Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Home town tragedy

The other day Dale, a guy known around here to be a good fellow, was riding home after working O.T. at the local mill. He nailed the right side of an SUV turning left and... died! Dang!!!! I saw the accident from my deck. I can't ride past there now without getting the heebeegeebees.

Watch those left hand turners guys... pay SUPER attention when someone's poised to turn left!!! SUPER ATTENTION!!!

Sorry to hear, Keith. I try to say a quick pray or think of them as I go by spots like that (at least the people I knew).

So sorry Keith!

My uncle just barely survived a left turn accident on his bike 2 weeks ago. Severe concussion, etc. But, by the grace of God, OK.

Unfortunately it happens all too often.

Thankfully, I've never seen an accident like this actually happen, but I have seen too many aftermaths.

I do think that if I'd seen what you saw Keith, I'd probably try and find any excuse to not go past that spot. Why, I don't know

A co-worker and good friend is still out of work after a left hand turner almost killed him. He was even wearing hi-vis everything and a full face helmet(which saved his face). Its dangerous out there, thats for sure.

Such a real and unnecessary tragedy for all concerned.I lost a friend 3 years back similarly- great guy too.
And I have to say I still bear the scars of a similar one way back in 1986.....only in the UofK its the other turn thats the danger-in my case in the London rush hour a driver ,new to the UK thought a red light meant she could turn right(it doesnt)
I can still recall a) the dirt in the tread of the tyres on the big red bus which stopped just before it hit my head and b) the sheer relief of wiggling my toes waiting for the ambulance and knowing my back was'nt broken.
Oh yeah, and c) the years and years of setting off alarms in airports going through security-that gets so boring in the end.
Al

Sorry to hear of the tragedy. It is hard to see such a tragedy happen in front of you. I have been there it is not easy. Again sorry to hear of the loss.

i was passenger in a truck that did that once. luckily the dude was fine and just scraped up his bike. we got him drunk and gave him 1/4 oz of the marijuans and he seemed pretty happy about it. this was years ago.

man, i get so scared though when i see people turning left. sorry to hear about your pal.

He wasn't my pal... but a guy known 'round town. And I didn't see the accident happen... but I looked down from my deck where I could see the the aftermath. But that doesn't make it any less tragic. The whole town felt this one, I think. Again, watch those left turners (right for some of you).

When you say "left hand turners" do you mean a vehicle coming towards you and then turning left across your path? I realize you have to watch for EVERYONE out there, I was just trying to visualize what you were saying. I had a lady pull out in front of me not once but TWICE within a five minute period one time...

After a few close calls of that sort I added a lightbar and a set of the Harley lightbar mounted turn signals/running lights. During daylight I have the Silverstar high beam, the driving lights and the running lights all on. That is five lights on the front. While that won't help with the most determined idiots, I have found that I have a lot fewer close calls.

You always need to treat them as if they don't see you, or are out to get you. Higher visibility, even to the point of being annoying, may save your life.

All accidents are caused by a number of factors when analysed and never intentional. A real hard way for the rest of us to learn by and a feeling of loss when it is a fatal accident.
Sorry to hear of the loss of a good man and a fellow motorcycle enthusiast.

Sorry to hear that Keith . I knew a young fella ,Jason,a few years ago that had a similar thing happen. light changed to amber he sped up to get through and an old gent turned left in front of him , game over. poor kid had just completed his sparky ticket and was weeks away from emigrating to Aus.
Ride safe all

you have to be alert. i had a guy driving toward me the other day, making eye contact with me, and still started to turn left in front of me. he backed off the turn and i slowed to avoid a crash. there was no incident, but close.

speed kills! it's an old saying, but still accurate. i sat on a jury where a kid speeding in a car crashed and caused a deatjh and went to prison for it. the gory pics make you slow down. posted speed limit signs are effective.

in city traffic, or any other, keep the controls covered!