Memorial Day 2012 Marked by Two Memphis Motorcycle Crash Deaths

Memphis police reported the deaths of two on May 28, 2012, when the motorcycle they were riding crashed only two minutes into Memorial Day morning.

According to Sgt. Karen Rudolph of the Memphis Police Department, 53-year-old David Hopper, of Bartlett, and his 41-year-old female passenger, Glenna Scott, were traveling north on Kirby-Whitten when their motorcycle crashed into a light pole off the roadway just north of Reese.

Hopper was employed by the gas, light and water company here and Scott was part owner of Hadley’s Pub.

Both, after being thrown from the motorcycle in this Memphis motorcycle crash, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Memphis Fire Department.

Hopper, a Bartlett resident, was just about to retire from Memphis Light, Gas and Water after 26 years there. According to MLGW, Hopper is the third employee of the company to be killed in a motorcycle accident this year. According to Milton Bluitt, Supervisor Hopper will be missed, “He was a real outgoing person, he loved the outdoors. He rode his motorcycle all the time. He was a good hearted person and would do anything to help other techs here.”

His friends remember him fondly and noted that both of the deceased were parents.

Friend Roye Richardson said, “You work your life away and something like this happens. That’s what’s sad . . . We’ve lost two great people.”

Another friend went to the scene of the accident and gathered pieces of Hopper’s bike, mementos of what all described as “his passion”. Yet another fellow rider said, “it’s for the freedom of the road. We ride for charity events.”

Police have not announced the cause of the crash, but say that Hopper lost control of the bike and hit the pole.