Shawn Rhodes. Facebook. 

The man that was killed while riding his motorcycle Sunday evening in Fort Thomas has been identified as Shawn Rhodes, of Cincinnati.

Rhodes (35) was riding west with a group of six motorcyclists on State Route 8 when, according to some of the riders in that group, he hit an uneven part in the road which caused him to lose control and hit a guardrail. 

One of the riders in that group was Brian White, who witnesses the accident.

He said the state of the road was to blame in the accident. “The road is to blame. 100 percent. I’ve never seen anything like this. You’re talking about a guy that can go to a racetrack and go as fast as he wants and take corners ridiculously well. This guy knows how to handle a bike. “


The group rode together every Sunday and according to some of the riding group, traveled on Route 8 “once or twice a summer.”

FTM spoke with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 6 in January about the road slippage that had caused the guardrail to become flush with the road. KYTC District 6 is responsible for upkeep and maintenance of the road.

A Transportation Engineer Supervisor for KYTC said that stretch of road will again be repaired this summer. “We plan to mill and in-place patch the rough areas of KY-8 between Tower Hill and River Road once the contractor becomes available,” said Andy Yeager. “Currently they are tied up with resurfacing I-75 in Grant County.”

Rhodes attended Withrow High School in Cincinnati and is survived by his wife and three children. According to friends on the scene, he also operated a local landscaping business. 

FTM file. 

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