Vienna, NY (July 22, 2026) – A motorcyclist from Canastota died Wednesday evening after a two-vehicle crash on State Route 13 in the town of Vienna, according to the New York State Police.
Troopers say the crash happened at approximately 5:05 p.m. on State Route 13. The preliminary investigation found that Ryan A. Lyke, 37, of Canastota, was riding a 2022 Harley-Davidson motorcycle northbound when a 2020 Nissan Frontier traveling southbound attempted to make a left turn into his path. The vehicles collided as a result.
Lyke was transported to Rome Health, where he was pronounced deceased. The pickup truck was operated by Leo G. Seaton, 90, of Camden.
The New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit responded to process the scene. A Drug Recognition Expert also responded and determined there were no signs of impairment by the driver of the pickup truck.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details may be released as State Police continue their review.
Source: New York State Police.
This is a developing story, and details may change as the investigation progresses.
A crash like this changes everything in an instant, for the person riding and for everyone who loves them. When a left turn goes wrong on a road like Route 13, the family left behind is often the one left asking what happens next.
Motorcycle Accidents in Upstate New York
Motorcyclists are about 24 times more likely to die in a crash than someone driving a car, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. New York has recorded hundreds of motorcycle fatalities over the past decade, and left-turn crashes, like the one that killed Ryan Lyke on State Route 13, remain one of the leading causes on rural highways across Oneida, Onondaga, and Madison counties. These crashes happen because a driver waiting to turn misjudges how fast an oncoming bike is closing, not because the rider did anything wrong.
If this happened to you or someone in your family, the fault almost certainly does not rest with the motorcyclist, and New York law does not require your loved one to be entirely blameless for a claim to succeed. A claim can help cover medical bills, lost income, funeral costs, and the harder-to-quantify losses like pain and suffering or the support a family member provided. None of that undoes what happened, but it can mean not carrying costs that were never yours to bear.
One thing worth knowing early is that the other driver’s insurance company will likely reach out fast, and often sounds sympathetic while asking for a recorded statement. That statement typically gets used to reduce what they eventually pay, so it’s fine to wait until someone is representing your side before saying anything. It also helps to hold onto the motorcycle, gear, and any nearby camera footage, since it can disappear or get repaired before an investigation wraps up. New York gives two years to file after a death and three years after an injury, though evidence has a way of fading long before either deadline arrives.
None of this is something a grieving or recovering family should have to sort out alone, and you don’t have to. This is exactly the kind of case a motorcycle accident attorney handles every day.
Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Stanley Law Offices has been representing injured riders and families across Upstate New York for more than 90 years. Attorney Joe Stanley is Board Certified in Civil Trial Practice by the American Board of Trial Advocacy, a distinction held by a small fraction of attorneys nationwide, and our Upstate NY motorcycle accident attorneys team has taken on cases insurance companies expected to walk away from, including clients other firms had already turned down.
We don’t just file paperwork and wait. We work directly with State Police to track collision reconstruction findings, negotiate with insurance adjusters who are trained to minimize what they pay, and prepare every case as if it’s going to trial, because that preparation is often what gets a fair settlement offer in the first place. Our attorneys and paralegals stay in direct contact with clients through every stage, so you’re never left wondering where your case stands.
We handle motorcycle accident cases across Syracuse, Binghamton, Watertown, Rochester, Oneonta, Cortland, and throughout Upstate NY on a contingency fee basis. There’s nothing to pay upfront, and no fee unless we win your case. Call 888-997-3889 for a free consultation. We are available 24/7 for you.
