Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Media doesn't treat bike accidents fairly

I just returned from a meeting for a motorcycle club for which I am currently vice president. Last week we lost a long time member. (I'm fairly new at 4 yrs) Photos were shared and all were asked to start celebrating his life as the time for being sad has past. (funeral, friend gathering etc was over the weekend)
The accident made front page news in our local paper. Following is the article pasted from the papers website. They CHANGED the title of the article from how it appeared in last weeks paper. The largest portion of the Johnstown Tribune Democrat was taken up by a photo of the wrecked motorcycle, another photo was of a helmet sitting next to traffic cones used to close the road. In the largest print I have seen,the paper stated "BIKE HITS CAR". How typical of the media. I understand that this headline was discussed on many online forums, BMW owners for one, and how wrong it was to state as such.
One of our members is contacting the AMA in regards to how the paper handled this. Not sure what it will do, but our local RAG needs to wake up, maybe the AMA will help them do it.
Sorry folks, just had to vent a little. I think Ray, and everyone envolved in motorcycle accidents deserves a little better.

Motorcyclist killed in Ebensburg

By SANDRA K. REABUCK
The Tribune-Democrat

EBENSBURG — A local man who reportedly was leaving on a trip to Tennessee was killed Wednesday morning when his motorcycle hit a Jeep Wrangler on Route 160 by the Ebensburg Mini-Mall in Cambria Township.

The victim was identified as 63-year-old Raymond A. Bremer, a retired schoolteacher who was operating a Honda motorcycle.

The cause of death was listed as trauma to the front of the head, Coroner Dennis Kwiatkowski said.

The coroner said that the victim, who was wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Mr. Bremer had just left his house and was on his way to Tennessee on a bike trip,” Kwiatkowski said. “He was headed south on Route 160 to meet some people.”

Township police said the accident happened as Alec Nedimyer, 20, of Summerhill, the driver of the Jeep, was attempting to make a left turn into the Mini-Mall plaza.

The motorcycle hit the side of Nedimyer’s vehicle, police said.

State police, including an accident reconstructionist, and Ebensburg police assisted the township police. The investigation is continuing.

Route 160 was closed for several hours Wednesday between the B&W Road (Industrial Park Road) and Mini-Mall Road because of the investigation.

Bremer was retired from Central Cambria High School, where he taught business and computers. He was a member of the Greater Johnstown Touring Club and served as a motorcycle safety instructor. He was a football referee for PIAA District 5.

He was a graduate of Bishop McCort High School and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Survivors include three children: Chad of Ebensburg; Jill Felicetti of Mars, Butler County; and Leigh Holland of Loretto; and three granddaughters.

sad news, but the truth is in there

Quote:

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the driver of the Jeep, was attempting to make a left turn into the Mini-Mall plaza.

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I don't know of many places with two way streets that a left turn doesn't throw you out into oncoming traffic.

yes, true, if a vehicle turns left infront of you, you hit it. Everyone who saw the headline and didn't read the story assumed the Bike was at fault. I heard "all about" the accident at work before I got to read the story and find out someone I knew was killed, and the other driver was at fault.

A LOT of sad news on here lately. It's those folks making those kinds of turns that make me nervous on the road.

Well, that's right Cindy... the media sucks at portraying reality. But it's mainstream media... which is corporate bux and profits as the bottom line, not the story. The real story is a matter of human interest in matters of what actually MATTERS. Us... me, you, them. There is a place inside us all that cares about each other over any scheme that leads to profits (greed). Our friend Freedom is an example of that. We wait and carefully attend to his recovery, not to the story that lead do his demise.

Humans matter to each other... while media conforms to the laws of greed. Bypass mainstream media to grassroots intervention and we have back the world our hearts desire.

Part of the problem is that it is easier to blather away than to investigate and report the truth. A fine example of this happened a few years back when a commercial aircraft skidded off the runway while landing and crushed a small private plane that was tied down in a parking area. The reporter was careful to point out that the small plane had not filed a flight plan, trying to imply that it was somehow acting illegally and was at fault. They never gave a thought to the fact that you only need to file a flight plan if you are going flying and, even then, only if you are going to another airport.

I would want to believe that Walter Cronkite willed himself to die just to get away from what is called "news" these days.

Just found this:
A 23-year-old former Darien resident died Monday after his motorcycle was struck by a van in Danbury.

Jesse Woodward, who lived in Darien for 20 years, died at Danbury Hospital from injuries suffered in the morning collision on Federal Road, The News-Times of Danbury reported Tuesday. See The Times' obituary.

Mr. Woodward was riding his 1999 Yamaha east in the area of Mitchell Oil when a westbound van operated by Scott Rawlings, 48, of Brookfield, made a left turn into Woodward's path, according to the newspaper.

Mr. Woodward sustained severe injuries to his spine, head and pelvic area, police said. Rawlings wasn't hurt.

One more:
Man rejects deal in
fatal accident
Updated: Thursday, 02 Jul 2009, 8:10 AM EDT
Published : Thursday, 02 Jul 2009, 8:10 AM EDT

Norwich (AP) - Court records show that a 57-year-old Maine man charged in a fatal motorcycle accident in Connecticut has rejected a plea deal.

Eugene Parsons of Garland, Maine, is charged with manslaughter in connection with an accident in July 2008 that claimed the life of a Norwich motorcyclist.

The plea deal was rejected Wednesday, but no trial date has been set.

Police say Parsons was drunk when he ran through a red light at the intersection of Route 2 and Harland Road in Norwich and struck a motorcycle driven by 47-year-old Alan Begin.

Begin was killed. His passenger suffered broken bones, a punctured lung and lost a kidney.

Parsons is facing several charges including second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle. He remains in custody in lieu of $500,000 bond.