Motorcyclist dies in crash; other driver charged

A motorcyclist was hit and killed due to someone's negligence, and the charge is failure to yield? If I were discharge a firearm in an unsafe manner and kill someone, I would at charged with manslaughter, at the very least. Driving an automobile carries a lot of responsibility, the same as using a firearm. An automobile can easily kill another person if used improperly, the same with firearms. Nearly every time a motorcyclist rides he or she will encounter someone putting them in mortal danger, be it from cutting into the motorcyclist's lane, or turning left in front of them at an intersection. Many times the person in the car will be distracted with his or her cell phone, or applying makeup. Everyone should have the enlightening experience of riding the roads on two wheels and having to deal with people's recklessness. Accidents happen, but many of them are simply caused by gross negligence.

Ditto

Unfortunately two families have been affected by this tragic accident . Hence the word accident!! Yes motorcycles are dangerous and the woman who was involved in this accident is aware of this. She has a licence to operate one .And rides a motorcycle often. People who are writing negative blogs about this accident are not aware of what really happened or realize the affect this has had in the driver of the car.If it was two cars involved it would not have ended with a fatality.And this was caused by a accident .Not caused by gross negligence.

Mother of three wrote:

Unfortunately two families have been affected by this tragic accident . Hence the word accident!! Yes motorcycles are dangerous and the woman who was involved in this accident is aware of this. She has a licence to operate one .And rides a motorcycle often. People who are writing negative blogs about this accident are not aware of what really happened or realize the affect this has had in the driver of the car.If it was two cars involved it would not have ended with a fatality.And this was caused by a accident .Not caused by gross negligence.

Accident or not... a Man is dead.

Of course most people are going to empathize with the Dead man's Family.

Some of you just insist on empathizing with the Woman that was driving, as if SHE is suffering more.

"If it was two cars involved it would not have ended with a fatality."

Why in the world would you even SAY THAT? You basically just said if he was in a car, not a Motorcycle, he would have lived. NICE! Way to blame to victim for his own death.

I think that the Family of the deceased is suffering more... Accident or not.

A person who rides on a motorcycle places his or herself in great risk every time they go out on highway and on city streets. A motorcycle provides no protection compared to the body, airbags, and seatbelts of a passenger vehicle. Typcially the injuries sustained in motorcycle collisons are significantly more life-threatning considering the mechanism of injury of a body traveling at speed that comes in hard contact with a heavier vehicle.

Fellow Motorcyclist wrote:

A motorcyclist was hit and killed due to someone's negligence, and the charge is failure to yield? If I were discharge a firearm in an unsafe manner and kill someone, I would at charged with manslaughter, at the very least. Driving an automobile carries a lot of responsibility, the same as using a firearm. An automobile can easily kill another person if used improperly, the same with firearms. Nearly every time a motorcyclist rides he or she will encounter someone putting them in mortal danger, be it from cutting into the motorcyclist's lane, or turning left in front of them at an intersection. Many times the person in the car will be distracted with his or her cell phone, or applying makeup. Everyone should have the enlightening experience of riding the roads on two wheels and having to deal with people's recklessness. Accidents happen, but many of them are simply caused by gross negligence.

Wow !!! What an idiot. Maybe you should know the facts before opening your mouth and publicly posting something. The only thing the lady could have been charged with at the time was " failure to yield to oncomming traffic " because he had not died yet. Fact: Mr Wood was still alive at the scene. What has this world come to? But hey,, what do we need a law of court for? we have our society who judges and convicts without any facts. A investigation is undergoing now where cell phone records will be entered and the testimony of the three eye wittnesses wil be heard !! This is a tregedy for both families !! and anyone who does not understand that seriously has issues. Unfortunately someone has paid the ultimate price but that is a chance everyone takes everyday when entering an automobile or motorcycle. May god be with both families !!

Everyone has a right to their own opinion. But what you do not have the right to is to jump to conclusions before you know what actually happened. The only thing you see is that a man died and the driver was charged with failure to yield. The man was not dead so the police COULD NOT charge the driver of the car with anything else. So you automatically start blaming and condemning someone. Unfortunately, that is human nature. Before you put the blame on ANYONE, get the accident report from the Police, go to the scene, recreate it, and don't forget to mark off the skid marks from the motorcycle. Than you can decide for yourself. Than and only than can you make judgement. The Police are very thorough. If they say it was an accident, leave it at that. Both families have to live with what has happened. Both families lives have been changed forever. Put yourselves in both places. I know there are people out there who are going to rip this comment apart. That is because they are ignorant. And before I wrote that comment, I put myself in their shoes.

