Motorcyclist killed in Antioch crash

WKRN Channel 2 News One man was killed in a motorcycle accident in the Antioch area overnight. Police said 32-year-old Shawn Lee Patrick and his brother-in-law, 36-year-old Ronald Mealer, were traveling eastbound on Franklin Limestone Road when Patrick he failed to negotiate a sharp curve and struck a tree at about 1 a.m. Tuesday. Patrick was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Mealer told investigators Patrick had been drinking earlier in the day. Police said speed also appears to be a contributing factor in the crash. Patrick was wearing a helmet. The curve on Franklin-Limestone Road just before Billingsgate Road is notoriously dangerous. "We have numerous crashes out here, so this is quite a common occurrence," said Metro police crash investigator Joseph Jakes. Police said the second motorcyclist would not face any charges in the crash. The popularity of motorcycles has increased over the years and with more bikes comes for deadly crashes. The Federal Government recorded about 2,300 motorcycle fatalities in1994. By 2004, that number had jumped over 4,000. Tennessee recorded 93 motorcycle deaths that year.