NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — As of publication, the Tennessee Highway Patrol has reported 275 motorcycle crashes across the state, with 14 of those being deadly.
At just 23 years old, Caleb LeQuire lost his life after crashing his motorcycle on Elm Hill Pike.
"He just was gone so early and just too soon," friend Richard Kim said.
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LeQuire had a smile that friends said could light up the room.
"If I had to describe Caleb in three words, I'd say he was someone that was highly ambitious, someone that was striving for independence and someone that was very fiercely loyal to his friends," Kim said.
Collin McCloud, another one of LeQuire's friends, echoed Kim's sentiment.
"No matter the situation — how dire it was — whether we had just gotten in trouble at school or whatever the case may be, I always knew I could count on Caleb to give me a big grin," McCloud said.
Caleb's friends have remembered the good times and are helping his family through this loss.
The Metro Nashville Police Department said on the morning of Feb. 26, LeQuire was headed westward on Elm Hill Pile when a van turned out in front of him. He died a week later.
"A motorcycle's a fun source of enjoyment. It's a great means of transportation — it's economical, but there are risks," Lieutenant Bill Miller with the THP told News 2. "There are a lot of inherent risks that come with a motorcycle."
"Motorcyclists can blend in to traffic extremely easily, so as a motorcyclist to avoid not being seen, you need to drive the speed limit," Miller added. "The faster you go on a motorcycle, the harder it is for drivers to see you."
You can follow this link to donate to a GoFundMe and support the LeQuire family's funeral costs.