Motorcycle Accident Last Night

Sadly, I feel it was only a matter of time...

Last night at approximately 8:15pm, two motorcycles passed behind my house at a very high rate of speed northbound on Claiborne. Seconds later, one was crashed at the intersection of Claiborne and Vestals Gap Drive. The rider appeared to be conscious and moving as he was loaded into the ambulance, but obviously suffered some pretty serious road rash, as all he was wearing was a t-shirt and shorts. If that ends up being the extent of his injuries, he is one lucky guy. Thankfully, he was wearing a helmet.

Every summer since we moved here in 1999, Daytona International Speedway moves north to Broadlands, as Claiborne is appareantly the boulevard of choice for high-speed crotch rocket runs, especially on weekends. Hopefully, the young man will be OK, and the LCP patrols this road more frequently to cut down on the speeding.

 

I find it fairly hard to have any sympathy for anything that happens to the speeders while racing at excessive speeds down Claiborne. Not that I wish any harm on them, but what they are doing and where they are doing it is putting a lot more in danger than just themselves. I often hear the engines screaming as they pass nearby and every time hope that if/when something happens that it only involves those who are speeding and not some innocent bystander. While it sounds like this guy made out fairly lucky I think what's more lucky is his accident didn't include one of our neighbor's happening to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

Those two were loud and fast last night. I made a comment to my daughter that they were driving way too fast and could have an accident. As soon as I heard all the sirens and saw the traffic stopping behind the house, I KNEW it was them.

Hard way to learn a lesson. Hope he's OK.

 

a little pain is a better teacher than a lot of lectures. hope he'll recover but have SOMETHING to remind him NOT to put himself and others in that kind of danger again.

 

While outside on our patio last night 7:35pm, (which runs parallel to Claiborne) we called the LCSO to report these two bikes (blue/white bike & yellow bike) for excessive speeding and running the 4-way stop.

It is sad and ironic that an accident happened, but these idiot motorcycle drivers have abuse N/S Claiborne as a race way for years. It was bound to happen.

 

As a Rider this situation demostrates two of the traits that make "All Bikers" look bad - squiddliness & stupidity. Bikers who do dumb things like speeding, filtering, threading, wheelies & stoppies are called "squids." Feel free to point a biker riding recklessly and yell (as loud as you can) "HEY! SQUIDWARD!!!!"

Then there's the equipment issue. Minimum gear for anyone on a motorbike is helmet, long pants, at least ankle high boots, & long sleeved t-shirt. This will probably start a flame-war & that's OK. I'd rather be flamed than scarred by conducting a 40 MPH asphalt inspection. I see many, many bikers in short sleeves and that's their gig & it's cool, but it's inviting disaster if anything happens that causes them to dump. Personally, because of all the cage drivers out there who just don't give a flying gooney-goo-goo about us on two wheels I am in full armor all the time. Yes, it's a pain to go on a ride but it's more of a pain to leave most of your leg on the road too.

And, please, don't talk about the motorcycle cops & their short sleeves. Trust me - if you've goen through their training & the hundreds of hours of drill, you've earned the short sleeves.

Anyway - I hope the little squid is OK but I also hope his precious crotch-rocket is so mangled that he sees this for the mutli-thousand dollar moron-move it was. Hopefully the LCSO heaped on the hurt with a four point wreckless driving citation.

OK - sopabox aside - I'm goin for a ride!

 

I saw them FLY by last night. I would put them doing about 90. When I saw the slowing traffic and the emergency vehicles, I knew. I am VERY surprised that he is alive.

 

Two important points to make here:

1. It's worth it to reiterate not all motorcyclists are idiots like these squids, most are well trained and conscientious riders who follow the rules of the road and coexist fine with other vehicles -- I mention this to guard against any reckless stereotyping (and might I add, the same goes for cyclists, but that's another thread).

2. As a former racing cyclist, I can attest road rash exhibits its own special kind of pain and suffering -- no fun. Assuredly, that boy is going to hurt for a long while, even if he was lucky enough to avoid any other injuries.

 

We back to Claiborne as well, and see (well, hearing them usually) these guys all the time. I saw them a few weeks ago when out grilling bbq on the deck. They went by at a normal speed, then went back the other direction (and back again) at 80+. I think they run by first to make sure there are no cops, then go on their joy ride. They don't stick around however, its just a couple passes then we don't hear/see them again for a few days. Adults should know better, and I'd like to think they have learned their lesson but somehow I doubt it.

 

I think they may be the same group that speeds up Broadlands Blvd by the Safeway. Hear those all the time.

 

Really, WOW! Talk about taking chances at a very busy, dangerous intersection...

 

Back in the day before construction started in SouthernWalk, that section of Clairborne Parkway was known to some folks as Test and Tune. No one was on it and it was fairly straight.

 

We back to Truro Parish and here those motorcycles all the time. I knew it was only a matter of time. I doubt they learned their lesson. People that stupid never do.