Motorcyclist killed in Atascadero/Creston today

[dcarver]

Hey all -

Some have emailed me wondering if it was I who died today?

It was not. A motorcyclist did die today between Atascadero and Creston CA on Eureka grade, a road I ride almost every day. My neighbor, a volunteer fire fighter, heard the fatal call on his pager, and knowing that I travel this time of day and on that route instantly set out a search party for me. A good neighbor for sure, but I digress.

Apparently, the motorcyclist failed to maintain his lane, drifted the yellow into a truck. The girlfriend says the news showed the truck, it looked like a head-on / side-swipe job.

I haven't seen the video, and the CHP completely blocked both ends of the accident, preventing me from seeing the carnage first hand, but the orange paint on the pavement marking the spot clearly showed what happened.

So, boyz n gurlz, heed the wise and sage wisdom of Mr. ToeCutter and take the correct position in left and rights that give you some wiggle room and forgo the 'speed' line when riding in the street. In this instance, the cage was NOT at fault, he even tried a swerve to prevent the hit but there simply wasn't enough room and/or reaction time.

I'll post more as I learn about the details should anyone be interested. If not, I won't.

For those of you who expressed concern for me, Thank You.

dcarver

 

[donaldb]

wasn't your 42 yammie bud was it???????? :huh:

 

[feejer222]

Bad one here this week. A guy was out on his stag night with friends (mostly doctors). Their bus broke down on the way home so a recovery truck was sent to bring the bus and 5 of the guys back. The others who could not fit in the crew cab of the truck, had to find their own way. The driver rear ended a container truck at speed. All 6 including the driver were killed. The groom was not in the truck.

CLICKY

 

[James Burleigh]

Glad you're OK, DC. On the Napa ride, coming out of Skaggs Spring Rd., on a right-hander I crossed two feet over the double yellow because I blew the entrance speed. I was lucky--no truck. So I'm not feeling smug that that wouldn't have happened to me.

Speaking of local stuff, in the last two or three weeks there have been two riders killed in my town on streets I ride every day. In one case, a car came out of a fast-food parking lot, and the bike hit him, or vice versa. In the next, a 23-yr-old kid t-boned into a left-turner.

Life sure is tenuous....

When we gonna meet?

Jb

 

[jwhite518]

When we gonna meet?

Sounds like a good excuse for you and me to ride to Creston, Hans. 25 to Peachtree and voila!

 

[evil_henchman]

We all know you're in jail dc :lol:

 

[Toecutter]

I crossed two feet over the double yellow because I blew the entrance speed. I was lucky--no truck. So I'm not feeling smug that that wouldn't have happened to me.

I'm not going smug for sure either, never say never, however...

With my stay-right-stay-alive (adopted after following Highlander, Yosemite '05) method of riding blind corners (which most are around here), I'm in much less danger of blowing the lane if I go in too hot. Last time it happened (on the way to WFO-5, trying to stay out in front of 'nut on the Little Dragon section of 49 between Mariposa and Jamestown), I overcooked one bad, and still managed to get turned in short of the paint. TWN almost followed me, but he managed to break the tractor beam of target fixation just in time.

I can't think of anything I'd rather not hit on a bike than an oncoming vehicle. And I can't decide if that statement even makes sense.... :blink:

 

[twowheelnut]

Last time it happened (on the way to WFO-5, trying to stay out in front of 'nut on the Little Dragon section of 49 between Mariposa and Jamestown), I overcooked one bad, and still managed to get turned in short of the paint. TWN almost followed me, but he managed to break the tractor beam of target fixation just in time.

Well, the ever luverly Eve did ask me to watch your back for the bee thing... I guess I got carried away with the request. :blink:

 

[dcarver]

Here is a link to the story. Notice that the impact folded the Ford truck front tire underneath..

 

[Toecutter]

Here is a link to the story.

Speeding is a common problem, he said.

I wouldn't call it a common problem. Not speeding is my common problem. I'm with Sammy Hagar, JB and Hunter S. I've been speeding for 30 years (24 professionally) and I'm still alive. Pure luck?

If Ojai Roy or Highlander wads one up (God forbid), I'll seriously adjust my style of riding.

They go screaming through here, he said.

I can see how. 41 through there is a sweet bike road.

 

[James Burleigh]

Speeding is a common problem, he said.

I wouldn't call it a common problem. Not speeding is my common problem. I'm with Sammy Hagar, JB and Hunter S. I've been speeding for 30 years (24 professionally) and I'm still alive. Pure luck?

"Day said Mandell was wearing a helmet. According to Johnson, Day said, Mandell was driving at high speeds before the crash."


That would NEVER describe me, so I should be all right. Wait a minute... :glare: No, that's not right.... Damn.

Jb

 

[Barabus]

That wasn't the "Micheal" on the old Virgo we met on the first Death Valley run with KG, right? He lives up by you, if I am remembering my facts right. Did anyone catch his last name? HE was the rider that ran out of gas and also had too short of range to run with the FJRs. In any event, I hope it wasn't him.

