Buffalo, NY (August 5, 2026) – Galen E. Owens, 32, of Lockport, New York, died after a motorcycle crash on the Oak Street on-ramp to I-190 northbound in Buffalo, according to New York State Police. Troopers out of SP Buffalo, Troop T, responded to the crash at approximately 5:00 p.m. on August 5, 2026.
Investigators determined that Owens was riding a 2016 Yamaha motorcycle on the ramp at a high rate of speed when he struck a concrete barrier on the curve, police said. The motorcycle became airborne and struck a concrete support for I-190, according to police. Owens and the motorcycle came to rest on the ground approximately 42 feet below the highway.
Owens was transported to the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.
The New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Buffalo Police Department are assisting in the investigation, police said.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
A high-speed crash that ends in a 42-foot fall from a highway leaves behind more questions than most families are prepared to face on their own.
Fatal Motorcycle Accidents in Buffalo, NY
A fatal motorcycle crash like this one leaves behind physical evidence that does not last long. The motorcycle, the roadway curve, and the concrete barrier can all be altered, repaired, or removed within days, so preserving what is left matters early.
New York State Police have said Owens was traveling at a high rate of speed before the crash. The Collision Reconstruction Unit’s investigation is still open. A full review of a highway crash like this one typically looks at more than speed alone, including the curve’s design, the barrier’s placement, and the condition of the motorcycle itself.
Highway on-ramps present their own hazards for motorcyclists. Tight curves, banked pavement, and limited runoff space next to a concrete barrier leave little margin if a rider loses control, and little time to correct course before a fixed structure is in the way.
What a wrongful death claim in New York can cover:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Lost income and financial support the family depended on
- Loss of companionship and guidance
- Pain and suffering the victim experienced before death
Steps that help protect a family’s claim:
- Request a full copy of the police report and reconstruction findings once released
- Have the motorcycle inspected and preserved before it is repaired, sold, or scrapped
- Avoid speaking with any insurance company about the crash without a Buffalo motorcycle accident lawyer present
- Do not sign a settlement or release before it has been reviewed by an attorney
New York follows a pure comparative fault rule, so a rider’s own speed does not automatically end a claim. Even when a rider’s actions are part of the story, a family may still recover damages for wrongful death, reduced only by the rider’s own share of fault.
Under New York law, a wrongful death claim generally must be filed within two years of the date of death. In this case, that deadline falls on August 5, 2028.
Contact Our Buffalo Personal Injury Attorneys
Losing a family member this way leaves behind grief and a long list of unanswered questions, and no family should have to chase those answers alone.
Stanley Law Offices has built more than 90 years of combined legal experience handling serious motorcycle and wrongful death cases across New York. Our Buffalo personal injury attorney helps clients with motorcycle, car, truck, and other serious accident cases across the region.
The barrier, the roadway curve, and the motorcycle itself are all examined early in an investigation like this one. That evidence does not wait for a family to feel ready to look at it.
Call us for a free consultation. We’re available 24/7 for you. We work on contingency. There are no upfront costs to talk with us, and no fee unless we recover for your family.
