Stories Like This Break My Heart

Discussion in 'In the News' started by Chrissy Cross, Oct 15, 2018.

  1. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    This happened last week at Cal Poly, the University my oldest grandson goes to. A freshman died on his motorcycle. :(

    I just saw this story about the first responders and it made me cry....life is so precious and in one instant it's gone.

    But his poor family will suffer a long time..

    https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article219956650.html
     
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  2. Holly Saunders

    Holly Saunders Supreme Member
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    Oh yes anything like that is heartbreaking, especially when it's a child, but I hate motorbikes, I wish they were banned tbh...cue uproar from motorcycle riders...I've even had 2 myself but they are so dangerous and so unprotected from other drivers too... I

    What a comfort to the parents that their son was in the hands of caring professionals when he passed, but their hearts will be broken forever. R.I.P young man!!
     
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  3. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    Agree about motorcycles!
     
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  4. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    Thing is, the story didn't say if the student was wearing a helmet. When not wearing a helmet, riding a motorcycle can be extremely dangerous.

    When I worked in EMS (ambulance driver/attendant), I stood by for motor cross races and even had a DOA at one. One to one accident where the rider let his girlfriend use his helmet. He died at the scene and she lived.

    I could have been killed years ago, because I didn't have a helmet on. Luckily, my head didn't hit the edge of the sidewalk. I've had two motorcycle accidents that were solo (nobody else involved) and both my fault. What's weird though, many riders, after they heal from an accident, will buy and ride another bike. I did exactly that. I got rid of my last one in mid 2002, and didn't renew my motorcycle endorsement. The last one I had, was my only transportation. Had rain gear and a cover for the bike.

    I also feel for the family, but as always, would like to know the entire story.
     
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  5. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    He was...here's a section of the story that shows that...



    He and Delavega began performing CPR, starting with chest compressions. When they noticed the shallow breathing stopped, they gently removed Jordan’s helmet, and Delavega began giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

    Also..I don't think Ive ever seen a motorcyclist on Hwy 101 without a helmet....speeds are fast for most of it.
     
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  6. Bill Boggs

    Bill Boggs Supreme Member
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    They removed his helmet to try to revive him. I rode a bike off and on from age sixteen until the early nineties when I had a near accident with a young grandson riding behind me. That was the second time I was really scared while riding a bike. Shortlly afterwards I sold my bike to a police officer. I stll carry memories in my head of two fatal motorcycle wrecks. One was a riding buddy. Another couple I didn't know, but I witnessed the accident. Even today I allow motorcycles a lot of room on the streets and highways because i know there are a lot of inexperienced young ridwers about, and a lot of other drivers who don't see the motorcycle at all until after the accident. Some stories like this haunt me because I know bike riders involved in an accident usually don't stand a chance.
     
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  7. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    I think I've mentioned it before in the forum but, as a paramedic, I have never responded to a motorcycle accident in which the motorcyclist lived. Motorcycle accidents tend to be either so minor that EMS isn't called, or they are very serious. I should mention that I haven't responded to a lot of motorcycle accidents because motorcycles aren't that popular in the Rio Grande Valley, but the ones I have been to were either dead on the scene or shortly thereafter.

    I used to ride a motorcycle, as they were very practical in Southern California, where you could ride them year-round, and where they were most helpful in getting out of traffic jams.

    Maine passed a helmet law some years back but it was overturned by a citizen referendum. Nevertheless, although helmets are not required here, I rarely see anyone not wearing one, except in slow-moving things like parades and such.
     
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  8. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    Well this happened on the central coast. There's a petition being circulated because that spot has had numerous accidents.

    I'm not sure since he was a freshman why he had the motorcycle.....I just know that freshman can't have cars on campus the first year.

    Maybe he lived off campus, I'll have to ask my daughter.

    Most kids have bikes, so maybe it's considered a bike...who knows?
     
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  9. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    One thing about "crotch-rockets" (speed motorcycles), the older teens and above, that have them, like to ride them fast and swerve in and out of traffic. Heck, I can hear these bikes flying down the street by our apartment complex. And, on the freeway, well, if you ever seen one of these "rockets" fly by you and go in and out of traffic, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

    Now, obviously, on a "fully-dressed" bike, like a Goldwing or modern Harley, you won't see this. They are much more careful drivers.
     
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  10. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    I don't think this accident was this kids fault. In fact it wasn't.

    What I mean is I think he was a responsible enough kid.

    In fact the parents commented that they didn't even want him to ride it that day but figured since he's in college, they should let him make his own decisions....they did say they wouldn't have wanted him driving at night.

    But on the other hand, I agree...Ive seen some crazy riders taking all kinds of risks ...speeding and weaving thru traffic....especially when they ride the lane between the cars...you don't even see them coming.
     
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  11. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    Yep, Ken, that's where I rode the motorcycles I had...….in southern Calif. Actually, the first one I ever drove, and all I needed was my drivers license, was when I was in the Navy in San Diego. Use to rent a Suzuki 125 for the weekend. No helmet, back then (late 1968 and on). My last motorcycle was a Kawasaki 650 4K (4 into 1 exhaust) I bought in late 1998. Had a full-face helmet. Took my wife to work on it once. She wore the helmet I got when I first bought the bike and I wore the full-face. Sold the bike before we moved to Colorado. Like I already stated, it was the only form of transportation I had for a year or so.

    Today, I wouldn't even think about riding or even buying one.
     
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  12. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    People who drive cars are not tuned into watching out for someone on a motorcycle. Someone can stop at an intersection, look in both directions, and yet the presence of an oncoming motorcycle might not register. Most of us are programmed to look out for cars and trucks, not motorcycles. I have seen that myself, both as a motorcyclist and as the driver of a car. That is a common cause of car-motorcycle accidents, so motorcyclists need to be extra careful, aware that the driver of a car may not note their presence.

    I have had someone use his blinkers to go around me on a two-lane road, so I know that he knew I was there, but then he turned directly in front of me, striking the front wheel of my motorcycle. He wasn't drunk, and he acknowledged that he was at fault. After going around me, he just forgot that I was there. Repeatedly, I have seen cars stop at intersections, then pull out in front of me.

    As the driver of a car, I haven't ran down any motorcyclists yet but I have seen that it necessary to take extra precautions to be aware of motorcycles on the road. It is easy to stop, looking to the right, seeing nothing, then looking to the left, seeing an oncoming motorcycle, yet not immediately acknowledging it as an obstruction to pulling out into traffic.

    Surely, people need to make a point of being aware of motorcycles on the road because it's all too easy to dismiss them, but motorcyclists need to be aware that other drivers might not see them, and that, even if they see them, they still might not react appropriately.
     
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  13. Don Alaska

    Don Alaska Supreme Member
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    I think almost 70 % of organ donors are motorcycle riders. It seems logical to me that this should be pointed out when on is getting a motorcycles endorsement/license and an organ donor card should be included with the license....
     
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  14. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    For the year or so I had my last one, I "split traffic". Don't know if that's still legal in Calif., but it was back in 1999. In fact, everyone who owned a motorcycle (freeway legal that is) would split traffic, when traffic was backed up on the freeway or street...…….even law enforcement. One time I was "splitting traffic" and had another motorcycle rider in front of me and a CHP Officer on his patrol bike behind him and two other motorcycle riders behind the Officer. We were all driving down and avoiding any side mirrors that were sticking out from vehicles. In "splitting traffic" a rider has to be extremely careful and we were.
     
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  15. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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