The cost of stupidity

[acpd22]

I write the words due to the fact that I am sometimes just brutally honest. While riding on Good Friday with some other friends and their friends a discussion got started between one of the female passengers and one of the guys that was riding with us. She had said that she wanted to learn how to ride and that an ex-boyfriend of hers had let her reach over him and take control of the handlebars. I silently shook my head as this was something I would never consider. Later during the ride, the guy the girl had been telling this to, decided to let her do it. We had just came out of a curve and was headed into a long straightaway going downhill. When the girl reached over and grabbed the handlebars the front wheel started to shimmy and the bike started towards the ditch. The bike left the roadway and went into the ditch. There is a rock bluff along side this ditch also. I watched in total terror as the girl went flying off the bike and landed in the ditch. The guy stayed on the bike and it tried to go up the rock bluff only to flip over and land on top off him. When I got my bike stopped and ran to them, I could see the bike laying on top of him and tried to get it off him but could not do it myself. Nearly a dozen cars went by but no one would stop to help. Finally two older gentlemen stopped and helped me with the girl who was laying motionless in the ditch. I had called 911 and got emergency services on their way and once the police got there we were able to get the bike off the guy. It was evident that both were severely injured. The EMS crew got them loaded into the ambulance and took them to a landing area for air evacuation. Unfortunately the guy did not make it. He was pronounced dead before the helicopter ever left the ground. The girl suffered 3 broken ribs, a punctured lung, a broken vertebrae, and a concussion. I write this in hopes that it will deter someone that may want to try it. I also think that writing about it will help me cope with it better. As bad as some may think it to be, I got up the next morning and met up with some other friends and rode most all day. My personal philosophy was if I didn't get right back on my bike, I may never get back on it again.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

GWRRA has a course for co-riders. One of the things they teach is how to take over the bike from the back if the driver becomes incapacitated and to safely get it stopped. They certainly don't teach it as a way for the passenger to learn to ride, but there can be a time when it is necessary for the passenger to more or less do that.

 

[Devious56]

To my way of thinking, you did all you could do for situation, and there was nothing you could do to change it. I only hope that you keep the train of thought that you have, if you quit riding it will only hurt yourself. If you keep riding, the situation may arise in the future and you may be able to prevent it.

I have a good friend who wife (on her on bike) got rear ended by a drunk, and injured pretty badly. My friend sold his Spyder within days of the accident, said he was tired of seeing his friend injured while riding. After his wife's first surgery on her back, she informed him that as soon as she was released from therapy, she was going shopping for another bike. Everyone see's things differently, and there really isn't any right or wrong to it.

David

 

[SPYD3R]

OUCH

STUPID HURTS.... nojoke

 

[cuznjohn]

such a shame to read something like this

 

[cptjam]

Real training

As an MSF instructor, I see this sort of stuff frequently, or, hear the horror stories. I urge people to take formal safety training. I'm saddened to hear of this. I became an instructor to help people learn to ride safely. If you see someone doing something stupid, say something!

 

[ARtraveler]

Thank you for printing the story. It is obvious to see that bad things can happen. No criticism about safety or stupid here. The information speaks for itself. Probably a good idea to get out and ride. :thumbup:

 

[2dogs]

Many years ago.........

My wife and I were touring the southwest. We were coming into one of those little one horse in New Mexico when I asked her if she wanted to stop and get a pepsi? She said yes and started pulling over to look for a place to stop. There wasn't a store close by and before I pulled back on the road again the car behind us passed us. As we approach the next intersection another car coming from the right blew the stop sign and broad sided the car in front of us, shoved it across the street up onto the steps and into the front doors of the local bank. My body went limp and my chest begin exploding and I nearly couldn't control by bike. Stopping with limp legs was treacherous but I got it done about a block away. When my wife and I got off the bike we could hardly stand but found a little patch of grass to sit on. If we weren't several states from home that may have ended our cycling career. But, we got back on finished our trip and still ride today. I can still see in my minds eye, the driver of the car that passed us being thrown violently into the passenger's seat and hitting the door and window. From there on the car begin to roll and the dirt and dust raised by the incident covered the area. By the way, we found out later it was a DIU driver that caused all of this.

 

[youngers]

life is short !

life is pretty short when we get too the end of the line in the normal way , and we see every day , news about cyclist being killed or hurt badly , just take time too go slow , enjoy the small wonders of every day , even if it is a crappy day , there is something wonderful in it , although, it might be some what obscure ... but when cycle riding is in the days events do the post ride look over , get your nerves ready , and do not rush too get too the fun , it will be there ...{ the interstate we are close too --- a big motorcycle couple most likely having a great day , getting closer too the local big town before crossing into Kentucky , had no idea --- death was seconds away --- the cycle was in the middle of 3 lane road , a semi truck with trailer in the slower lane , ---- most likely the driver of the truch was looking at the road signs for his next exit , when at the next seconds , his rear tire on the trailer blew out shredded the tire from the rim , blew the outter core of the tire into the path of the cycle , and one fatality , the cycle slide for over 100 years skipping on and off the median center divide , air flight took the other rider too the hospital } if it is time too go it will happen , just be dang safe as possible , use your skills in driving, look at all traffic as a problem ! folks who drive cars are in most cases distracted driving , and they will run stop signs and pull out in front of cycles .... go slow and enjoy the day is all we can do ! { just my thinking }

 

[Bob Denman]

:dontknow: You can't save everyone...
The best that you can hope for; is that you're not too close to them, when their World goes pear-shaped... :yikes:

 

[Kwalsh]

That must have been horrible to see and I hope the girl recovers but why on earth would the rider allow someone else to do that on a main road at speed?

 

[Brentc]

Sorry for the memory

So sorry you have that memory to carry with you. Thank you for sharing, and let's hope your story influences someone to do the right thing in the future.