Virginia biker deaths up slightly

It's all preliminary mind you, but Virginia Department of Motor Vehicle officials say 2010's roll of the fallen is slightly up from 2009, but still lower than 2008.

According to DMV officials, rough estimates show about 77 riders died in 2010 compared to 71 in 2009 and 79 in 2008. That's less than a 10 percent hike compared to the mid-point of the year when deaths were up 19 percent for the first half compared to 2009.

It's also a bit surprising considering how heavy the burden of fallen SOBs was here in Jeffersonia with the loss of  Aaron Emerson Boyd, 29, of Charlottesville, who was associated with the Street Thunder Cats MC in Charlottesville; Victor L. Shifflett, 28, of Afton, Corey "Megatron" Guthrie, president of the Street Thunder Cats MC and winemaker and committed commuter/track rider Dan Neumeister.

It's good that the total wasn't any higher. Now if we can just get it lower.