Rudy won't be riding anymore...

[wheatonFJR]

Thanks bob for doing what you do I couldn't do it.Just a sad sad story for Rudy its always the good ones it seems.

Very good friend just lost an uncle to a kid texting. kid wasn't hurt. this **** has got to stop.

I agree. :angry2:

<Rant>There is no reason that your friend's Uncle had to suffer the death penalty for the kid's failure to give a minimum amount of attention to the road. Mebbe it's time that for a couple of years we go back to "an eye for an eye"...just to shake people back into the consequences of their poor decision making skills. <Rant off>

Sorry for the rant...but my BP goes through the roof when I see the needless maiming and dying.

 

[FJRBluesman]

That is a bummer. Hate to hear this kind of stuff.

Your job is one I could never handle.

 

[Fred W]

Damn Toe, that sucks badly. As others have said, I don't know how you can do it. I hope following the case helps you bring some clarity and solace to yourself.

A shame, but then bicycles mixin it up with cars and trucks never does work out for the rider. Though in this case the rider was probably innocent as hell, I daily see examples of just the opposite, and wonder how so many survive the day.

There are many who would say the same thing about motorcycles...

Sorry, but I don't see the difference between a cyclist or motorcyclist getting killed by some dipshit driver's inattentiveness.

Same, same...

The driver should receive a heavy penalty, IMO.

 

[Scarman]

Sorry to read this post Toecutter. Tough stuff for sure. I'm guessing this was out towards Kerman. I grew up out there in the countryside. Much of my family were involved with the North Central Fire District and with CDF so I've heard many of the same stories. Hard for everyone involved.

 

[Geezer]

Sorry to hear about this. I don't buy the part about the driver never seeing him until he heard the thud. That is just the standard response whenever a driver does something very stupid and doesn't want to accept responsibility. We have to stop accepting 'I never saw him' as an excuse for careless driving.

 

[beemerdons]

Bob, I am just so very glad that individuals like you with Compassion and Courage are on America's Fire Fighting Services!

https://www.firefightinglinks.com/btarver.html I was good friends with fallen Fire Fighter Bret Tarver who had same qualities!!

 

[1FJR]

Toecutter,

My wife is is almost a Paramedic (one test away) and I who drives the other vehicle with the flashing lights that nobody likes to see behind them always wonder who we will know on the calls we run. We live and work in a small comunity. We are lucky that we are able to get good updates on the folks that we deal with. Keep up the good work.

 

[MCML]

Bob, truly sorry to hear the tale and interested in how it unfolds (although it has unfolded quite far enough for the Old Guy). Happy to know, though, that there are folks like you out there doing what can be done.

 

[7xray]

Bob, I am just so very glad that individuals like you with Compassion and Courage are on America's Fire Fighting Services!
https://www.firefightinglinks.com/btarver.html I was good friends with fallen Fire Fighter Bret Tarver who had same qualities!!

Bob. I know what you are going through and you are doing the right thing working through it. We all get to the place where we need to do that. The gallows humor we often use falls flat.

And, Bob, please excuse the following small hijack. Beemerdons, Bret Tarver's story will undoubtedly save firefighters around the country. I know. I pulled a crew off a fire when they were in three or four hose lengths after learning about Bret. Just wasn't worth it. No lives to be saved, just some property.

Take care Bob. We care about you too.

Fred

 

[Docholiday]

We had a guy like Rudy in our town. A retired guy who rode his bicycle everywhere and volunteered as a track coach at one of the local high schools until a driver who "didn't see him" took him out. The only thing good I could see about the situation was that he died doing what he loved to do. I'd much rather die riding my bicycle or my FJR than slobbering in a nursing home. The truck driver deserves any grief that he gets, but I don't think Rudy had a bad death. I've seen far worse working in hospitals. At least he had a compassionate group of caretakers on his trip to the next life. Thanks for caring.

 

[fjrboomer]

It is a sad story but I think we must all assume that Rudy had a good and full life and now has gotten to go to a better place. He was escorted there by some of our real heros in the nation.

Toecutter and 1FJR and his wife are all people with a special quality about them that gives them the ability to do the work they do. We are all greatful for their efforts and sacrifice they make in doing their careers with professionalism and care. Thanks to each of you.

 

[madmike2]

Bob, a long time ago in a galaxy far far away I used to provide support services for on-scene investigations for police and fire. I DO understand your state of mind and the preventative measures you are mentally taking. You're right, following this case may provide some closure for you. If nothing else, the perpetrator will know that this man had others who cared about his welfare.

Perhaps your interest ( a letter to the court from you signed by the other firefighters in your station about your casual relationship with Rudy) will spur the courts to not simply sweep this case "under the rug" and it might influence the D.A. to charge the cager (pick-up truck driver) with negligence.

Keep looking up, Bob. True justice may never be found in this sphere.

 

[CAJW]

Been there my friend. I still struggle with (at times) a lethal combination of a 2 year old, a milk jug filled with gasoline and a hot water heater pilot light in close proximity. Never flew faster in my life, but it wasn't enough. Don't think or talk about it much, but your story brought it back to the surface. It IS good to discuss, get it out and move on as best as we can. Sorry for the old guy, but as others have said, he had the best and most compassionate people around him at the end. Hang tough, time does us all wonders.

John