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one killed by home yesterday

2K views 29 replies 17 participants last post by  HiDesert 
#1 ·
Sunday afternoon wife and I were going down the main drag (Colfax) close to home. There were police lights. A Dodge pickup had turned left into a bike, you couldn't recognize what kind, it was too pushed into the front of the truck. We surmised it probably was a fatal. Today the news says the truck driver was arrested for careless resulting in death. Also, no helmet, which I think would have made no difference in this case. The only clue to the bike was a sissy bar still recognizable, so I am betting on a Harley or clone, also the "no helmet" fits the bill. There was no mention of alcohol, so far. It doesn't help my wife be comfortable with my riding. I still prefer freeways for fewer intersections.

This is the 3rd fatal within 1/4 mile of this intersection, a dirt bike knocked over on the bike path, and a squid running a stop sign.
 
#4 ·
When I was in EMS I had to go to a fatality of a biker that was hit head on by a Ford Bronco that crossed the double yellow. Both were going in excess of 45 mph. He was dragged a good forty feet. The bike hit the bronco so hard it knock the engine off of it's mounts. Head and chest inverted and his legs from above his knees to his ankle were nothing but skin and tendons holding things attached. I did not ride for a few years after that. I remember it from time to time. I had to take his mom to the hospital that night.

Splt second and it can all be over and it could happen to any of us.
 
#5 ·
Horrendous stories - a reminder to hold back rather than blip for the doubtful gap. My mates tend to fire on ahead and I lag behind - they are on more powerful bikes and I trundle along. But three minutes later, I am there. More time to look and see. That said, last weekend there was a huge heron on the road just round a bend. Fortunately I could brake 'cos I was trundling along;)
 
#6 ·
Horrendous stories - a reminder to hold back rather than blip for the doubtful gap. My mates tend to fire on ahead and I lag behind - they are on more powerful bikes and I trundle along. But three minutes later, I am there. More time to look and see. That said, last weekend there was a huge heron on the road just round a bend. Fortunately I could brake 'cos I was trundling along;)
Sofiaspin better to trundle along sometimes........I have always felt I had a Guardian angel on my shoulder, with all the close calls I have had.
 
#12 ·
+1 I knew when I hit my 50s I would not want to be an EMT anymore. Like you said body bags and seeing horrific things wears on you. I have a friend who continues on as a Paramedic he is 8 years younger than me and he looks like he is at least 10 years older. Better to do it for a while and bow out.
 
#13 ·
Sad news but remember the fatilities are the exception to the rule. I'm living walking proof that you can hit a car head on, on a motorcycle, and survive it. Its not always as dangerous as it seems! as long as you have a lid on. Even an open face ;)
 
#14 ·
there was a fatal near me a couple of weeks ago, a 67 y.o. Woman pulled off on the right side then decided to pull a u-turn and didnt see the rider coming up. He left quite a skidmark, and the paper said he went down on the right side before hitting the SUV. Highway patrol said he was moving at a "high rate of speed", which I am guessing is why she WASN'T CHARGED. The paper said he was wearing a helmet, I heard it was of the skateboard variety, and a firefighter told me it wouldn't have made a difference anyway(chest and neck injuries). Every time I see a car off on the side I assume its a cop and return to speed limit speeds, so this one may have been avoidable. I dont know if she signalled the u-ey or not, and i did hear the dreaded "cellphone" could have been involved.
 
#15 ·
We had two recently here in central Maryland. Both were single-vehicle accidents. One was a new rider on a Harley who lost control after making a turn and went off the bridge over the Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River. The other, on a Yamaha, was found dead in the bushes on the side of an expressway on-ramp.
 
#19 ·
One was a new rider on a Harley who lost control after making a turn and went off the bridge over the Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River.
What? I guess he was heading north, and lost it just before he actually got onto the dam?
 
#16 ·
Lee, I'm a paramedic, and I totally hear you about it aging you. I love what I do, though...it's a calling, at times a brutal one.

I've worked up my fair share of motorcycle accidents and fatalities, and the top three things I've seen, in order: 1) Alcohol involvement, 2)excessive speed, and 3) cage driver error. The infamous "left turn" syndrome... and yet, I still ride. I never, ever ride after ANY alcohol consumption, I love speed but use it judiciously and fully knowing the consequences, and I ride like everybody is out to get me. :eek:
 
#17 ·
I've worked up my fair share of motorcycle accidents and fatalities, and the top three things I've seen, in order: 1) Alcohol involvement, 2)excessive speed, and 3) cage driver error. The infamous "left turn" syndrome... and yet, I still ride. I never, ever ride after ANY alcohol consumption, I love speed but use it judiciously and fully knowing the consequences, and I ride like everybody is out to get me. :eek:
Dee you are very correct about the causes. As for alcohol I agree even more. I never drink and ride. I have a 0 tolerance rule for riding and handling of my guns. There is just no room for errors in either one.