Everyone seems to be missing the point here, it is called an accident because that's what it is. Neither party intended on this terrible tragedy to occur. And all of you who seem to think that this woman is not suffering is dead wrong. Walk a mile in someones shoes before you go passing judgement on them. If many of you only knew what she has been through, then maybe you would have a heart and show some compassion. Two families have been deeply affected by this tragedy and I think it's important for everyone to stop pointing the finger and look at the bigger picture and pray for all of those involved.

well, like it or not it is the truth! Anyone who gets on a bike knows or should they are taking a huge risk!

I used to own a bike myself and no longer do b/c it is so dangerous.

Stop judging b/c I am sure NONE of you are perfect and God forbid you have an ACCIDENT one day.

where are all the other comments?

This is a terrible accident and I'm sure this lady is suffering and I can't imagine how awful she must be feeling. I also can't imagine how awful his family is also feeling. To make matters worse, they are neighbors. So to both families, I express my deepest sympathy. People on this forum need to be a little more compassionate, this could happen to anyone, no matter how careful you think you are.

By all means I feel very sorry that Mr.Wood lost his life in this horrible accident and my condolences go out to his family.The Thomas family need thoughts and prayer too.She did not go out that Sunday afternoon to do this IT WAS A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. So instead of turning your greif into anger just pray for all that is involved. Put your self in the shoes of the family of Mr.Wood and also the shoes of Mrs.Thomas and her family.

How many of you people are shedding tears over the young father murdered in Newport News yesterday.....? Yep, that's what I thought.

Mr. Wood choose to ride a motorcycle. He knew the risks. You people need to stop your whining, it is really getting on my nerves.

HG Robinson wrote:

How many of you people are shedding tears over the young father murdered in Newport News yesterday.....? Yep, that's what I thought.

Right here. And the poor little girl that will grow up without a daddy. My little girl is about that age, and it breaks my heart.

To those who stated that he couldn't be charged with anything more because the victim was not deceased at the time, what about reckless driving? Reckless driving is defined according to law as, ""(operating a motor vehicle) in a manner that is without due regard for other persons or property." Seems appropriate to me. Also, you defeat any arguement you have against another person's comments when you begin your comment with "Wow!!!! What an idiot." If you disagree with a person's opinion, state why in a rational, mature manner.

Fellow Motorcyclist wrote:

A motorcyclist was hit and killed due to someone's negligence, and the charge is failure to yield? If I were discharge a firearm in an unsafe manner and kill someone, I would at charged with manslaughter, at the very least. Driving an automobile carries a lot of responsibility, the same as using a firearm. An automobile can easily kill another person if used improperly, the same with firearms. Nearly every time a motorcyclist rides he or she will encounter someone putting them in mortal danger, be it from cutting into the motorcyclist's lane, or turning left in front of them at an intersection. Many times the person in the car will be distracted with his or her cell phone, or applying makeup. Everyone should have the enlightening experience of riding the roads on two wheels and having to deal with people's recklessness. Accidents happen, but many of them are simply caused by gross negligence.

It happens all the time to sober drivers who kill, but let them have 1 ounce of alcohol and they are treated like mass murders. Sober drivers kill more than drunks.

Time to charge all driving deaths equally. Negligence is negligence.

Sadly, most sober drivers who kill, diliberatey choose (planned) to disobey the law. Where as, most drunk drivers who kill don't have a clue(accident)when they disobey the law.

Sober is 1st degree murder, drunk is manslaughter.

HG Robinson wrote:

How many of you people are shedding tears over the young father murdered in Newport News yesterday.....? Yep, that's what I thought.
Mr. Wood choose to ride a motorcycle. He knew the risks. You people need to stop your whining, it is really getting on my nerves.

What, a death in this town not caused by one of HG's low life, Ghetto, Black trash thugs.

Can't wait to hear HG whine how no ones cares about them.

Sober is worse wrote:

<quoted text>
It happens all the time to sober drivers who kill, but let them have 1 ounce of alcohol and they are treated like mass murders. Sober drivers kill more than drunks.
Time to charge all driving deaths equally. Negligence is negligence.
Sadly, most sober drivers who kill, diliberatey choose (planned) to disobey the law. Where as, most drunk drivers who kill don't have a clue(accident)when they disobey the law.
Sober is 1st degree murder, drunk is manslaughter.

Wow!!!! Sounds like you need to lay off the bottle. Getting drunk and making the decision to get behind the wheel is not an accident. what made you bring up alcohol in the first place?

RIP John, you will be sadly missed by your family & friends, I am so glad to have spent time with you Sat. night, it was a really nice time and to find out the very next day about your accident, broke my heart, we made the rounds for you Wed. night though, good bye my friend.