Involved in fatal crash on RWB yesterday

Well, the VFR isn't new anymore - had a very bad day yesterday. I am OK, my left knee will probably require some work and I am sore all over, but I am also very lucky (you can see my VFR below the upside-down trike). The Link attached is to the local newspaper story - it says that I refused treatment which isn't true - I opted Not to ride back in the ambulance, the EMTS did check me over there and saw no reason that I had to go to the hospital right then. You can view the Maryville newspaper story at the below webpage

http://www.thedailytimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070714/NEWS/70714003

I had followed the Trike through a few turns and watch it go up onto two wheels, crossed the centerline and collide with the boat and trailer in the photo (the couple on it were killed instantly and were stuck under the boat trailer), the Trike was thrown back into my lane from the impact, I slowed but couldn't stop and hit the trike just hard enough to pitch me over the bars - luckily I landed in the ditch, which was full of leaves and was soft and muddy from recent rains.

I was able to (probably shouldn't have) ride the bike back to my camper about 40 miles away, my wife took me to the emergency room and got it checked out, and told me that there were no broken bones and to go see an Orthopedic Doc when the severe swelling in my knee went down.

I inspected the bike this morning, it is much worse than I thought. Bent front wheel, all the front end plastic destroyed, gas tank and left radiator bent and scrapes and scratches all over - I hope they total it. I don't want it after knowing what it has been through.

I doubt I will ride the dragon again, have many times before- the EMT's told that a 40 year old man from Michigan was killed there just yesterday - I don't ride the road hard but it doesn't matter when everyone else does (the folks on the trike were an older couple and clearly overdoing it - it is not just young guys on sport bikes). This road brings out the aggression in folks.

Be careful out there if your on two wheels, and if your on 4 wheels, watch out for motorcycles.

Bret

 

That is just nasty looking. Glad you are O.K.

tim

 

Bret, I'm glad that you will be ok once the swelling dissipates etc. Have a swift recovery...

 

That would be every riders worst nightmare ,,, a speedy recovery mate.

 

I ride the Dragon 3-4 times a year, and ride well within my limits. It seems like more and more I run into some idiot riding WAAAAY over his/her head. I don't know what it is about that road that brings out the idiot in people. In this case, it cost them their lives. I'm glad their stupidity didn't hurt you worst than it did. Hate it about your bike though.:hurt:

 

Hey Bret,
That just sucks ! however im glad to hear your ok , i am 45 also and have ridden my whole life and i steal hate to see people get hurt much less get killed. how bad is your bike ? good luck Tim (speed)

 

Sorry to hear but very glad you walked away. Without a doubt they will total it...any RWB in the future?

 

It is not cool seeing "your" bike in a ditch next to a trike like that. (I have a RWB as well). I guess even with a safe following distance that's the way the bike bounces... I hope you have a swift recovery and are able to find another RWB if this one is totalled.

 

Bikes can be replaced - don't worry about that.

Hope you are doing well. I agree with you regarding the road and what it brings out in people.

Take care and hope you get a speedy recovery....

 

Glad to hear you made it out of that safely. Every time I read stories like this, it makes me stop and think about how I ride and if I am overdoing it sometimes. I believe I stay within my limits, but have also pushed it sometimes to see what I can do.

I continued reading the article about the man that low-sided and fell off the cliff to his death. I often ride roads like that, but take way more precaution when there is no guardrail. Be careful out there fellow vifferheads.

 

Just rode the Dragon two weeks ago and saw two clean ups in progress, it's ashame when people don't ride within their limits. I work on the other side of the accident where we try to patch people back together and it is not something any of us look forward to doing. It keeps me a little paranoid which is probably a good thing. The thing is, we have enough people trying to kill us every day when we are on 2(or 3) wheels, we don't need to add ourselves to that list.

dieseldrive-I'm very glad to hear you're safe. I hope the memories of the accident keep you safe, but I hope that you are not too scarred by the mental images.


......"ride like they're trying to kill ya"...........

 

Glad to hear that you're doing alright. Seeing a boat that size moved that far on the trailer and a wide trike on it's side is just incredible. Keep us posted on your progress.

 

Wow. thats sad, good to hear you're okay, as others have mentioned hope there's a another RWB in the near future for ya..

 

wow sure makes you think, I believe us bikers are so prone to getting injured out there, not necessarly due to our mistake, but someone riding, driving over their head. Yep the bike is replacable,hopefully that mental image will make you a smarter rider, heal up brother and get back out there!

 

Its sad that it takes something like this to make us stop and slow down and think but we must
Today i was setting at a light waitting for it to change as i watched a CBR600 sail threw the light and no more than he started threw the light (that was green for him) a chevy truck shot threw the light and i covered my face for a second they just missed well they may have touched the bike got a bit squilly and pulled over and the truck keeped going , i had to catch my breath and turned around to see the biker and he was gone more than likely wet pants , we cant controll how everyone drives so please be carefull , its us agunst them and it shouldnt be that way ?

 

Man o man you are lucky .Sorry you have to go through somthing like this . Thanks for shairing . It realy makes how you think .

 

Brett,
I'm glad you are ok. and will be much better if you take it easy. I belong to a local riding group. Apparently there were a few of them caught up in the traffic of that crash. Thank the heavens for soft dirt & leaves.

 

dam!!!...glad u will recover,,,thats a total drag about what happened.....hope u continue to ride when u heal up...

 

Glad you made it out OK. Sorry bout your bike, but they make new ones every day. The dragon will hurt you if you don't respect it, but all of us are risking our lives every time we get on the highway. There are enough idiots out there trying to kill us, without us helping them! Ride safely, and watch out for the other guy. Lets remember those guy's families in our prayers...