Brother killed yesterday on MC

[aerohead]

I wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts.
For years I considered the risks 2-wheelers take when in traffic.I swore off street riding after having to lay my bike down too many times on Ventura Blvd.,trying to get to High School and back.
My brother Ross had been introduced to motorcycles when he was about 10-yrs-old,riding neighbors' Triumphs and BSAs down in the LA River basin,feet barely able to reach the pegs.
He was commuting to work on I-17,near the Buckeye-Curve when a chain-reaction pileup was developing ahead.He must not have had adequate following distance,or perhaps had been cut off,losing his distance margin.Don't know,wasn't there.
Anyway,he could not stop in time. Eye-witnesses say he laid the bike down and attempted to crab-walk out of harm's way,eventually striking the car ahead,and pitching into the slow lane.
A twenty-five-yr-old in a Dodge Durango drove into the barrier in an attempt to miss him,but could not avoid striking him.
Fire-rescue EMTs were in traffic commuting to work,right there on I-17,when the collision occurred and responded immediately.
Ross suffered blunt force trauma to the upper body,lived momentarily,incoherent,unable to breath.Nothing could be done.
Perhaps the only good I can offer from the loss is to emphasize how fragile we are,how much we're loved and will be missed if lost,and to stress extreme vigilance when riding.
Ross was a very experienced veteran rider.Be really careful out there.

[Wonderboy]

My sincere sympathy, Phil.

-Will

[RH77]

Sincere condolences.

[drimportracing]

I am so sorry. Losing a brother is like losing a part of yourself. My condolences to you and your family. - Dale

[NeilBlanchard]

I am very sorry for your loss. My condolences for you and yours.

[koihoshi]

This is so sad I always hate hearing about another riding passing on. It is indeed risky business. I am sorry to hear of your loss. My heart goes out to you and your family.

[dcb]

sorry Phil.

It sounds like the traffic behind could have used some more following distance (or attention) too.

I appreciate what you might be feeling about motorcycles right now, I'm not to thrilled with Durangos at the moment. I'm just not sure this is the right forum. Folks have no idea how many people die in cars or get squished by them everyday, way more than die on or get hit by motorcycles, that is the real problem in my book.

I think your brother probably understood the risks given he is a vet, but that doesn't give any 4 wheeler a license to kill.

[cfg83]

Phil -

I am so sorry. I have no words.

Carlos

[Ford Man]

Sorry for your loss. I'm 50 years old and been riding dirt and street bikes ever since I was about 13-14 years old. Back in the mid 80's I had a tractor turn left in front of me on my 1100 Yamaha and I ended up laying the bike down instead of hitting the tractor or probably going under it and being run over. The thing that really disturbed me about that incident was the driver of the tractor made a comment "that's the second time that's happened to me today". It looks like after the first time he would have opened his eyes. It really doesn't matter how much experience you have you can't always avoid car/motorcycle accidents. Even though that's the only time I've actually been involved in an accident, I've had many more close calls with cars pulling out in front of me over the years and have learned to always reduce my speed when coming to any intersection.

[JackMcCornack]

Phil, I am so sorry to hear this. Yes, life is fragile.