very disturbing wreck scene UPDATE #48

[Trish Bessette]

OP - just wanted you to know that YOU are in my thoughts as well as the victims and the young driver of the other car. Such a sad tragedy and I pray all of you can find comfort.

 

[DMRick]

Two young men were killed in Florida yesterday near Tampa after a SUV turned into their motorcycle. The 18 year old killed, family were friends of our friends.

 

[MickeyMom2Boys]

Op - I'm so sorry you had to witness this - regardless of who was at fault.

When I was 17 DH and I (he was my BF then - and 20 yo at the time) were driving home one night (Oct 6, 1996) and the road split - they had altered traffic in order to rebuild a bridge. Traffic went off to the left and curved around - in between jersey walls and with little lighting in the area. There was what looked like a trashbag on the ground. I slowed down, but being between jersey walls there was no where to go - and there was a car behind me. With hardly any lighting we didn't realize what it was until we were right up on it - no, him. It was a man laying in the middle of the road - big guy with a black leather jacket on (that looked like a trash bag from a distance). We hit him then the guy behind us hit him, and then hit us. When we got out. The guy behind us had no idea why we stopped. DH said "We just hit a guy - he's under your truck." The other guy just turned around and looked and sat back in his truck trying to figure out what had happened.

Turns out the guy was on a motorcycle - drunk. He was seen by a witness leaving a bar and doing tricks on the bike - feet on the handle bars, etc. When he fell off, the bike kept going due to the jersey walls. A witness in front of him saw him fall off, but couldn't stop because the bike kept coming towards him - bouncing off the jersey walls. Once the bike finally came to a stop against the guard rail, the guy pulled over, and was walking back. That's when we came along.

DH went back to check on him and he was still breathing. He said the alcohol smell was very strong. When the ambulance came and brought the guy past my truck to get to the ambulance, DH forced my head down so I wouldn't see. Thank God he did. He still says he wishes he hadn't gone back there. The guy died on the operating table.

We later found out that he had his truck taken by the police the day before for drunk driving. I think about that accident often. The only thing that kept me sane was knowing he was drunk. He did this to me - I didn't do it to him. And thank God no one else was hurt or even worse - killed.

So another example of an accident with a teenager and a motorcyle. In this case the motorcyclist was at fault. I'm sure there are plenty of accidents where the teen is at fault. There are plenty where the motorcyclist is at fault. Regardless, the lives of these teens and the kids that belong to the couple that were killed have been altered forever and my thoughts and prayers go out to them, as well as the Op who had to witness this tragic event.

 

[MiniGirl]

A guy that used to go to our church killed someone on a bicycle one time. It was not his fault. The guy came out from nowhere between 2 cars and right into the car. This man struggled for years with the fact that he had taken a human life. It was not his fault, but it was still a struggle for him. Could you imagine just how much stronger his grief had been if it had been his fault?

Yes, the driver needs our prayers every bit as much as the family of the those killed do.

Also, I'm not saying it was her fault. What I am saying is that regardless of fault all involved need to be lifted up right now.

 

[DizBelle]

Food for thought: How smart is it to get on a motorcycle knowing how many stupid car drivers there are out there? Unless you are a family of 1 with no friends that care about you, how selfish is it?

 

[MiniGirl]

Food for thought: How smart is it to get on a motorcycle knowing how many stupid car drivers there are out there? Unless you are a family of 1 with no friends that care about you, how selfish is it?

My dh has a motorcycle that he rides for pleasure, and he is one of the least selfish people I know.

 

[DizBelle]

My dh has a motorcycle that he rides for pleasure, and he is one of the least selfish people I know.

Don't you think that increasing his probability of death 7 fold by choosing a motorcycle over a car when he has a family that would like for him to be around has a degree of selfishness to it?

You cannot eliminate all risk in life by why wouldn't you choose to reduce it where you easily can?

 

[stashbin]

Don't you think that increasing his probability of death 7 fold by choosing a motorcycle over a car when he has a family that would like for him to be around has a degree of selfishness to it?

You cannot eliminate all risk in life by why wouldn't you choose to reduce it where you easily can?

Not saying I don't agree with you....but IDK if I would have said it this way.
It's almost like hearing that their loved ones don't care about them if they choose to ride a motorcycle. Just a touch much IMO.

 

[Jennasis]

One of my close friends in HighSchool died twoweeks before graduation in a motorcycle wreck. She was riding with her dad, and they were hit head on by a large box truck. His casket was closed...hers should have been.

OP, I'm so sorry you had to see that. Prayers to all involved.

 

[DizBelle]

Not saying I don't agree with you....but IDK if I would have said it this way.
It's almost like hearing that their loved ones don't care about them if they choose to ride a motorcycle. Just a touch much IMO.

It isn't too harsh if it causes someone to re-think their choices and allows them to be their for their daughter's wedding when they otherwise would not be.

 

[stashbin]

It isn't too harsh if it causes someone to re-think their choices and allows them to be their for their daughter's wedding when they otherwise would not be.

I mean I see where you are coming from. But...with respect for those who have lost loved ones in motorcycle fatalities, it kind of puts a damper on their memory by saying they died because all they cared about was themselves. (because they were on a cycle) Does that make sense? IDK...I just worry about hurting someone's feelings when it comes to lost loved ones.

