Rider Killed After Being Rammed During Police Chase…Was It Justified?

[Reb]

I'm 31 and am much more mature than everyone you speak of when they were my age. Or is it because I was taught at a young age to obey laws and do what the police ask you to do?

Trust me, You would be the exception to the rule.

I'm not questioning your level of maturity, but I will bet that in 20 years if you are honest with yourself you will realize that you weren't as mature as you thought you were.

Bet I will, I have 2 boys and a wife that need me. I dont have time for stupid shenanigans.

Myself on the other hand... I still do stupid crap on my Goldwing...

[3fan4life]

We all make decisions on a daily basis that could result in an outcome we did not expect, one that could result in our demise.    The rider made several bad decisions.    Justified?   No.   Predictable, Yes.

Playing stupid games to win stupid prizes is just plain stupid.

That's been pretty much the point that I've been trying to make.

I don't disagree that the biker was behaving stupidly or that he contributed to his own demise.

I do have heartache with those who are saying that he "DESERVED" to die.

Most of were fortunate enough to live past the years of being young and dumb.

Unfortunately, this young man was not.

Remember,  "There but for the grace of God go I".

[Dave Ritsema]

He didnt die because he was speeding, he died because he chose to put others at risk.

Actually the reason he died was because he got hit from behind by a police vehicle.  

You can make all the arguments about him getting what was coming to him, etc. but the actual event that led to his death was being intentionally struck by the police officer. He may have been justified, following policy, etc. and the guy certainly could have stopped the situation at any point up to being hit but  it is still sad and unfortunate that he lost his life and the police officer has to live with the consequences of his actions of taking a life. There are no winners in this situation. Such a waste over a relatively trivial event. Very sad. I feel bad for all the parties involved.

[Gryphon Rider]

Amen, Dave R.

The other thing that shows me the cop was not thinking clearly and responsibly when he chose to ram the motorcycle the last time, is that he did it as they approached two other drivers. In fact he did it in such a way that he forced the biker to either hit the car or collide with the various obstacles on the side of the road. The timing of the impact virtually guaranteed serious injury to the biker and involvement with the car. The cop should be charged with manslaughter or the SC equivalent.

[Jess Tolbirt]

i have been stopped numerous times for speeding.. some of them i have gotten a ticket for..one time i went to jail for a couple nights...i am still alive

You spent 2 nights in jail for speeding ? For not paying the fine ?

driving while license suspended,, i was in nam and didnt pay a speeding ticket i got in N.J. before i deployed..

[Gavin_Sons]

Amen, Dave R.

The other thing that shows me the cop was not thinking clearly and responsibly when he chose to ram the motorcycle the last time, is that he did it as they approached two other drivers. In fact he did it in such a way that he forced the biker to either hit the car or collide with the various obstacles on the side of the road. The timing of the impact virtually guaranteed serious injury to the biker and involvement with the car. The cop should be charged with manslaughter or the SC equivalent.

Disagree, why should the cop have to pay for this bikers ignorance?  He knew the consequences when he decided to flee.

[Mr Whiskey]

My Son's 30, & he rides.
My Brother's a Sheriffs Deputy.
If I haven't taught my Son to be any smarter than that,
then I would hope (& expect) my Brother would end it even sooner than this officer did,
before my Sons stupidity could harm anyone else.
Under those circumstances, I'd cry, carry his box,
& still feel he had it comin'.
If you show wanton disregard for other peoples lives/safety,
why would you expect anyone to have regard for yours?   

[The emperor has no clothes]

My Son's 30, & he rides.
My Brother's a Sheriffs Deputy.
If I haven't taught my Son to be any smarter than that,
then I would hope (& expect) my Brother would end it even sooner than this officer did,
before my Sons stupidity could harm anyone else.
Under those circumstances, I'd cry, carry his box,
& still feel he had it comin'.
If you show wanton disregard for other peoples lives/safety,
why would you expect anyone to have regard for yours?   

I hear you brother. My son is 27. Doesn't ride, but constantly makes stupid choices. I expect one day I will do as you say "cry, carry his box, & still feel he had it coming"

[Varmintmist]

He didnt die because he was speeding, he died because he chose to put others at risk.

Actually the reason he died was because he got hit from behind by a police vehicle.  

If you want to ignore everything in any logical chain, then he died because of impact trauma.

He died because he put others at risk.

That was the action and the consequence, the method was the people we pay and have empowered to act on out behalf took a reasonable action to finally stop his childish, selfish, dangerous actions after a extended period of giving him the benefit of the doubt and opportunities to stop being a hazard to everyone and everything around him, where he proved that he had made a conscious decision that he intended to continue putting other people at risk.

[sleepngbear]

My two cents -- no, the rider did not deserve to die. But, neither did the pursuing cop intend to kill him. Rider made a stupid decision by trying to evade, stupid because of the distinct possibility of the actual eventual outcome. Should the cop have ended the chase sooner? I've given it a lot of thought and I still haven't come to a definitive conclusion. But I put most of the blame on the rider, and I'm leaning heavily toward siding with the cop trying to stop him.

As for the intent or non-intent of the fatal tap, take a close look at the rider between the first and second taps. He jerks forward like he's expecting to accelerate, but didn't. I believe the cop was also expecting him to continue accelerating and hit his own throttle in anticipation of that. I'm guessing the rider missed a shift and instead of accelerating he slowed down, leading to that second tap, which I do believe was accidental. Look at any NASCAR restart and the ensuing pile-ups where somebody spins his tires or misses a gear and everybody else is accelerating -- I think that's exactly what happened here.

Bottom line, the rider made a stupid choice by running, and he paid dearly for it.

[DirtyDan]

I know I'm coming in late on this one......

Justified

My 2 bits

Dan