Biker on Ride Protesting Helmet Laws Hits Head, Dies

A motorcyclist who joined a helmet-less ride yesterday to protest New York's helmet laws died after flipping over his bike's handlebars and hitting his head on the pavement. Philip Contos, 55, was part of a large group riding down Route 11 in the town of Onondaga, near Syracuse, when he hit his brakes around 1:30 pm, causing his motorcycle to fishtail and spin out of control. Troopers told the Post-Standard that based on evidence at the scene and the attending physician's assessment, Contos likely would have survived if he had been wearing a helmet. (More motorcycle stories.)