Fatalities in Georgetown

Anyone know anything about 2 motorcycle fatalities last weekend in Georgetown on 193?
I've searched local newspapers with no results.

 

Yeah, my wife is friends with the family of the guy (Justin Hassig) who perished on 6/15. Rider error, he blew a left hander at over 100mph on his GSXR750. Didn't hear about a 2nd rider, but check the 6/17 edition of the Mountain Democrat. That's Hassig's accident on the front page.

Bad start to the season for sure, this is already the 4th fatality in the Whentworth/193 area I've heard of. This time of year I try to only ride that area mid-week.

RIP to the fallen riders.

 

I heard there were two accidents within about 30 minutes or so.
One launched off the cliff, another into a tree..
Just trying to find out more info.

I've been riding the 193/wentworth/icehouse/50 loop every week since it re-opened.
Love the ride.. Sad to see all the accidents out there though.

 

That's sounding an awful lot like Justin's accident. On the turn he missed he went off the side of the road and over a cliff, impacting a tree. He had a riding buddy with him at the time who was following him, but didn't crash as far as I know.

 

Very unfortunate...

I heard the basics (as noted by Kevin_70) on the accident this week. My heart skipped a beat as that's my usual riding area. From Roseville, I usually take 193 from Lincoln to 80 to Auburn/193 to Cool/Georgetown/Placerville/Salmon Falls Rd (often, I head to Foresthill first). I also like 49 to Downieville/Graeagle. I've heard that 193/Icehouse is a great ride - though I haven't been that way yet...

 

The truth about Justin's accident

Fellow Bikers
It is with a heavy heart that I write this, with the goal of helping others to possibly avoid the same demise. This is the corroboration of eye witnesses, the sheriff's report, the coroner, other bikers who viewed the crash site and my own observations.
Justin was traveling at about 70 mph as he passed his bike partners. He lost control of his bike due to slipping on the double yellow line. He panicked and hit both brakes dropping his bike in the process. The sliding bike then, flipped, throwing him over and onto his head wherein he sustained a fatal neck injury. He then tumbled down a hill coming to rest between the trees. His bike continued in a straight line being stopped by a tree on the roadside.
His bike was intact, except for a bent rear wheel. Justin's only injury was to his neck. This is not what you would expect from a 100 mph impact with a tree. This information came from a cursory CHP report, the more thorough Sheriff's report confirmed the eye witnesses account exactly.

 

the truth about Justin's accident

conclusion
The opinion of the bikers who viewed the site was that Justin, though he was an experienced rider, could have benefited from a motorcycle safety course. This is due to the fact that he used both brakes when out of control. He could have easily slowed to a safe speed to negotiate the corner with the use of his rear brakes alone. The corner was 400' in the distance and wasn't even a factor in the accident. ABS could have prevented the initial skid, though, it is unknown if even an option on this model. Something to consider.
Please don't hold Justin in contempt. He loved to ride fast, thus his purchase of a cafe racer. We have all experienced the panic of tire slippage due to centerlines, ice, oil etc. Most of us live to learn to respect these hazards. Hopefully, we can all learn from this.
Thank you for allowing me this forum. Justin was not just my son, but a true friend who I will miss until the day that I follow him to the other side.

In loving memory, Dad

 

It takes a very special person to post a message like that, and I think I speak for all of us here when I say we are truly grateful. I also don't think I'm out of line to say that we would never hold a rider in contempt for going hard into a corner because every single one of us has done it more than once.

Your son's choice to use both brakes in an instance like that is nothing more than a survival reaction. An attempt to slow the motorcycle more quickly. Regardless of what most of us like to think we would do in a similar situation the odds are very high that we would do the same thing. Situations like that are not something that we encounter every day so they are not something we are instinctively prepared to handle. Mentally we think we can but when it actually happens instinct takes over, muscle memory controls actions, and we do what we feel is best regardless of the outcome. People who live on a track, who have the front tire tuck frequently, know exactly how to handle situations like that. Those of us who are just hobby riders would have a more difficult time.

Don't burden yourself thinking about what he might have done. He did what he thought was best and what most of us would have probably done in a similar situation. Things like that are not something that can be simulated nor are they something we have an ingrained ability to handle. When they happen we react instinctively and our instincts are not always right.

My sincere condolences to you and your family. I wish I could do something to help but all I have to offer is words. Thank you for dropping in to set the story straight.

 

I cannot say anything more eloquent than what SCraig already said.

Justin seems to have moved on doing what he and most of us find dear to our hearts. That may bring some degree of comfort to a grieving family.

From north of the 49th, my heart goes out to this family.

 

Thank you sir for the touching words about your son. I hope many of us come away from this listening to your words of wisdom about learning at an MSF course.

 

We are all sorry for your loss. We are always sad at the loss of another biker. Whether we knew them or not, they were still a part of our community.
Thank you, Justin's Father, for sharing with us. Hopefully someone will use your information at the right time to cause a different out come.
I will pray for peace for you and your family in this time of need. God bless.

 

I'm very sorry for your loss...
I started this thread in hopes that we could find out what really happened..
I don't always believe what is printed in the newspaper or in any media.

Like others have said, thank you for taking time, during this impossibly difficult time, to share with us so we may benefit..

Everyone's thoughts are with your family.
Tom

 

Thank you

Fellow riders
My wholehearted thanks for all your kind words. You don't know how comforting it is to know that you care so much for each other. The thought about instinct didn't even occur to me nor anyone else as far as I know, but it makes complete sense. Thank you for enlightening me to this as I can now put my heart at ease that this was an accident and nothing more.

Sincerely, Dad

 

Sorry for the lost of your son. You are truely a great Dad.
May Justin rest in peace.
Our thought and prayer to you and your family.

 

Thanks

Your words said it all. Thanks for speaking out

 

I can add nothing to the words that have been posted by you "Dad" and the other members except to say... thank you and I extend my deepest condolences to your family.

 

may he rest in peace !

 

Very sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers to you and the rest of your family.