Another sad reminder to not ride in formation

[Spud]

From what I read of the article, I just think they were all too close together. Should have been a one bike wreck.... Gotta feel sorry for the guy minding his own business in the truck being involved in all that. Be careful out there!

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2017/07/man-killed-multiple-people-hospitalized-following-crash-involving-3-motorcycles-pickup-truck/

 

[FJRfarrier]

That looks to be the crash that John and Brian were at the scene of. Sad stuff.

 

[juniorfjr]

Yes, Sdjohn and Festar were first on scene, Brian assisted CPR while John directed traffic. John said they fell like dominoes. Deceased hit the 5th wheel and then a rock wall. Difficult for all.

 

[Eagle Six]

I would not want to second guess these riders from the little information provided, however with the comment John made I would agree with you Spud. I've joined in the rear of many unknown groups and broke off just a few miles after observing them riding in what I think is to close. For those that like it, more power to them, we all make choices. For me, and my co-pilot, I don't do close formations. I don't even like the 2 second rule, or staggered in the twisties on the open road. At much slower speeds in town, there may be an advantage to closing up the formation. Also I agree Spud, sorry for the truck driver and his passenger, and agree FJRfarrier, sad stuff for all involved and their families.

 

[JamesW]

Very sad, however we choose to ride. Fatality here Sun. S. of Snohomish Wa., passing a couple of cars in line on backroad and car #1 turned left.

 

[rogdeb]

 

[escapefjrtist]

Sad situation for all involved.

--G

 

[mech 1 twa]

Sad for all involved. Worst is seeing it happen. Happens so fast.

I almost hit a car 2 weeks ago. Other driver crossed center line missed me by a foot. I was riding center of lane and still had to move over to the edge of road. It was close if I hadn't reacted fast enough ? Who knows.? Cars or Deer I don't know which are worse.

 

[Bugnatr]

Watched a guy getting a copter ride out of Sierraville, Ca. yesterday morning. Somehow he stuffed his Harley into the front of a parked car on the other side of the street in town and in a 25 zone. I suspect he wasn't paying attention to his group making a turn?

Ain't that easy to hit a parked car on the opposite side of the road is it?

 

[FJRay]

Was turning left with a green arrow yesterday and an idiot not paying attention ran the red. Didn't miss by more than a coat of paint.

 

[bigjohnsd]

Festar and I were not the first on the scene, we got there minutes after it had happened, there were already a handful of nurses and two docs on scene from cars that pulled over to help.

The woman that died, according to witnesses I listened to, we as newer the front of the group on the left edge of the lane. She was apparently going to fast for the curve, crossed the center line and you could see where her bike had impacted the left front of a fifth wheel house trailer. She then bounced off a rock wall. Both front forms were broken off, I thinkfrom the wall. As often happens when riding in close formation when she went down and came back across the road after hitting the trailer she took ou other riders who took out other riders. She was wearing a helmet, no other protective gear that I saw. Most of the other riders in the club/group were wearing gloves leather vests, Sun glasses and protective bandanas.

I have two pictures on my phone but have been unable to post them here because of my inability to find a basic jpg link in my Smugmug account.

 

[TestPilot]

John, please pass my (David1300 in another life in Australia) regards on to Brian. It must have been tough for both of you coming across that scene, and thank you from the biking community for doing what you could.

 

[exskibum]

The woman that died, according to witnesses I listened to, [was near] the front of the group on the left edge of the lane. She was apparently going to fast for the curve, crossed the center line and you could see where her bike had impacted . . . .

IMO, the most dangerous problem with tight formation riding, esp. on winding roads, is that it amplifies the weaknesses of any rider in the group. Assuming the pace was not too challenging for anyone in the group but her, riding in formation gave her no time or space to back off or set up slower into the corner. Whether she was the poorest rider or one that just had a momentary lapse, the forced limitations of a formation probably amplified her limitations as a rider. She very likely did the only thing she could do, and it cost her life.

As often happens when riding in close formation when she went down and came back across the road after hitting the trailer she took ou other riders who took out other riders.

Yep - another severe consequence of formation riding is that when the limitations of one cause an accident, too often even the very best riders in the formation go down. If that isn't the definition of stupid riding techniques, I suppose we have only to add something like "helmetless and nearly naked." Either way, this sounds terribly tragic for all involved.

Most of the other riders in the club/group were wearing . . . protective bandanas.

Cool as those are, sometimes they don't work. Sympathies to their friends, family and the painfully injured. Accidents happen, but minimizing their frequency and severity saves more than we can ever know.

 

[Panman]

We hit Fossil on the way down to Yosemite and was told about this:

https://www.eastoregonian.com/eo/local-news/20170530/memorial-weekend-crash-kills-two-motorcyclists-injures-several-others

Although they did nothing wrong other than side by side riding, it cost two their lives and several others a life time of disability!

 

[Spud]

And of course the granddaddy of all formation accidents, the 2009 Brothers Speed wreck in I-5 in Oregon:

"Twenty-six members and associates of the Brother Speed Motorcycle Club were involved in a chain-collision motorcycle accident on Interstate 5 north of Portland, Oregon about 2 pm Friday afternoon. The crash happened at milepost 282 south of Wilsonville, Oregon. A tight pack of 28 bikes was riding in the middle of three north bound lanes at about 70 miles an hour when two sport utility vehicles driving side by side panic braked in front of the pack for an unknown reason. Traffic was light, the road was dry, the sky was blue and visibility was good. The road captain and the leader of the pack, the lead two bikes, counter-steered around the SUVs. The other 26 motorcycles did not stand a chance. An eyewitness described what happened next as “a pile of motorcycles.”

 

[festar]

John, please pass my (David1300 in another life in Australia) regards on to Brian. It must have been tough for both of you coming across that scene, and thank you from the biking community for doing what you could.

Thank you David, it means a lot that I've had so much support. I was only part of a very professional team of mostly medically qualified people who happened to be there. There is no greater feeling than succeeding at such a scene but unfortunately not this time. All participants most unknown performed admirably.

Cheers again mate

Festar

 

[K_Flyer]

Some friends have asked why we ride so far apart. Theresa's answer "If Murray goes down, I don't want to ride over him." Definitely proved the right thing to do in my last accident.