Newbie Biker + Driver on cell = Accident

[Grumbler]

This is from a friend of mine in AZ:

Well, last night a friend of mine who bought a new RK in Scottsdale a
couple of weeks ago got plastered by a "Red Light" runner, a Toyota
Camry.

We were headed for Thurs Bike nite (Dos Gringos) sponsored by Chester's
HD of Mesa. It was a weird set of events that led to the accident.

We were at Az Joe's in AJ at first 6 pm and come to find out that the
"bike nite" at Az Joe's was cancelled and we decided to go to the
competitor.

We were waiting, sharing the left turn lane, for the left arrow. He was
chatting away while I was reading his lips then arrow came on and I
looked to my left first then to my right to make sure the traffic had
stopped, heard my friend's RK rev up and at the same time that I spotted
the red light runner speeding on my right, talking on the cell phone.

I tried to wave my friend to stop but he was already in the intersection.
Sheesh! The RK and Camry are totaled with both the red lighter and my
friend unconcious and bleeding out.

People in cars, parked and stopping in intersection were helping them.
One was a Nurse. Eventually both were flown to seperate hospitals and I
had to stay and make out the report, etc. I was kind of shook up but did
what it needed to be done.

I rode to the hospital and made phone calls to other friends to get his
family. After 10 hrs of surgery he's out of danger. Lost his pinky, ring
and middle fingers on his right hand, several broken bones(ribs, arms
and legs), internal organs trauma along with swelling of his brain that
had to drill a hole to relieve cranial pressure. Still in induced coma.
Will wake him up later today and hope there's no brain damage, etc.

Haven't heard about the condition of the Cager(20 yr old ASU student).

The RK has only 390 miles. The cop mentioned another newbie who didn't
ride defensivily bit the dust.

I got home at 2 am. Couldn't sleep.The noise from the impact was
awesome and still ringing in my ears this morn. Wow!

My friend haven't ridden in 20 yrs due to raising family and such. He's
57 now, I believe. I told him to take the M/C class that the state
offers. He said, nah. Don't need it. Oh well.

He wasn't wearing a helmet. Usually he does, it's a full face helmet,
don't know what kind. I think he bought it at HD.

Yeah, wearing a helmet could have lessen the head injury. His bod was
sandwiched between the front end of the car and his Bike. The rear tire
and fender assembly of the bike was inside the Camry pinning the driver.
The driver's seat was ripped off from the floorboard and he was found in
the back seat area. Had to use jaws of life to remove the driver.

Yeah, it was a reality check for me. Might even start to wear my ff
helmet on a reg basis. Ugh! Summer coming and it's hot under the
helmet.

The Drifter has an appt with Kelly's this morn, reg maintenance service,
etc. Will swing by the hospital afterwards.

[SeaBiscuit_SE]

Man that sucks to say the least. I lived in the Phoenix area for about 3 years and alomst bought a bike when I totalled my car (not a major collision, but enough for the insurance to total it out..). The one thing my insurance agent said was "don't get a bike out here cause the drivers are horrible (especially when the snow birds are out when the weather's nice)".

I hope your friend pulls through and is able to ride again some day. I'd never seen as many red light runners as I had in Arizona.

Stay safe and God bless.

[joeVulcan]

Wow. Seeing something like that would almost make me want to hang the helmet up for good. Hope you friend wakes up in better shape then when they put him under.

_/\_

[Grumbler]

Originally Posted by joeVulcan

Wow. Seeing something like that would almost make me want to hang the helmet up for good. Hope you friend wakes up in better shape then when they put him under.

_/\_

We're supposed to look *both* ways before entering an
intersection. My bud did, but the newbie didn't. Yes, the
cager caused the accident. Still, had the newbie looked
both ways instead of BSing then he'd have watched the
cager blow by like my bud.

[Grumbler]

Originally Posted by SeaBiscuit_SE

The one thing my insurance agent said was "don't get a bike out here cause the drivers are horrible (especially when the snow birds are out when the weather's nice)".

I'd never seen as many red light runners as I had in Arizona.

The PHX metro region is extremely dangerous for motorcyclists, Not
only do you have the snowbirds, there's also a lot of senior citizens
from retirement communities as well as the typical distracted driver.

An experienced motorcyclist has a much better chance of avoiding
an accident with years of defensive riding under his/her belt. OTOH,
a newbie or returning biker who doesn't take the MSF class is much
more likely to be on an accident report.

I was hit by a red light runner in Santa Clara, CA back in 1984. Was
in my GMC C1500 pickup, Like the newbie biker, I didn't look to my
right after the light changed, and *bam*. Learned my lesson.

[Druid]

Really really sorry for your mate. Things like that just remind us all that no matter how hard you try sometimes you do something that will put you at risk.

That is irrelevant, I hope he recovers as fast as possible.

[jack030]

I try to make it a habit to watch all traffic come to a stop at intersections. Even if it's my turn at a 4-way if someone else is approaching the intersection who wasn't part of the original scenario, I'll wait til they arrive and come to a stop.
I've been the distracted driver before (no cell phone or radio though, just dazed after work). Luckily the vehicle I hit was a pick-up and not a bike!

[Utah Motorcyclist]

Wow. Sorry to hear about this.

_/\_

[sablesurfer]

Wow....my condolances to your friend...and my thoughts for you. I have witnessed my share of accidents...and not sure they get any better. The images play over an over.
Really hope you are doing ok. Last accident I was the only witness too...I had to eventually use the employee assistance and get someone to talk to because of how badly it impacted me.
Take care of yourself.

Thanks for posting this....as I move up to my bigger ride....it is very important to keep in mind that I am still a target and to watch for everyone.

Hope your friend turns out ok.

[Tendofreak]

That cop really said that? yes he should have lookd but someone talking on a cell phone runnin a red light is the one that s/b jailed. yes...jail. not talkin life but 3 months of their life in jail while this other person recovers sounds fair. not too mention probation and community time. I hate cell phone talking whle drivng. Caues too many accidents and loss of life. S/B outlawed.

[E-J]

Thank goodness it didn't happen in FL, there would be no penalty for the cager.

[mad5674]

That's terrible to hear about let alone witness, especially being a friend...hope you both recover okay. I would've been hit 3 or 4 times in the last month if not for defense! Some times even after making eye contact!

This is the worst time of the season....most offenders...teens-to-twenty somethings...especially girls on cell phones!

[barry5k]

Like I've always said, any idiot (the cager) can get a license, and there are even more idiots out there that don't even have a license. I hope the best for your friend and we can all learn a lesson from your post!

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Tendofreak

That cop really said that?

All the time.

A similar comment was made to a reporter when my friend was killed last September.
He had been riding for at least 10 years and had over 50k on the bike he was riding when he died. He commuted to work daily on that bike, and put on a LOT of highway miles.

Sometimes they just don't think before they blab something insensitive to a witness or reporter.