With that being said, do you feel the same way about those who choose to ride their bicycles on the main roads? Seriously, I think these people are in even more danger. I can't tell you how many times my mirror has almost clipped a bike rider!!! Not to mention a horrible story about a guy I knew that held his hand out of the passenger side of his window to hit the bicycle rider in the back of the head!! It slapped him off of his bike and he rolled down into the ditch!
I think I have a stronger feeling about these guys than motorcyclists.....to me they are putting their lives in danger more so than a vehicle that can at least keep up with traffic.

 

[TaraPA]

OP - sounds like you may have some post traumatic stress to deal with - which is completely normal after what you witnessed. Why don't you try posting over on the Coping & Compassion Board - folks over there are non-judgemental, they're there to listen & offer support. There are posters there that have been through or are going through things no human should have to deal with, so everyone is compassionate & caring, no matter what your situation. It might help you just to talk about it, without everyone attacking every word you say.

 

[RC Fan]

With that being said, do you feel the same way about those who choose to ride their bicycles on the main roads? Seriously, I think these people are in even more danger. I can't tell you how many times my mirror has almost clipped a bike rider!!! Not to mention a horrible story about a guy I knew that held his hand out of the passenger side of his window to hit the bicycle rider in the back of the head!! It slapped him off of his bike and he rolled down into the ditch!
I think I have a stronger feeling about these guys than motorcyclists.....to me they are putting their lives in danger more so than a vehicle that can at least keep up with traffic.

I don't have figures to back it up, but I think bicycling in traffic is statistically more dangerous than motorcycling. Lots of people here have been hurt or killed in ATV accidents. A man drowned recently while out fishing. I know more people who have been hurt horseback riding than on motorcycles. Are all these people selfish? Should we quit everything?

 

[DizBelle]

I don't have figures to back it up, but I think bicycling in traffic is statistically more dangerous than motorcycling. Lots of people here have been hurt or killed in ATV accidents. A man drowned recently while out fishing. I know more people who have been hurt horseback riding than on motorcycles. Are all these people selfish? Should we quit everything?

No, but you should look at the numbers and weigh them into your decision.

 

[kimmar067]

.....Nobody knows who was at fault and who wasn't. I know that I wasn't in the case of my accident. I have always considered myself the other victim since nobody ever feels sorry for the driver in an auto versus pedestrian accident even if the pedestrian is at fault....I know you weren't involved in the accident, but there is an online community called dailystrength.org and they have an accident forum. You may want to look there to help ease your mind...

...you've brought up a very important point - regardless of who did what, EVERYONE HERE is a victim; the killed motorcyclists, the driver of the auto, and the OP[even the witnesses]....this accident affected EVERYONE, plain and simple, regardless of who was at fault - we should hope and pray for each of these persons and their families, because NONE OF THEM WILL EVER BE THE SAME.....

 

[BelleRocks]

While some drivers (and motorcyclists) are doing things that are blatantly unsafe, sometimes they are just doing the things most all motorists do every day.

Honestly, how many of us are perfect drivers who NEVER drive a mile over the speed limit, or NEVER turn around to see what our kid just did in the back seat, or NEVER look down to find something we just dropped? How many of us have never been involved in something horrible just because the circumstances never collided at just the right time?

So yes, pray for the girl, whether she was at fault or not...pray for all involved.

 

[a1tinkfans]

OP: sorry you had to see this, a real tragedy and so very sad for the families involved. Seeing something like this never leaves you ...no need for details, just saying, I understand!

 

[Disneyland1084]

Many years ago, my parents were driving through their neighborhood and one of the kids on a bike (about 6 years old) darted out between 2 cars and my dad hit him. Fortunately, the little boy was fine as my dad was probably driving only 15 mph, but it happens and my dad still frets about it to this day.

Kids are ALWAYS in the street near my house. I always drive below the speed limit because I don't trust them.

 

[kilee]

OP hugs and prayers to you. I have seen 2 fatal accidents and I remember each and every detail of them.

The first was when I was an older child and it was on Christmas Eve. A car had crashed into a median and was fully engulfed in flames. Our car was passed it before ambulance, fire, or police had arrived. I remember all the screaming, my dad had stopped to try and help a couple other people but there was nothing anyone could do. My mother kept trying to distract me, but I kept looking and I had nightmares for a long time afterwards.

Unfortunately,we were "semi" involved in a fatal accident. A man driving a stolen SUV was being "chased" by police when he lost a tire. The SUV was traveling @ approximately 90 mph when this happened. It hit the pickup truck in front of us square on and then went airborne over the bed of the truck. I was never so scared in my life as I was screaming at my son to get down and cover his head. That SUV went right over the top of our car pouring parts down like rain onto our car. Thankfully we were not hurt, there was some injuries from the occupants of the truck, the worst though being a broken arm, but the driver of the stole SUV was killed in the accident. We had to stay because we had witnessed everything and all I wanted to do was get my 7 yr old out of there.

 

[kilee]

Sorry, just wanted to add, that it is incredibly insensitive to say the driver does not need prayers w/ her. She will never be the same. I hope she was not at fault, even so she will carry this w/ her forever.

My father was the driver in a fatal accident that killed a child. He was originally arrested (he was driving tractor trailer and didn't even know he hit the child-- who had fallen under the trailer). After the investigation and all the statements from the witnesses and the friends w/ the child my father was cleared of "any wrong-doing" whatever that was supposed to mean.

My father is such a gentle, kind man. He would never hurt anyone. He had to go through a lot of counseling to get to the point he could even function. It's been 20 yrs and he still carries a tremendous amount of guilt around w/ him. It is something he will never forget or get over. I guess unless you been through something like that you don't realize how it destroys the driver, especially if they didn't do anything wrong.