Saturday morning found me sitting in front of a computer screen working on homework thinking I’d rather be riding on a Star when just before noon I heard the familiar ‘tone out’ of my son’s pager. The weather was gorgeous outside but the voice was chilling, as it always is. “Stations 5 and 7 respond.” (Neither is my son’s station but in rural areas the emergency 911 calls tone to all first responders due to the nature of the volunteer system.) “Multi vehicle collision on Perth Road, one male possible VSA; tractor trailer may have been involved.”
Perth Road from Inverary to Westport is very popular with motorcyclists in the area and is one of, if not my favorite local road for a motorcycle ride. It is hilly and filled with gentle curves many of them with speed limits of 50 to 70 kilometers per hour. It’s the road I most certainly would have been riding on Saturday morning if not for work and luck.
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A motorcyclist was killed after a three vehicle motor-vehicle collision
on Perth Road north of Buck Lake in South Frontenac north of Kingston, Ont. on
Saturday May 30, 2015. Steph Crosier/Kingston Whig-Standard/Postmedia Network
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The local newspaper reported today that the truck most likely crossed the centre line on a curve; the first two of the group of three motorcycles managed to maneuver around the oncoming truck, the third motorcycle and the SUV following did not.
I recall, back in 2012, Trobairitz commenting on how funny it is to trust that all of those other drivers will stay on their side of the road … sometimes that trust is, I guess, misplaced and that breach is fatal. My heart goes out to the family of the rider, Ryan New.
Ugh... It can make a person ill on many levels. I can't help but wonder if a cell phone distraction played a part in this.
ReplyDeleteThere has been no mention of it, but who knows. I can't help thinking that on these curves speed may have been a factor.
DeleteAlways sad to hear of incidents like this. And an accurate comment about trusting others to stay on their side of the road.
ReplyDeleteBrandy's comment has stuck with me ... we are totally trusting our lives to others when we are on the roads regardless of how we travel.
DeleteNasty and something you really hate to see in the news. There was a fatality over here this weekend where a bike hit turning car and the pillion was thrown off and killed, the rider badly injured.
ReplyDeleteTrust no one or the surface you're about to ride on. Stay alert, constantly look for hazards and ride to your ability. I'm probably preaching to the converted here...
So true Andrew. I'm sure the investigation will fill in the details of what happened here - that being said, tractor trailer clips motorcycle, motorcycle looses every time.
DeleteA terrible tragedy. In a similar situation last week driving in Greece (we were in a car) an out of control motorcycle ridden like a speedway bike slid across the corner and missed us by inches (me having swerved into the shoulder), and the car behind too swerved and missed - all over in a flash!
ReplyDeleteThe first two riders managed to take evasive action and avoided collision; from the news photos looks to me like the SUV was following close behind the motorcycle - perhaps limiting his choices. Wrapped in a Lexus they survived, "Saved by the guard rail," according to the police. I'm sure it was over in seconds.
DeleteMissed this in the local news. Always so infuriating that someone out just enjoying a nice day, minding their own business, is killed or injured by some dickhead who can't drive. RIP Ryan New.
ReplyDeleteCanajun the news today reported charges are pending against the truck driver. No matter the fine, it will never bring back the life but that driver will carry the burden of his carelessness for the rest of his life. It was for sure - senseless!
DeleteTerrible news. It happens all too often. We have had a few close calls in France with regards to motorists crossing the centreline in curves, so instead of riding the ideal line, we kept closer to our side, not making the best turn but the safest. RIP, Ryan.
ReplyDeleteSonja, I wondered what positions they were riding myself. I expect that the third rider was riding the centre line. I will for sure, rethink my riding position next time I ride this route or, for that matter, any blind curve.
DeleteExactly Sonja, the ideal ("Advanced Motorcycle training" line on right hand blind corners puts you bang in the collision zone!
DeleteSad. Enjoyable as riding is, it does leave us exposed to careless cage drivers. I've had my share or close calls.
ReplyDeleteHighwayMan - you no doubt avoided catastrophe on those close calls because of your experience, skill and I have to think a bit of good karma (I know I've felt sometimes I've just had damn good luck.) Sometimes however, the universe works against you: for motorcycle riders, car drivers and pedestrians alike we can only control so much. Sometimes the way the cards are dealt there is little, regardless of your skills or experience, you can do. You can however, stack the deck in your favor by riding within your skills and comfort level, slowing down, looking far ahead (always expecting the unexpected), wearing the best gear you can, realizing how vulnerable you always are and practicing the skills you need to survive ... the rest is....well, it is what it is, I won't stop riding ...but that's just my opinion.
DeleteSo sad, my heart goes out to the family. There have been a few fatal here lately and it always seems to be vehicles crossing the centerline. One hit a motorcycle officer in Clackamas (Portland) a few weeks ago, luckily he survived.
ReplyDeleteWe have the widest roads in the words, why can't people keep it in their lane? Distracted, texting their besties, eating that burger, adjusting the radio? When will people understand that driving is a privilege and not a right and they are piloting a dangerous machine and should pay attention accordingly.
This is the main reason that we have consciously been riding more dirt bike and mountain bikes and less and less of our big motorcycles on the road. Traffic.
Trobairitz it was sad because it would seem it was totally avoidable. The news reported that charges are pending. There has been no suggestion of distracted driving at this point, only a suggestion that speed may have been a factor. It's a beautiful road, but a road that demands you obey the posted speed limits. I won't give up my love of travelling (though I can see the attraction for the trails) but I will continue to recognize my vulnerability and do what I can to make myself less at risk.
ReplyDeletei always feel such sadness when I read stories or hear of them on the news or riding community. my thoughts and prayers are with the family.
ReplyDeleteSo sad and so avoidable. Everyone these days seems to be in such a rush and there are too many distracted drivers. Every time I see something like this I can't help but think "there but by the grace of God go I". Thoughts to the family.
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