State police have located a Dover man’s remains two days after he disappeared during a motorcycle ride.
The man apparently died Sept. 3, said Delaware State Police spokeswoman Cpl. Angela J. Garnsey. His body was found Sept. 5, Garnsey said.
The man, identified as Brian F. Burgette, 36, was riding his motorcycle at approximately 1:10 a.m. Sept. 3 southbound on Route 896 near the ramp leading to Old Route 896 when he apparently failed to negotiate a curve, Garnsey said. The motorcycle ran into the grass and apparently tumbled, throwing Burgette from the vehicle.
Burgette was declared dead at the scene.
Burgette and a coworker were out riding Sept. 3 then they became separated when the coworker stopped at a red light, Garnsey said. The two had been at a Newark establishment, and the friend was on his way home in southern New Castle County while Burgette was headed to his home in Dover.
After Burgette failed to return home, relatives contacted the Dover Police Department to report him missing. The coworker worked to retrace Burgette’s path and found a divot in the grass and a piece of plastic from the motorcycle. The coworker called 911 after finding the body in a densely wooded area.
The state police crash reconstruction team, with the assistance of the state Department of Transportation, is continuing their investigation.
Police are asking anyone who may have knowledge of the crash to contact Troop 2 at 302-834-2010 or Crime Stoppers at 800-333-TIPS.
