(With the Help of Daytona News Journal) Unfortunately, less traffic in 2011 than during the last years doesn’t mean less fatalities. Six people had died because of motorcycle-related accidents in Volusia County by Sunday night, law enforcement officials said. Five of the six people killed since Biketoberfest 20011 began Thursday were riding motorcycles and one man was riding a motorized bicycle that crashed into a motorcycle, authorities said. Last year’s event was marked by one death in a crash that killed a pregnant Port Orange woman and injured three other riders. One person died from a motorcycle-related accident during Biketoberfest in 2009 and two people were killed in motorcycle-related injuries in Biketoberfest 2008. In 2007, no traffic deaths were reported during the event, while five people died during Biktoberfest 2005.
The first bike-related death occurred on Thursday, the first official day of the festivities. Holly Hill police said a man riding a motorized bicycle swerved in front of a motorcycle and was killed in the collision. Witnesses said Rufus Jones, 48, had been weaving in and out of traffic along Ridgewood Avenue on the bicycle when he turned in front of the motorcycle driven by Scott Spencer, 56, of Ormond Beach, at Ridgewood and Eighth Street. The first two bikers killed Sunday were struck by a hit-and-run driver at 4:30 a.m. on westbound Interstate 4. FHP Sgt. Kim Montes said a Ford Explorer struck the rear of a motorcycle carrying 32-year-old Allison Sellers of Sanford and sped away. A 34-year-old Sanford man driving the motorcycle also was also killed, but his name was not released Sunday pending notification of family. The man was run over by at least two vehicles after the hit-and-run, according to a crash report. Police later found the Explorer broken down about five miles away in DeLand, and questioned a woman they believe was involved. Meanwhile, the driver of a westbound car trying to avoid the wreck went off the interstate, hit a tree and caught fire. The occupants escaped. The other two biker deaths Sunday occurred about 5:30 p.m. in Port Orange. A man and a woman on a motorcycle were killed at the scene when their bike collided with a small pickup. On Saturday afternoon, 50-year-old Shirley Boone of Oklahoma died after the motorcycle she was a passenger on skidded off I-4 near the Lake Helen exit, Montes said. The driver of the bike, Robert K. Jackson, 58, of Woodward, Okla., lost control of the motorcycle and was critically injured. Spencer suffered minor injuries, Holly Hill police said.
sad… our prayers go with them…
I have seen more bike crashes and deaths this year than I ever have in my life. I don’t know what’s going on but it worries me.
Two of the incidents involved drunken cage zombies. The dude on the motorized bike was known to have some “issues”. Sad for him and the guy on the bike that hit him (not his fault). The other two were due to the rider’s failure to maintain a safe distance behind another vehicle (couldn’t stop quick enough). Except maybe for the guy on the motorized bike none of the riders have been shown to have been impaired.
That I4 is just a brutal place to be on during bike weeks!
I wonder how many of these accidents/deaths they (police) will be attributing to alcohol/drug usage.
Over & Out,
Jeff
Whoops … I suppose I should have read Toby’s comment before I asked the question …. my bad!
Over & Out,
Jeff
Autopsies might prove otherwise Jeff, but the initial indications were that the bikers were sober.
Interesting take is that one of the riders on I-4 was hit three times by following cars. The driver of one of those cars was over the limit, and even though he did not cause the accident he may be charged with manslaughter DUI. And yes, he actually stopped after hitting the rider laying in the road, unlike the chick that caused the accident who fled (later caught).
This Bastard took two lives.
They ought to drag his ass with all 3 bikes from Port Orange straight up I-95 at 10-mph all the way to Rossmeyer’s.
Read this…
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/10/17/Cyclist-killed-at-Biketoberfest-rally/UPI-53621287326618/
Boss Hawg
Toby…They where all probably on their cell phones or texting at the time! Gee what a sacrifice for the convenence of technology.
Ah to be free but die from someone elses mistakes !
SSDD;David
I grieve the deaths of fellow bikers and pray for their families. Anytime we are faced with this issue , there is a danger to rush to judgement about causes and reasons for an increase. The sheer amount of bikers in one place at any given locale is always a contributing factor to an increase and beyond that there are numerous variables. Speaking from my own experience over the past ten years I have seen a marked increase in ridership as well as many people riding that should not be riding. Just because you can afford a motorcycle and you want to feel like a ” real ” biker does’nt automatically equip you to ride one in a safe and proficient manner. If you participate in a multi rider event such as a poker run , toy run etc. you won’t have to look far to see someone who is unstable , erratic and lacks confidence and control of their bike. After racing motorcycles in various
disciplines and logging thousands of miles on the road ( including 3 crashes; 1 drunk and stupid and 2 animal interactions ) I can testify that riding a motorcycle is inherently dangerous in the best conditions and with experienced riders. When mitigating factors like inexperience , over confidence and increased ridership are factored in it can contribute to an increase in accidents acroos the board. Ride safe .
I gotta say…being a Florida resident for such a short time, the riders that I come in contact with here all seem vigilant…the people in trucks, cars and SUV’s seem to be the exact opposite. I have never been anywhere in my life where there is such a lack of regard for anyone else on the road and I have driven my bike in every borough of NYC. For being such a “friendly” place, Florida sure could use some manners on the roads. I guess Southern Hospitality ends once you get behind the wheel of a death machine. Reminds me of the old Goofy cartoon where he is mild mannered at home and at work but a monster behind the wheel. I hate to hear anyone die on a bike for any reason. God bless their families.
Does Fla have a helmet law?
live2rideaglide,,,,, absolutely !! well said, . our condolences 2 the familys from down under.