It was a holiday weekend filled with tragic irony in the riding community as three spate crashed brought home the dangers for motorcycle enthusiasts.

Even as the nation started its long weekend of celebrations for its independence two members of a motorcycle club formed to mark being clean and sober were killed by a driver who was allegedly intoxicated.

Keith Michaelson and Michael Zadoyko, who could boast two decades of sobriety each, were traveling with a pack of seven on a windy part of Route 512 in Bangor, Pennsylvania when a pick-up truck heading in the opposite direction crossed into their lane.

The group of riders, members of the Last Chance Motorcycle Club, were on their way to a wake for a member who passed away in Pennsylvania, according to a friend of the club. Reportedly, all of the motorcyclists wore helmets.

Driving the Pickup truck that collided with the motorcycles was as John P. Heaney III, 49, of Lopatcong Township. The truck and motorcycles were said to be going in opposite directions.

The District Attorney has told reporters evidence indicates alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash and while Heaney is not in police custody, an investigation is continuing and charges against Heaney is "likely".

In the Houston area, a driver was jailed on four counts of criminally negligent homicide after his car swerved into oncoming traffic on a highway near Canton, Texas killing four people on motorcycles.

The collision occurred near Canton, about 60 miles east of Dallas, on Sunday afternoon when Pena's Mustang crossed over into the opposing lane, resulting in the head-on crash.

"According to one witness, the vehicle was swerving in its lane, and then crossed into the other lane and struck the motorcycles," Department of Public Safety Trooper Landon Corbett told The Dallas Morning News.

The collision was head-on, and the car burst into flames.

The dead riders were identified as 51-year-old Bruce Melvin Bricker and his wife, 40-year-old Shannon Rhenee Bricker, both of Highland Village. On the second motorcycle, Steve Austin Claterbaugh, 53, of Rowlett, and his girlfriend Kathleen Dolores Smith, 52, of Wylie, were also killed.

Jose Luis Pena, 31, of Rosharon, was being held on $2 million bail while his girlfriend, 31-year-old Rosalind Ann Vela of Rosharon, was in serious condition with facial fractures. She was in the back seat without a seat belt, along with her 3-year-old son, who fortunately was in in a car seat and is expected to recover.

The story that caught international attention occurred on Saturday June 2^nd when a biker taking part in a ride protesting helmet laws died from head injuries.

The tragic irony around the death of 55-year-old Philip A. Contos won’t be lost on those involved in the ongoing debate which weighs rights against needs in the case of mandatory helmet laws. Nor will it be the last time the events of Saturday June 2nd are discussed.

The accident happened Saturday afternoon in the town of Onondaga, in central New York near Syracuse. Contos was taking part participating in a protest ride against helmet laws in upstate New York in an event organized by American Bikers Aimed Towards Education, or ABATE.

ABATE is a motorcycle rights group organized by chapters all over the United States and promotes motorcycle safety, awareness and education and organizes motorcycle rides. The Onondaga chapter of ABATE has sponsored the helmet protest ride for the past 11 years every July 4 weekend.

"ABATE is very saddened and still shocked about the fact that we've lost another rider in Philip and that our hearts go out to him and our prayers as well," Syracuse chapter president Christinea Rathbun told a local ABC affiliate.

Contos was riding his 1983 Harley-Davidson with a group of bikers who were protesting helmet laws by not wearing helmets when tragedy struck.

"He hit the brakes, lost control, was ejected and struck his head on the road,“ State Trooper Robert Jureller said, “He suffered a skull fracture."

Reportedly, the motorcycle spun out of control, and Contos toppled over the handlebars. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

“The doctor felt that the death could have been prevented if he simply had been wearing a helmet," Jureller said.