav Nikolic, who died 13 days ago in Cranbourne West, Branka Nikolic said: “Words can’t describe how much you will be missed and how much our hearts are grieving over such a beautiful man.

“At least I know you were happy in your last moments doing what you loved most.”

Branislav Nikolic died 13 days ago in Cranbourne West.

Many of the 24 victims were experienced riders, including bike enthusiast Jason Saultry, 43, who hit a tree in Eltham late on March 27.

Mr Fryer said none of the deaths appears to be the result of filtering — riding between lanes of slow or stationary traffic — which became legal last November.

About six fatalities appear to have been caused by errors by other road users.

After 61-year-old Brian Hoskins was killed in Drouin on February 23, a 4WD driver was charged with culpable driving, dangerous driving causing death and unlicensed driving.

And on Labour Day, a driver hit from behind a motorcyclist who was waiting at a red light in Traralgon.

Nine of 24 motorcyclists who have died on our roads this year.

Nine victims were unlicensed riders, some of them on unregistered bikes. One was not wearing a helmet.

The Victorian Motorcycle Council’s John Eacott said unlicensed riders were not representative of motorcyclists, who were at risk daily from distracted drivers: “We need a campaign to urge motorists to lift their game.”

Mr Eacott said motorists were isolating themselves in the cocoons of their vehicles, unaware of what was going on around them on the road.

Road Safety Minister Luke Donnellan described the motorcycle toll as “alarming and unacceptable”.

He said that while most riders were skilled, more must be done to prepare riders before they got out on the road.

That included a new graduated training system, and encouragement to use correct safety gear and ABS brakes.

Independent Riders Group spokesman Damien Codognotto said it was difficult to pinpoint the cause for the spike in deaths because the collection of crash information was inadequate.

He said key details, such as exact locations and models and engine capacities of bikes, were not recorded. Also, if a rider hit an object off road, the type of object was not identified in official data.

“Was it a bus stop; was it a lamp post; was it a gum tree? They don’t know, because they don’t know the exact location,” he said.

A family lost in grief

Leanne Jokic, the partner of motorcycle crash victim Tim Pysarenko, with their three children Liam, 2, Emma, 10 weeks, and Taylor, 1. Picture: Eugene Hyland

CARRUM DOWNS mum Leanne Jokic treasures one photograph above all. It’s the only image she has of her partner, Tim Pysarenko, and their three infant children.

Tim, 39, died instantly in a motorcycle crash on February 24, leaving Liam, 2½, Taylor, 1, and Emma — born on Boxing Day — without a father.

The photograph was taken just a week before Tim was killed in the collision with a car on Seaford Rd, near the Frankston Freeway on-ramp.

It was 9.30 on a warm, dry Wednesday morning. But the circumstances of the crash are still unknown, sharpening the family’s grief.

Leanne and Tim met four years ago, and were deeply in love. Leanne described Tim as her soulmate, a beautiful person who adored his children.

“He was always so happy,” she said. “He loved his kids unconditionally — he was such a great father.”

Leanne Jokic says partner Tim Pysarenko unconditionally loved his three children, of which Emma, 10 weeks, and Liam, 2, are pictured. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Tim’s sister, Julie, said he was a careful, cautious rider who did not try to keep up with other more skilful riders and who avoided riding at night.

“He was confident, but not too confident, if you know what I mean. It’s such a shock.

“None of us were prepared for this.”

The family has rallied around Leanne to comfort her and to help raise the children, and ensure that they learn all about their father.

“They were so in love, from the time they first met,” Julie said of Tim and Leanne.

“It’s such a tragedy.

“The kids just don’t understand. I feel for them. It’s just horrible. They don’t know how to keep memories of their dad alive.

“I’m lucky. I’ve got lots of memories, and I’ll share them with all three.”

Tim, who worked as a plasterer but was able to turn his hand to many jobs, was central to the extended family, making his loss tough for everyone.

“My big brother, he was the first boy I ever learnt to love.

“And no one can take that away,” Julie said. She ­recalled the day Tim bought his Honda CBR sports bike, taking it around to show his parents and sisters.

“He was just so happy,” Julie said.

Bike caution fails to save Dion

Pam Machen, grieving mother of Dion Bentham, 41. Picture: Mike Keating

DION Bentham, 41, was your typical country bloke. Big-hearted, hardworking, and loved by his family.

His mum, Pam Machen, remembers him as a loving son who is missed every day by younger brother Luke and big sister Kylie.

He was killed when his Triumph Sprint ST was hit by a cattle truck near Dumbalk North, in South Gippsland, on January 28.

“We’re still devastated and just numb.

“We had such a strong bond,” Ms Machen said.

“Dion was just a beautiful person.”

Ms Machen said her son had been an experienced and cautious motorcycle rider.

“Luke and Dion would talk and warn each other about hazards on the roads. They were best mates.

“We had a big funeral — he was very well respected, and so many people are still grieving because of his loss.”

One of the many tributes to flow after Dion’s death came from a small farming community in Queensland’s Lockyer Valley.

They remembered Dion well from when he volunteered to help families after the devastating floods five years ago.

“Dion was such a nice guy. He did something for everyone. He was always out to help people,” Ms Machen said.

Dion worked as a rigger as well as a crane driver and scaffolder, and had been employed at the Hazelwood power station for several years.

Ms Machen sympathises with the truck driver involved in the accident.

“They are going to struggle. I feel for them, too. How horrible for them,” she said.

“They have to live with that for the rest of their life.

“But we have lost a very special son and a brother.”