The influx of tens of thousands of motorcycles that roared through Northwest Arkansas last weekend didn’t result in any fatal accidents, according to area law enforcement.
The Police Department received 19 calls of accidents involving motorcycles during this year’s Bikes, Blues & BBQ rally, which began Wednesday and ended late Saturday.
Mike Reynolds, deputy chief, said injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to broken bones.
“One guy broke his femur around the first day after he hit a telephone pole near Wyman and Crossover,” he said. “There was also a lady with a broken collarbone around Friday. It was a one-vehicle accident and she lost control of her trike.”
Only a few motorcycle accidents were reported in the Springdale and Rogers area, which is about average for any given weekend, police said.
Lt. Jeff Drew with Arkansas State Police said 20 motorcycle accidents were reported to his agency in Benton, Washington and Carroll counties, 17 of which involved injuries.
Police arrested 27 people in the Dickson Street area over the weekend. Residents accounted for nearly half of those arrests.
The majority of charges involved public intoxication, disorderly conduct, driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest.
Police also issued five citations near Dickson Street. Two were issued for criminal trespass and one each for disorderly conduct, reckless driving and obscene material. There were five reports of stolen motorcycles in Fayetteville and two were recovered.
Overall, Reynolds said this year’s Bikes, Blues & BBQ resulted in fewer incidents requiring police response.
He said police arrested 32 people last year and made 46 arrests in 2009.
About half as many citations were issued this year compared with last. In 2009, Fayetteville police issued 17 citations.
“I think it’s a combination of the culture of attendees along with the discretion our officers use,” Reynolds said.