 

[Khunajawdge]

That wasn't the "Micheal" on the old Virgo we met on the first Death Valley run with KG, right? He lives up by you, if I am remembering my facts right. Did anyone catch his last name? HE was the rider that ran out of gas and also had too short of range to run with the FJRs. In any event, I hope it wasn't him.

Hi Barrie-

Mike McNutt lives near New Cayama nearly 80 miles from Atascadero and rides an 1100 Shadow. He works in Santa Maria and rides back and forth on 166 to and from work. He doesn't get close to Atascadero too often. It wasn't him.

 

[madmike2]

First, this is sad news about a tragic event.

Second, speed is an issue, Toecutter notwithstanding.

I wouldn't call it a common problem. Not speeding is my common problem. I'm with Sammy Hagar, JB and Hunter S. I've been speeding for 30 years (24 professionally) and I'm still alive. Pure luck?

Bob, you forget to mention that while you are speeding at work it is CODE-3. Most of the rest of us don't have the option of redlights, sirens and temporary authority to do that. Admittedly there is skill involve marshalling a large vehicle at highspeed though the skillset for the firetruck vs. the skillset for the FJR are uniquely different.

Notice that the impact folded the Ford truck front tire underneath..

Yes, so what was the angle of impact? To me it seems the motorcycle wasn't merely 24" over the line (That would put him in the left wheel track of opposing traffic) but was in the process of "blowing the corner" and struck the truck at an oblique angle. If that was the case then he was completely out of control and riding far past a "quick" pace. So the statement by the CHP officer was germaine to the incident, i.e., the rider was going too fast.

There are too many posts on this forum alone (I wonder what a search of other motorcycle/sportbike websites might reveal?) about people running wide on corners, etc., etc., that would seem to indicate that we, as a group, are riding above where we should be.

Speed doesn't kill, it is merely an entrance to decisions, possibilities and reactions that do kill. Speed decreases the odds of safely recognizing and correcting a problem.

 

[twowheelnut]

Jebus, he had to be going full honk to do that much damage. Sad, but we do have our limitations as do the machines we ride. I'm taking up the stay right mantra, too.

 

[Barabus]

That wasn't the "Micheal" on the old Virgo we met on the first Death Valley run with KG, right? He lives up by you, if I am remembering my facts right. Did anyone catch his last name? HE was the rider that ran out of gas and also had too short of range to run with the FJRs. In any event, I hope it wasn't him.

Hi Barrie-

Mike McNutt lives near New Cayama nearly 80 miles from Atascadero and rides an 1100 Shadow. He works in Santa Maria and rides back and forth on 166 to and from work. He doesn't get close to Atascadero too often. It wasn't him.

Glad to hear it wasn't him. He doesn't stike me as the blow a corner WFO type anyways.

 

[Toecutter]

I'm taking up the stay right mantra, too.

And if five people do it! Can you imagine five people stayin' right in the same group?! Friends, they may think it's a movement!

And before ya know it, MM2 will be preachin' it at his pre-ride safety lectures. No more will people be tryin' to ride staggered through corners. A true new world order!

 

[James Burleigh]

I'm taking up the stay right mantra, too.

And if five people do it! Can you imagine five people stayin' right in the same group?! Friends, they may think it's a movement!

And before ya know it, MM2 will be preachin' it at his pre-ride safety lectures. No more will people be tryin' to ride staggered through corners. A true new world order!

During my pre-ride briefing for the Shiny-Hiney (aka, Pitchfork and Torches ) ride, knowing that we'd be on a lot of two-lane twisties with double-yellows and loads of tourists, I mentioned the keep right strategy--specifically, stay right of center on right-handers.

So, uh, I guess that makes me a good guy, even though I can't lead a freakin' ride....! ["Try to let go of it, Jb. It'll be all right...."]

Jb

 

[dcarver]

Let me try to describe this corner in words, not my forte. 41 east of Atascadero runs straight and wide for the first 5 or so miles; it's a transitional ride from the city (30k folks?) to country with properties changing from town lots to 1/2/5 acre lots. Several roads tee North and South, then the first corner, a gently right appears after the long straight; it's a very gradual corner followed by another straight that presents the entrance to the 'Eureka Grade' corners. It's a moderate right hander. I can honestly say there is no freaking way I could drag a peg in the corner this rider failed to negotiate, and both of my nubbers are ground down now.

I don't know what really happened, but I will say I've been seeing a dramatic number of inexperienced riders on the road, presumably due to higher fuel prices and with the warmer weather, they are breaking out old bikes or buying new bikes. Just today, waiting for my freakin tire change, not one, not two but three bikes came into the dealership crashed out and either on the hook or in the bed of a tow truck...

So, if you know any of these folks, take the time to talk to them, mentor them... Because their inexperience/death will be your reduced riding privileges / higher insurance rates in the future.

.and in the meantime, a guy named Mike, who I hope I've never met, is no longer with us. Imagine his thoughts just prior to impact... You and I have both run wide and have been lucky no cage was present. Mike wasn't as lucky. Run Right, Run Alive. As I posted earlier, following this mantra saved my bacon on 229 earlier this year...