In the pre-dawn stillness of September 5, 2025, a quiet Delaware road became the scene of a devastating tragedy. Joseph Laclair, a 59-year-old resident of Clayton, lost his life in a fatal motorcycle crash near Smyrna, leaving a community to mourn and reflect on the fragility of life.
The incident unfolded around 4:16 a.m. on Smyrna-Leipsic Road, east of Big Oak Road, where Laclair was riding his Yamaha X1A motorcycle. According to the Delaware State Police, Laclair approached a curve in the road but, for reasons still under investigation, failed to navigate it. His motorcycle veered off the roadway, plunging into a ditch and colliding with a culvert pipe. The impact was catastrophic, ejecting Laclair from the bike. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, he succumbed to his injuries, authorities confirmed.
The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collision Reconstruction Unit is diligently piecing together the circumstances of the crash. Investigators are calling on witnesses or anyone with information to come forward, urging them to contact Sergeant J. Wilson at (302) 698-8518. For those preferring anonymity, Delaware Crime Stoppers offers a confidential tip line at 1-800-847-3333, and tips can also be submitted through the Delaware State Police’s Facebook page.
In the wake of this sudden loss, authorities have highlighted the support available through the Delaware Victim Center. The organization’s toll-free hotline, 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461), provides round-the-clock assistance for those grappling with grief, offering a lifeline to families and friends touched by this tragedy.
As Smyrna-Leipsic Road reopened after hours of closure, the community was left to process the loss of Joseph Laclair—a man whose life was cut short in a fleeting moment on a familiar stretch of road. The ongoing investigation seeks answers, but for now, Laclair’s memory lingers in the hearts of those who knew him, a somber reminder of the risks borne by those who ride.