This year's Bike Week in New Hampshire was one of the deadliest in memory. Ten people died during the event, the highest total in at least six years, according to the New Hampshire Highway Safety Agency.

Police officers said that bikers'habit of riding too close to the center line might have contributed to the deaths. But they also warned against making rash conclusions about the death rate, noting differences between how and where the crashes happened.

In four of the six fatal crashes, a motorcycle or an oncoming vehicle had crossed the yellow dividing line, according to accident reports.

q In a June 9 crash in Stoddard that killed three motorcycle riders, the police said one motorcycle drifted across the yellow line and was struck by an oncoming SUV. But one of the motorcyclists who survived the crash said the SUV was the one that crossed the line.

q In a June 11 crash in Thornton that also killed three bikers, a car likely drifted across the center lane and struck one of the motorcycles, said Lt. John Scarinza of the New Hampshire State Police.

q On Friday, a man lost control of his motorcycle and hit a group of five other bikes on Route 104 in Danbury.

q On Sunday in Henniker on Route 202, a motorcycle collided with an oncoming SUV, said Detective Sgt. Ryan Murdough of the Henniker police. The biker was trying to pass other motorcycles during the collision.

The other two accidents were single-bike crashes. In another accident, a man lost control of his motorcycle and hit a tree. One woman riding a motorcycle with her husband died after a tree fell on her.

Scarinza, who owns a Suzuki motorcycle himself, said motorcycles have long traveled side by side, something he discourages.

"You're not leaving room for error," he said. "But for better or for worse, motorcyclists will say, 'Well, jeez, you know we understand that's the risk.'"

Scarinza pointed out that none of the crashes happened in the Lakes Region, Bike Week's hub. He said bikers often visit other places in the state, instead of remaining only in Laconia.

While the police encouraged bikers to use helmets, helmets did not save five riders who wore them during the Bike Week crashes. The remaining five did not wear helmets, which aren't required for riders older than 18. Peter Thomson, coordinator for the state Highway Safety Agency, said helmets wouldn't help much in head-on collisions at high speeds.

The 10 Bike Week deaths are the most since the event was extended from eight days to nine in 2000, Thomson said. Nine people died in bike crashes during the 2004 event, and five people died last year.

Motorcycle deaths have increased on a yearly basis in New Hampshire, according to the Highway Safety Agency. From 1998 to 2003, the average number of motorcycle deaths was 20. In 2004, 27 people died, and in 2005, 42 people died. As of yesterday, 12 people had died from bike crashes this year.

Thomson has urged bikers to take training courses, offered by the state and private instructors. Of the 69 people who died in motorcycle crashes in 2004 and 2005, only three of the bikers had taken the training. He said the training would especially benefit newer bikers, many of whom are baby boomers who are riding for the first time or haven't ridden for years.

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