Record Turnout Expected for Republic of Texas Biker Rally

June 14--Emergency medical workers say they have responded to four motorcycle-related incidents, including one fatal crash, since the official start of the Republic of Texas Biker Rally Thursday.

Crews also said they responded to one medical emergency late Thursday at the Travis County Exposition Center, which will serve as the hub to the weekend's ROT rally activities.

"Alcohol and no helmet appear to be factors in at least some of these incidents," said Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services spokesman Warren Hassinger.

Officials have said record turnout is expected for the Republic of Texas Biker Rally, which started Thursday and will host a downtown parade and party Friday night. The event has drawn about 200,000 spectators in recent years, and 2013 is expected to be no different.

Austin-Travis County EMS said the event's roster of medical calls began at 1:20 a.m. Thursday with a fatal motorcycle crash in South Austin along northbound Interstate 35 service road near West William Cannon Road.

For unknown reasons, a male driver lost control of a motorcycle, which left the roadway and struck a pole, officials said. A female passenger was killed and the driver, who officials say was not wearing a helmet, was seriously injured.

It was not yet clear early Friday if the pair were part of the ROT rally.

Late Thursday afternoon, emergency medical workers responded to a Northwest Austin call of a 58-year-old man who suffered minor injuries when he was struck from behind by another vehicle in the 9300 block of North Capital of Texas Highway, Hassinger said.

Shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday, a 35-year-old male motorcyclist in the 3500 block of Interstate 35 was evaluated by emergency medical workers after he was "forced to lay his motorcycle down," Hassinger said. The man refused further medical attention, Hassinger said.

About an hour later, a male motorcyclist at 8003 Decker Lane near the Expo Center suffered cuts to his head, among other possible injuries, when he was struck by an object thrown from a passing vehicle, Hassinger said. The man was taken to a nearby hospital.

Shortly after 9 p.m., a female pedestrian estimated to be in her 40s was struck by a golf car at the Expo Center and suffered an apparent ankle injury, Hassinger said. She was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, he said.

Outside of Austin, a motorcyclist was killed late Thursday in a crash in Llano County, officials said. The man was following his fiance on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle at an unsafe speed and went off the roadway and struck a fence, a Texas Department of Public Safety official said.

Central Texas law enforcement authorities say they will increase their presence on roads during the rally, targeting aggressive and intoxicated drivers to reduce crashes and fatalities during this year's event.

Austin police will also enforce a "no-refusal" drunken driving initiative until early Sunday morning.

During the rally last year, five people died in Austin -- three of whom were motorcyclists -- and a total of 175 crashes were reported. Since 2007, 10 riders have died during the event.

Police have said it is unclear whether all the deaths were rally-related.

Copyright 2013 - Austin American-Statesman