Lost 2 today

[R J]

2 seperate accidents.   1 50 miles SW of DSM, English teacher, had a pickup truck turn in front of him.   Dead at the scene.

1/2 hour ago over on the East side of town by the Fairgrounds, 2 bikes riding North, rear bike clipped the front bike, sent it spinning killing the wife of the driver...

http://www.kcci.com/news/23118976/detail.html

Teacher:

http://www.kcci.com/news/23116962/detail.html

[Ratdog]

That's no way to have a weekend wrap up.   

[Tundra]

Tragic, I'm no armchair quarterback and certainly wasn't there, however from what I see around my neck of the woods, so many of these accidents/fatalities can be prevented with proper rider education, rider safety, following distance. I've bin in a yelling match while riding with some fool I didn't know (group Ride) who kept getting too close, I'm more concerned when I have my wife with me. I become Mr. safety and don't horse around like I do when riding alone or with the boys.
  That car turning left in front of you thing takes many lifes here in the sunshine state, I'm always looking for it.
Sorry for these folks and their families

[alph]

RJ,

sadly, that's three.

my daughter's friend from elementary school just lost her father on friday.  i'm not sure what happened, but he lost control of his cycle and it landed on him, killing him later that day.  there were no other vehicles involved.

two weeks ago i almost lost my riding buddy to an inattenitive driver that cut out in front of him.  thankfully he was wearing all the right gear!

and it's only april.

[JimL]

RJ do you know if the young lady died of trauma to the head?  It is not my intent to start a helmet debate, however I am curious because the article mentioned that no one was wearing a helmet.

[Cliff]

RJ do you know if the young lady died of trauma to the head?  It is not my intent to start a helmet debate, however I am curious because the article mentioned that no one was wearing a helmet.

It is my firm belief that helmets can and do save lives as well as prevent some serious injuries.  With that said I also maintain that it should be the riders choice as to whether or not to wear a helmet.  I wear a helmet 99.99% of the time.

[SANDMAN5]

RJ do you know if the young lady died of trauma to the head?  It is not my intent to start a helmet debate, however I am curious because the article mentioned that no one was wearing a helmet.

That's what I was wondering. I agree with the choice thing (mostly) but I ALWAYS wear
a helmet....and gloves....and boots of some kind.....and at least long pants if not chaps.

[stude31]

RJ do you know if the young lady died of trauma to the head?  It is not my intent to start a helmet debate, however I am curious because the article mentioned that no one was wearing a helmet.

That's what I was wondering. I agree with the choice thing (mostly) but I ALWAYS wear
a helmet....and gloves....and boots of some kind.....and at least long pants if not chaps.

I'm with you bashful, I ride with helmet, gloves, armor jacket (mesh), boots, kevlar jeans, and if I hit the interstate I wear overpants.  It's not a matter of "if" but it is a matter of "when"....  I agree...  When my wife is on the back of the bike I ride with much more awareness (not that it should ever change whether a rider is on the back or not), but you know you are responsible for another life and that is what causes me to ride with more awareness.  They have no control and she puts all her faith in my abilities, my eyes, and my judgment. I don't think that I could ride very many miles being a passenger.  I think we need to give more credit to passengers than what we do.  Step back and think of all their "control" being taken away and laying their trust in the driver.  Wow...   Sorry for getting off topic but yes my thoughts and prayers go out to the family's that have lost their loved ones over the weekend... 

[R J]

RJ do you know if the young lady died of trauma to the head?  It is not my intent to start a helmet debate, however I am curious because the article mentioned that no one was wearing a helmet.

It never came up on what actually killed her, but the RAG we use for daily news ALWAYS, tells, NO HELMETS IN USE.

They would like to see the helmet required again.   Abate got it repealed several years back and da newspaper gets their digs in when they can.

I'm not against helmet use, but lets make it the riders choice...   They know how much their head is worth, not us.    My head is rather valuable in my opinion, so it gets a hard hat 99.9% of the riding time.

[stude31]

We lost a rider in Topeka over the weekend as well... 
http://www.wibw.com/localnews/headlines/90585939.html

This is why I strongly urge anyone in a "group" ride to not extend more than five bikes.  It is too dangerous.  No one in the group was killed but a motorcycle coming the other way was killed due to the pickup trying to pass in a "no passing" zone.  He had no where to go.  What a shame  :'(

[MP]

"He had nowhere to go".   Also stated "no passing" zone.  Sure, he had somewhere to go.  IN LINE, right where he was!

What did he not understand about no passing and not being able to see far enough ahead to be able to pass?

I hope it was worth someones life to get there a few moments earlier.  A lot of people will have to live with his terrible, and WRONG, decision.

MP

[asfltdncr]

For those that have not taken a safety course, the "Hurt Report" (Hurt is actually the man's name) is very helpful in reducing your odds of an accident.