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Post by bagley61 on Jul 16, 2008 10:29:30 GMT -5
Scooter Driver Killed After Crash With Semi
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ¯ Police say a man riding a motor scooter was killed Tuesday after colliding with a semitrailer truck.
Authorities haven't released the man's name. He died at the scene at the intersection of University Avenue and Malcolm Avenue Southeast near the University of Minnesota campus.
Police say the truck driver was making a wide right turn and swung to the left, hitting the scooter.
Minneapolis police spokesman Sgt. Jesse Garcia says investigators believe the scooter driver thought he could beat the truck through the intersection.
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Post by blackc on Jul 16, 2008 11:02:06 GMT -5
Be careful out there.
We, in this small town, have had two bad accidents involving 2 wheel transportation since last Friday.
In the accident on Friday two bodies, neither wearing a helmet were lying face down in the road.
In yesterdays accident the rider, also not wearing a helmet was sitting on the curb waiting for help and the scooter was underneath a PT cruiser in pieces.
The accident scene is only a few blocks from my house.
Both accidents were at the same intersection.................
I don't know why this particular site is the scene of so many collisions but it is surely the most dangerous in town.
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Post by earlwb on Jul 16, 2008 11:05:27 GMT -5
Plus do not try to beat the train at a railroad crossing either. There have been many 2 wheeled riders that thought they could beat the train and go around the barriers, that found out you can't. The train is going a lot faster than it looks.
You have to give the big trucks a lot of respect. Do not ride beside one, they can't see you, and the wind currents on the sides and back can suck you right into the wheels.
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roper
Junior Dawg
Posts: 10
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Post by roper on Jul 16, 2008 11:33:10 GMT -5
This reminds me of something that happened to me many years ago, but I want to mention it because of all the new riders. It could save your life. My wife and I were on the way home after a short trip, and we were on a small 200 cc m/c. I got behind a semi and was drafting to stay out of the wind. I did this for several miles, then decided to pass the truck. Just as I changed lanes, one of the tires on the trailer let go. The flying rubber would surely have hit us.
Folks please learn from my mistake. Don't be the victim of a 20 lb.+ pice of rubber hitting you.
The Lord was truly watching out for us that day.
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Post by bgray on Jul 16, 2008 12:15:55 GMT -5
I had a airbag with full steel mounts fall off of one right beside me as I passed him a few years back. It scared the sh!t out of me and I was in a cage.
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Post by isawhim on Jul 16, 2008 12:44:22 GMT -5
I think they left out one part...
The direction of the scooter, related to the path of the truck...
Sounds more like the trucker was not aware of his surroundings. Last time I checked, it was illegal to make a left hand turn, unless the road was clear, and it was safe to go... If a scooter is attempting to drive head-on across an intersection... he is NOT, "Trying to beat the truck", he is observing his right-of-way. Even from the looks of it.. the truck is headed right, not left... (On a "Wide turn, a truck heads right first, so the turn to the left has more curb clearance. Sounds like the trucker didn't use signals, and was focused on the turn, not the oncoming traffic.)
Even if it was opposing traffic... coming left-right, with the truck stopped at a stop-sign, obviously... wanting to reach the scooters path on the left, to join him... coming from the south... or north... It is still the truckers fault. Failing to yield to oncoming traffic, and turning when safe... He killed a scooterist, obviously it wasn't safe to turn yet.
(It was not mentioned that the scooter ran a light or a sign... which would make it the scooter's fault. So obviously, he had the right-of-way. A detail like that, would have been mentioned, without hesitation, and that would not have been as news-worthy of publication.)
Sorry, I feel for the trucker, having to drive that beast on roads that are not designed for trucks... thus the need for a wide turn... but I am on the scooterist side on this one.
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Post by mortar235 on Jul 16, 2008 16:48:01 GMT -5
I think they left out one part... The direction of the scooter, related to the path of the truck... Sounds more like the trucker was not aware of his surroundings. Last time I checked, it was illegal to make a left hand turn, unless the road was clear, and it was safe to go... If a scooter is attempting to drive head-on across an intersection... he is NOT, "Trying to beat the truck", he is observing his right-of-way. Even from the looks of it.. the truck is headed right, not left... (On a "Wide turn, a truck heads right first, so the turn to the left has more curb clearance. Sounds like the trucker didn't use signals, and was focused on the turn, not the oncoming traffic.) Even if it was opposing traffic... coming left-right, with the truck stopped at a stop-sign, obviously... wanting to reach the scooters path on the left, to join him... coming from the south... or north... It is still the truckers fault. Failing to yield to oncoming traffic, and turning when safe... He killed a scooterist, obviously it wasn't safe to turn yet. (It was not mentioned that the scooter ran a light or a sign... which would make it the scooter's fault. So obviously, he had the right-of-way. A detail like that, would have been mentioned, without hesitation, and that would not have been as news-worthy of publication.) Sorry, I feel for the trucker, having to drive that beast on roads that are not designed for trucks... thus the need for a wide turn... but I am on the scooterist side on this one. the truck was turning to the right according to the original post... |
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Post by gy6rocket on Jul 17, 2008 9:10:02 GMT -5
Treat all vehicles like your opponents in war. Just imagine everyone is trying to kill you and ride accordingly. Has worked for me in my 15 years of accident free scootering.
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Post by gottascoot on Jul 17, 2008 20:36:57 GMT -5
I was on my Yamaha xs 1100 28 years ago headed north on I-95 north of Pompano Beach in south Fla.,I was going too fast(aprox.75-80mph) when out of nowhere two construction workers came around me like I was going the other way in a El Camino with the tail-gate down,as soon as they got in front of me a wheelbarrow slid off the back !!!! At that speed and as close as they cut in front of me,I still dont know how I missed it.Thank you Jesus !!
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Post by ez on Jul 19, 2008 5:42:44 GMT -5
Sorry, I feel for the trucker, having to drive that beast on roads that are not designed for trucks... thus the need for a wide turn... but I am on the scooterist side on this one. dose it really matter who was right or wrong in the end? getting into a accident with a semi is kinda like arguing with a retarded person, ( mentally challenged for you PC types ) either way you lose. |
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Post by truckerjay on Jan 4, 2009 13:14:40 GMT -5
ive drove semi for 15 yrs never ever ride beside one without being able to see the drivers face in his mirrors. you cant see his face in his mirriors your in his blind spot . not trying to lay blame in this accident does seem like trk was at fault. i think multple lanes going same direction trk making rght trn from rght lane scooter pulls up nxt lane driver never seen him light trns green driver drifts to the lft some to get tlr ard the corner and pulled the trl over scooter. if scooter pulled up to light beeped his horn waved at driver diffent outcome make sure we SEE YOU. trk driver handle a tight corner wrong should hv waited for traiffic to clear then made his turn .
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Post by thumper650 on Jan 4, 2009 14:34:31 GMT -5
Trucks are extremely dangerous. Your best bet is to stay as far away from them as possible for all the reasons mentioned on this thread. I know because I drive one.
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Post by usetheforce on Jan 11, 2009 21:04:21 GMT -5
Trucks are extremely dangerous. Your best bet is to stay as far away from them as possible for all the reasons mentioned on this thread. Amen to that! |
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Post by nickiemcnichols on Jan 12, 2009 20:04:43 GMT -5
Trucks scare the beegeezus out of me, too. I try to avoid them wherever I go. I hated them when I rode my Hogs on the highways. I don't even want to be close to one in my car. "If it's bigger, it has the right of way", is my motto.
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