Two individuals have died in a pair of motorcycle accidents in recent days.

On Saturday around 12:42 p.m., while on patrol, State Police at Collins identified a single motorcycle off Zoar Valley Road near Otto Road in the town of Collins. An investigation determined that the 2001 Harley Davidson was traveling eastbound on Zoar Valley Road when losing control after running over gravel and ultimately struck a ditch on the north side of the roadway causing the operator, Mark L. Burkholder, 68 of Amherst, to be thrown from the motorcycle.

Troopers applied life saving measures including CPR and using an AED. Gowanda EMS arrived on scene and continued life saving measures for his head/neck injuries.

Burkholder was transported to Bertrand Chaffee Hospital but was ultimately pronounced deceased. He was transported to the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office for a pending autopsy.

At 1:11 p.m. Friday, State Police at Jamestown responded to State Route 394 in the town of Poland for a motorcycle collision. An investigation determined the 2017 Harley Davidson was traveling westbound on State Route 394. The Harley Davidson exited the road off the north shoulder and struck a ditch causing the operator, John W. Hodgkin, 77, of Jamestown, to be ejected. Kennedy EMS and Falconer EMS responded and provided life-saving measures. Hodgkin was pronounced deceased at the scene. Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office will be performing an autopsy.