Rider killed just a few blocks from my house...

bwhip · 10-13-2004, 9:40 AM

I heard the ambulance go by last night about 10:30 PM, and then saw this in this morning's paper:

Man killed in motorcycle crash

Two men on motorcycles crashed into a backhoe in Eagle late Tuesday night, and one of the men was declared dead at the scene.

The crash was reported just before 10:30 p.m. at Beacon Light Road near Croft, Ada County dispatchers said. The other motorcyclist reportedly suffered leg injuries and was transported to a local hospital by air ambulance. Neither man was wearing a helmet, according to reports.

According to reports at the scene, the men ran into the back of a backhoe that was moving down Beacon Light with its flashers on. The driver of the backhoe estimated the motorcycles were traveling at about 80 mph when the crash occurred, a dispatcher said.

Horrible and tragic news, to be sure. Among my first thoughts upon reading this were:

Why is a backhoe driving down a very dark road at 10:30 at night? (I imagine those flashers would be very hard to see)
How does a backhoe driver know the cyclists (presumably coming up from behind) were doing 80 mph?
80 MPH at 10:30 at night with no helmets?
80 MPH with no helmets and one of them just has leg injuries?

TGZ13 · 10-13-2004, 9:43 AM

Sad to hear. Your points are definately valid and makes it sound a little sketchy.

Chain · 10-13-2004, 10:13 AM

Big speed at night w/o helmets. What did these guys expect?

sheepofblue · 10-13-2004, 10:13 AM

The driver of the backhoe has no clue but when asked felt an answer was needed. On a guess he was not looking (it was from behind I guess) but heard them and due to the tragic consequences guessed fast. Guess two he hit them head on and figured thier speed and his combined (closing velocity). Both would be understandable mistakes.

Serial Thriller · 10-13-2004, 10:33 AM

This morning I saw a Blackbird rider on the ground a few blocks from my house. The bike looked like it just fell over (no debris or skidmark) and there were no other vehicles nearby except the police. An officer was kneeling by the rider still on the ground, but he was wearing gear and appeared to be conscious. It was in a school zone so I doubt he was speeding (traffic).

oldgoat · 10-13-2004, 4:50 PM

I think the backhoe drive is trying to shift the blame to a speeding motorcyle.

Aren't they suppose to have and escort on public roads. Especially at night.

sheepofblue · 10-13-2004, 5:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldgoat

I think the backhoe drive is trying to shift the blame to a speeding motorcyle.

Aren't they suppose to have and escort on public roads. Especially at night.

I am sure it varies state to state. In AL cotton equipment is a hazard you just have to watch for (although most farmers do a great job of sharing the right of way) Tractors and other equipment are just a fact of life on the country roads.

EDDIE110171 · 10-13-2004, 5:26 PM

Wonder if his flasher were really even on at time of impact. Maybe he's saying 80 mph to shift any blame.

Holeshot · 10-13-2004, 6:25 PM

Dang.. that blows. Hopefully not someone I know (one of my clients has a couple of MC riding employes in Boise and I know one of them never wears a helmet, the dumbazz... ).

Any way you cut it, that's just WAY BAD.

bwhip · 10-14-2004, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holeshot

Dang.. that blows. Hopefully not someone I know (one of my clients has a couple of MC riding employes in Boise and I know one of them never wears a helmet, the dumbazz... ).

Any way you cut it, that's just WAY BAD.

More details from tonight's news:
EAGLE -- One man is dead and another injured from motorcycle accidents late last night.

The Ada County Sheriff has identified the deceased man as 31-year-old Aaron London of Boise.

According to the sheriff, London and 36-year-old Todd Apple of Boise were riding motorcycles at a high rate of speed on Beacon Light Road near Croft Drive at about 10:30 p.m. when they smashed into a backhoe going the same direction with its flashing lights on.

London died at the scene and Apple was hospitalized with leg injuries and flown to a local hospital. The backhoe driver was not hurt.

The backhoe driver reportedly told authorities that the motorcyclists were going close to 80 miles per hour.

Authorities said neither man was wearing a helmet.

I just saw a clip on the news, and they weren't sportbikes. One of the mangled wrecks had a belt drive.

soon2b954 · 10-14-2004, 9:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwhip

More details from tonight's news:
EAGLE -- One man is dead and another injured from motorcycle accidents late last night.

The Ada County Sheriff has identified the deceased man as 31-year-old Aaron London of Boise.

According to the sheriff, London and 36-year-old Todd Apple of Boise were riding motorcycles at a high rate of speed on Beacon Light Road near Croft Drive at about 10:30 p.m. when they smashed into a backhoe going the same direction with its flashing lights on.

London died at the scene and Apple was hospitalized with leg injuries and flown to a local hospital. The backhoe driver was not hurt.

The backhoe driver reportedly told authorities that the motorcyclists were going close to 80 miles per hour.

Authorities said neither man was wearing a helmet.

I just saw a clip on the news, and they weren't sportbikes. One of the mangled wrecks had a belt drive.

Until the investigation has been completed and the facts are in, how can the news report the fact that the motorcyclists were traveling at a high rate of speed? Does the backhoe operator have LIDAR on his vehicle?

SomeStrangeGuy · 10-16-2004, 6:21 AM

Damned backhoe stunna's, they've gotta be stopped!