I found my time in EMS more stressful after each serious call, then my whole time I spent in open heart surgery. I also found that exercise, eating right and debriefing for the very serious calls diminished my stress. I loved working in EMS but for the long term find it much better in the hospital. I am glad you still enjoy what you do. Keep up the good work and take care of yourself.
:bighand::welldone::thumbsup:
 
#18 ·
I have an awful speed habit, but it's indulged at the track only. I ride like a little old lady on Sunday when I'm on the street. It's for all the reasons pointed out in this thread. Bikes don't act like cages, but cagers are looking for cage like behavior. If you behave like a car when you are on the bike, the chance of being recognized as a vehicle are far greater. Even so, they are all out to kill us and we should ride with it in mind.
 
#21 ·
Now i gotta re-think the whole deal! I can't see myself quitting i'm very confident on my bike but maybe my momma is right I'm just s damn fool.
 
#22 ·
If you didn't realize there were risks, then maybe your momma was right.

But remember that: 1) nothing is safe - every action or form of inaction involves risk; and 2) most of the risks involved in motorcycling can be managed.

Don't drink a ride (not even a drop), and wear ATGATT, and you're already far safer than the vast majority of the riders who end up statistics. Get some training, read some good books, and be extra careful in high-hazard situations (heavy traffic, wildlife zones around twilight), and you're even closer to what most people consider 'safe.'

Honda is right; the more you know, the better it gets.
 
#23 ·
When you get on the bike without fear, caution and careful attention, its time to get off the bike.
 
#25 ·
Big problem is supposedly right of way encroachment. But in 9 mos. i don't think i have had another driver (left turn scenario) seem to be u able to see me. Lucky? Wrong? My tiger seems tall and the daytime running lights? I dont understand the conspicuity issue. I wear black and discount color as issue.
 
#26 ·
You've been lucky so far, don't get overconfident. That's when you stop being paranoid about other road users. Realistically, we're the fastest moving and second smallest (cyclists are worse off than us) group on the road.

I try and remember to ALWAYS ride like they're out to get me.

When I worked in the city I had a 94km round trip commute. Did this for 11yrs, and I'd say on average, I'd have 3 close calls a fortnight. BUT when you ride like everyone's an idiot and treat them as if they WON'T see you, then your chances of avoiding a bad outcome are significantly improved.


Coldnight very nicely and succinctly put:
When you get on the bike without fear, caution and careful attention, its time to get off the bike.
I also agree with all the comments about ATGATT and riding/alcohol... Enjoy your riding folks, but just be aware. We are vulnerable out there.
Russ
 
#28 ·
All of these things are true. I got cut off badly today by a truck who decided to turn right from the left lane of a multi-lane road. I was coming up an on-ramp as he did it. If it sounds like a complicated road, you are right. As it was, I saw no signal, just a truck coming into the lane I was in, as I was in the lane. He probably didn't even look, and if he did, he wasn't paying enough attention to notice anything smaller than a semi. The bike's maneuverability saved my skin, as did the fact I was headed up the ramp at car-like speeds. Had I been indulging in full squid behavior, I would have been scattered all over the next quarter mile since I would have been going a whole lot faster and would not have been able to drop anchors smoothly and safely.

The moral of this story, if there is one, is they really are out to get us, ride sanely, assume they can't or won't see you, and keep your wits about you. You WILL have close calls on a regular basis. I guess that's more than one moral. Sorry.
 
#29 ·
Since I have been riding ( 9 years, now is it? ) I have gotten better and better at imagining foolishness and "looking into the future" as it were. I often see traffic conflicts 10 or 15 seconds before the other drivers do and often can adjust what it is I am doing to deflate the situation before it becomes an issue; they don't even know I am helping them.

Durring my MSF class, there were two riders, women in their 50's or so, both of them had just been given 1400cc harleys by their respective husbands. They were both totally new to riding and even the 250cc class bikes gave them issues. One of these two were asked to lead the group in an route around the course that was a long rounded rectangle. Down one side, into a 35' circle, out the at 180' on the other side, to the right edge of the other circle and back. Simple enough, but she entered the turn, went 180, thought it felt good and started to go around again. There were too many bikes to fit all of them on the circle, but I was already headed to the empty ground so I could perform my stop when the instructors blew the emergency whistle. I'd seen this happening before getting onto the bikes.

The more you watch traffic - and the best place to do this learning from is with someone else driving and you in the passenger seat of a car - watch and guess on what people are going to do. Watch lane position, watch for half-effort head checks ( in blind spots where mirrors don't cover ) and above all, watch for people with GPS's on the dash or worse, a spouse with a map unfolded. Avoid these people -- give them LOTS of room.

Another thing to do is to walk through parking lots - many accidents happen there. Try to figure out which cars are going to move and how the traffic and parked cars interact. It can be very helpful in avoiding being mushed. Also, upgrade your bikes horn(s) - nothing short of a mild heart attack will get some peoples' attention.
 
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