First, a man died in Tampa on I-4 after his motorcycle crashed into the rearend of a tractor trailer.  Rafael Colon was killed after being run over by at least two vehicles on the Interstate in Tampa.

Then, Friday night, Algernard Brown, of St. Petersburg was critically injured after his motorcycle crashed at a high rate of speed on 18th St. South in St. Petersburg.  Brown was not wearing his helmet and is very seriously injured. 

Finally, Monday afternoon Kevin Lund of Frostproof was killed when he struck the right front portion of a Ford F-150 pickup which was turning left at the time of the crash. 

All three of the crashes were preventable.  Perhaps all motorists, including those driving motorcycles need to remind themselves that one mistake or careless error can cost a life on the roadway. 

The Florida Highway Patrol has begun a campaign to address the growing number of motorcyclist fatalities in Florida.  The campaign, dubbed "Ride Proud. Dress Loud" seeks to draw attention to what it sees as a major cause of the number of motorcycle accidents-other drivers simply don't see them. 

In 2006, the most recent data available, 521 Florida motorcyclists were killed on the road, up from 441 in 2005.