“2024 was a bad year for motorcyclists”: Father of four killed in accident in northwest

SAN ANTONIO — It’s a heartbreaking trend that’s been reported on too often in San Antonio this year.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reports a 7% increase in motorcycle fatalities statewide from 2022 to 2023. Of those cases, fatal crashes at intersections increased by 21%.

Justin Lopez, 30, died while riding his motorcycle last Sunday when a woman pulled out of an intersection in front of a HEB on the Northwest Side.

Thanks to a collaboration between local stakeholders and the Bexar County Judge’s Office, efforts are now underway to improve motorcycle safety.

“He enjoyed it so much. The joy on his face after the ride was like that of a kid in a candy store,” said Justin Lopez’s wife Angelica.

Angelica met her husband Justin a few years after graduating from Marshall High School.

“He was my best friend for the rest of my life,” she told us.

Justin and Angelica had no idea that they went to the same high school at the same time.

“He was so funny. He was the funniest person I’ve ever met. I thought I was funny, but he was funnier than me, and that’s what drew me to him immediately. He had this smile that no one can top. That’s what made me fall in love with him,” Angelica explained.

Justin was new to horse riding. Angelica says it was something he always wanted to do.

“He had a big fan of self-taught motorcycles. Then one of his good friends actually gave him his first motorcycle,” she said.

On June 23, Justin was riding his motorcycle down Babcock Road, approaching Huebner, when he was struck by a woman who was driving out of HEB, according to San Antonio police.

Justin succumbed to his injuries. He had just celebrated his 30th birthday.

According to SAPD, no charges will be filed against the driver.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Angelica said. “I was crying. I was screaming. It was really hard because I had just talked to him.”

According to TxDOT, nearly 600 motorcyclists were killed in crashes in Texas last year and more than 2,400 riders were seriously injured.

“2024 was a bad year for motorcyclists,” said Flash Lucich, the Texas Council of Clubs and Independent Riders’ independent representative for Region 7.

Lucich himself has had some tricky situations.

“I post videos of my near misses on the highways,” Lucich said. “It helps me a lot because I like to take a little safety break every Friday.”

On Wednesday, Lucich met with representatives from Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai’s office.

“We want to try to raise awareness of some of the issues that affect motorcycles, such as motorcycle safety, and promote a better image of motorcyclists,” Lucich explained. “We don’t all drive too fast. We’re not all daredevils.”

With the help of the judge’s office, Lucich is now talking with local construction companies to help make construction sites safer for all motorists.

“For a week, 17 passengers were lost due to construction,” he said when interviewed by KENS 5 for this article in May.

Lucich said he is currently working with the court to draft a proclamation to raise awareness of motorcycle safety.

The next steps will be to begin similar discussions with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office and San Antonio Police Department, Lucich added.

Angelica is committed to improving safety and encourages others to think twice about buying a motorcycle because a life depends on it.

“Justin wasn’t just a guy on a bike. He had a family.”

Justin’s family is raising money for his funeral expenses and to support his four children. Click here to donate to their GoFundMe page.

To help prevent accidents, TxDOT has issued the following safety tips during May, Motorcycle Safety Month:

• Check yourself. Always remember to look for motorcycles nearby. This will help your eyes and brain to better detect motorcycles on the road.
• Look twice. Use your turn signal and check your blind spot before changing lanes.
• Turning left? Avoid turning in front of an oncoming motorcycle. It can be difficult to judge the motorcycle’s speed and distance, so let the motorcycle pass first and always use your indicator to warn it.
• Be especially careful at intersections. More than a third of all fatal motorcycle accidents occur at intersections.
• Keep your space. Maintain a safe distance. Motorcyclists can reduce their speed by shifting down a gear, which will not activate the brake light. Treat motorcycles like cars by giving them a full lane when driving or overtaking.
• Slow down. Obey posted speed limits and drive according to conditions.
• Stay alert. Concentrate fully on driving. Even a brief distraction can have fatal consequences.