Texas man dies in motorcycle wreck

[bigguy]

Texas man dies in motorcycle wreck

Published: Sunday, May 8, 2011 at 3:20 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, May 8, 2011 at 3:20 p.m.

Texas man dies in motorcycle wreck

By Daniel McBride
Staff Writer

THIBODAUX — A Texas man died Saturday after his motorcycle crashed on U.S. 90 in Assumption Parish.
Westley Dossey, 63, and his passenger Ailene Dossey, 59, both of Texarkana, were heading east on the highway around 5 p.m. in a 2002 Honda Goldwing motorcycle with a small trailer. Speaking over radio with another cyclist, Westley reported that the motorcycle was vibrating. The rear tire then came loose and the bike crashed into the highway retaining wall, throwing the two from the vehicle.
The pair was transported to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, where Westley later died. Ailene received moderate injuries. Both were wearing regulation helmets.
Alcohol and drug use are not suspected as a factor in the crash, but blood tests will be done as required by state law in all fatal wrecks. Lab results are pending from the Assumption Parish Coroner's Office.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This lady works for the same bank as my wife, and for a time worked at the same branch with her. Though the article describes her injuries as, "moderate," she is hurt pretty badly. I know she has arms and legs broken as well as other injuries. She will not be able to attend her husband's funereal.
He had the tires changed a few days earlier in preparation for this trip at the local Honda Dealer.
Anybody familiar enough with Goldwings to have any ideas about what could have happened?

edit 5-10-2011:
I'm now told he took the bike by the dealership to get it checked out. We don't know that he bought tires just prior to the trip.

[Bobbo]

The GL1800 rear wheel is held on with 5 lug nuts, similar to a car wheel.  If the dealer didn't tighten them properly, it would be a big problem...

[Daniel Meyer]

Sad. My thoughts to the rider and family.

What could have happened? Tough to speculate, but the fact that they just had the tires worked on raises the suspicion that that service should be looked at closely.

The 1800 wings have a single sided swing arm on the rear, wheel bolts on like a car rim. They could have failed to tighten it, just like a car rim...or it could be a defective tire that separated...sounds like something along those lines.

[alph]

i'm not sure, but i thought that the newer goldwing rear wheel is suported by a single sided swingarm.  just like Dan mentioned earlier.  i hope the athorities investigate the mounting rear wheel bolts.

that's a real sad situation.  my heart goes out to the family.

please keep us informed.

[the inspector]

Did they not have some swing arm failures (welds)??? Early Wings?

"the inspector"

[K R]

THe 2002 thru 2004's had issues with bad welds.  frames to be inspected and rewelded or replaced.

[Gerard irl]

  Rip

[Valkahuna]

That's awful! Even if the dealer is at fault, the guy is still dead, and nothing will change that.  

There is an important lesson to be learned here though. It was stated that the gentleman that is deceased told someone else on the radio (CB) that there was a vibration. If anyone feels that, for god's sake - STOP AND CHECK IT OUT!!!! THose things don't usually cure themselves.

If you have time to tell someone else, then you have time to stop to "Check It Out!"

[scoot]

That's awful! Even if the dealer is at fault, the guy is still dead, and nothing will change that.  

There is an important lesson to be learned here though. It was stated that the gentleman that is deceased told someone else on the radio (CB) that there was a vibration. If anyone feels that, for god's sake - STOP AND CHECK IT OUT!!!! THose things don't usually cure themselves.

If you have time to tell someone else, then you have time to stop to "Check It Out!"

I don't agree with that. Alot of sh** can happen in the few seconds it takes to get slowed down and to the side of the road. Especially if you are on the freeway in heavy traffic

[Fudd]

A whole lot of what ifs here, but

 The bottom line is, this is one of the saddest stories I've heard in some time.  I an instant this man went from having an enjoyable cruise with his wife and friends, to dying on the side of the road.  His wife's life as she knew it, is now changed forever.

My deepest condolences to the family.

Life is so fragile, so fleeting.  Cherish each day like it could be your last.

Ride hard, be safe

Fudd

[BigAl]

That's terrible.

Can't imagine the pain of this loss.

But and there always is one.

Have you ever looked at all the different bolts you are supposed to check before each ride in the manual?

It's mind boggling that anyone would have the time to do that, little lone have time to ride.

Why did it come loose? Lugnuts or wheel bearing disentigrate.

Did the tire really come loose or was the tire going flat and roll off the rim.

Just from the info we have , it would lead one to believe the dealer left the nuts loose, I hope he has insurance. The dealer that is.



Tragic just the same.

That's why on recall lists, it mentions do not ride this thing until it's fixed due to a failure will cause an accident or death.

Not much room for failure on a cycle.

I hit part of a Road Gator today and that ws enough to get me all puckered up for a minute or two or three.


Just a thought.

[old2soon]

Prayers up from the ozarks for that lady and her family. I refuse to speculate. Don't want to get sucked into that at all. That being said-the accident had an underlying cause. I truly hope the cause is found. May or may not help the family but would be something to know and hopefully get corrected-and hopefully prevent from happening again. RIDE SAFE.

[bigguy]

Update and clarification.
Ailene is having surgery on her hip today.
Clarification: He took the bike by the dealership to get it checked out before the trip. I'm now told that they don't know that he bought tires prior to the trip.

[MP]

So sorry to hear the news.  What a shame.

May have been a delamination of the tire.  I have heard of quite a number of riders killed by mc tires giving out.  2 or 3 at Sturgis last year.  I have heard of NO deaths due to a ct delaminating.  So, why it is that ct's are not given credit for not failing?

[Slick]

Whatever the circumstances, always tough to hear. My prayers out to his friends and family-

[Sorcerer]

Who knows, he may have picked up a nail or screw. It may be no ones fault. Just his time.