Wichita ? The number of motorcyclists dying on Kansas roads doubled between 2001 and 2006 and the rate of motorcycle deaths in the state is higher than the national average, according to state accident reports.

In a story published Monday, The Wichita Eagle said it studied 5,570 state accident reports involving motorcycles between 2001 and 2006 and found that most motorcyclists who died in accidents involving a car or truck were not at fault.

Last year, 64 motorcyclists died in Kansas, more than double that of five years ago, something safety experts partly attributed to the increase in motorcycles on the roads.

Motorcyclists made up 14 percent of the 468 people who died in traffic accidents on Kansas roads last year, the newspaper reported.

That’s above the national average. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said only 11 percent of all highway fatalities – 4,810 people – were linked to motorcycle crashes. Still, motorcycle fatalities have risen for nine straight years.

Twelve of the fatal accidents in Kansas involved cars, with about half of those drivers guilty of causing the accident.

By comparison, 13 of 19 drivers of trucks and sport utility vehicles involved in fatal collisions with motorcycles were found not to be at fault.