WingmanRT
New member
I think that it is more likely that the rider dropped a wheel off the pavement, which can be a substantial drop on some roads. At that point, it can take a very skilled rider to retain control at speed, as it is easy to hit something, lose control in the grass or dirt, or lose control when you try to instinctively steer back onto the pavement. As to the distance, there is no telling whether the police report meant the distance from the first excursion off road, the distance from where the Spyder came to rest, or something altogether different. Also no telling at which point the rider actually left the Spyder, as they were both still moving. I'll bet an accident reconstruction specialist would have fun with this one.
The wife and I were born and raised in that area so the article really caught my eye as we know I-71 pretty well. I Googled it and rounded up a few more details. Here's a few bullets I sent her and some of my Browns' fans buddies who know I drive a Spyder.
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22475988/32666793
Some additional notes:
- Police said Benard was driving north on I-71 when one of Benard’s tires came off the road, and he lost control of his three-wheeler. After slamming into the guardrail, his bike continued on for another 687 feet before stopping
- Cleveland police dispatch said the crash happened at I-71 northbound and Dennison near West 65th Street.
- Benard was charged with driving under a suspended license and reckless operation for the accident Monday afternoon on Interstate 71 North.
- He's due to appear in Parma Municipal Court on Oct. 18.
- Benard is making $525,000 this season. If the Browns place him on the non-football injury list, he'll be out for the season and the team will reserve the right to withhold the rest of Benard's 2011 salary, which works out to a little more than $30,000 per week.
- The standard player contract under the recently-expired collective bargaining agreement doesn't mention motorcycles, though a player's individual contract could. In paragraph 3, it prohibits players "from engaging in any activity other than football which may involve significant risk or personal injury."
- "If I was getting paid what they're getting paid," said Browns fan Tony Kreuter, "I wouldn't even get on a bicycle."
- Based on him coming to a stop 241 ft away and the bike another 687, he had to be flying. It's possible he had cruise control on and that's what kept the bike rolling/going, but given his driving record, it's more likely he has exceeding the 65 mph speed limit by more than a few miles per hour.
- You can see from the photo there is no drop off (which freaks me out when I hit them). There are the warning (thump-thump-thump) treads on the side.
- Not to go all CSI on you, but notice that the RIGHT tire is missing and he is on the LEFT side of the highway and there is no wall on the right side. How in the hell did this guy rip the tire off of the bike opposite from the wall? Except for the peg, handle bars and windshield, the left side of the bike looks untouched.
- You can see another angle of the photo from behind at http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/210442/4/Browns-Marcus-Benard-in-motorcycle-accident
- This guy's IQ and jersey number are identical if he was going that fast on 71 at 2pm on a Monday.
- Supporting the IQ assumption: flying as fast as needed to fly to do this; risking his $30k per week income. while under a suspended license.
- He is the luckiest SOB alive to WALK AWAY from that with only a broken hand.
- Unsupported assumption: three wheels may have saved his life. Picture that accident on two wheels. Without anything guarding those half million dollar legs.
- He should thank the Browns for suspending his pay, do his jail time like a man, and kneel in prayer in front of the wall he hit, all for being lucky enough to kiss his son good night again.
- More than likely: he will sue the Browns, the NFL, BRP and the Ohio Dept of Transportation for causing him to wreck, claim he is the victim and want treble damages for loss of pay and damage to his career, while carrying a handgun into court, cranked on meth. (Let's just say I have low esteem for most professional athletes' sense of entitlement.)
- I will concede he may be one tough SOB for bouncing off pavement after 241 feet and landing with as few injuries as he did.