Motorcyclist dies in St. Paul crash

We were also driving by and seen the accident within one minute of when it happened. We did not witness the accident but seen the horrible sight.

We seen the motorcycle driver laying next to the wall. It was a horrific sight. I do not wish to describe what we seen but just to say my wife hollered and had to turn her head. I too was sadly sickened with tears. It was a sight I will never forget the rest of my life.

Our prayers go to all victums and their families.

We do not not know how the accident happened or to whose fault it was. We just seen the horrible outcome.

Loud pipes? it was wild spectulation if they would have helped.

It was on a turn. And traffic was moving well beyond the turn so I can't say that there was any construction or a reason for a sudden stop. Maybe but nothing from what I seen would indicate that. The stop appeared to be after the accident.

Its a guess not having witnessed the accident.

Sadly how-ever the motorcycle driver was not wearing a helmut. Or it may have fell off during the accident. I did not see one.

Driving a car or motorcycle is on all of us to drive defensively. Slowing for turns is a must. Slowing before the turn is what we learned in drivers education.

Horrible accidents happen. Families are affected forever.

Our prayers once again to all involved. My wife and I are very sorry for this tragic accident.

bgbdwolf wrote:

LOUD Pipes DO SAVE lives!!!! If they DON'T SEE YOU...they WILL HEAR YOU and LOOK AGAIN! HARLEY RIDER.

Loud pipes...annoy your neighbors!

The battle cry of the Beertown brigade has been proven over and over again to be nothing more than a slogan. They deny the existence of the doppler effect, ignore that fact that a large number of crashes are four wheel vehicles making left turns in front of them, many more simply can't negotiate a simple turn and run off the road.

"Harley-Davidson, turning gasoline into noise without the beneficial side effect of horsepower since 1903."

Horshak81 wrote:

I drove by this as the body was being placed into a hearse. Very tragic and troubling.
Let's be careful to blame here. If the motorcycle swerved onto the shoulder he too was traveling too close to the car in front.

I move to the shoulder at least one a week, not because I am following too close, but the vehicle behind me is! I try to drive defensively and protect myself at all times. It must work, over 80,000 M/C miles with no insurance claims. You cannot imagine what it feels like when you hear the tires lock up behind you.

This is the reason I sold my bike, drivers don't pay well enough attention.

A from All Around wrote:

<quoted text>
I move to the shoulder at least one a week, not because I am following too close, but the vehicle behind me is! I try to drive defensively and protect myself at all times. It must work, over 80,000 M/C miles with no insurance claims. You cannot imagine what it feels like when you hear the tires lock up behind you.

Especially when you're kids are in the backseat and the idiot behind you is gabbing away on their cell phone. I drive very defensively now. Nothing is worth my kids getting injured or worse. I'd rather just get out of the idiots' way.

Horshak81 wrote:

I drove by this as the body was being placed into a hearse. Very tragic and troubling.
Let's be careful to blame here. If the motorcycle swerved onto the shoulder he too was traveling too close to the car in front.

That may not be true. I've made the dive to the shoulder while on my motorcycle, not because I was going to hit the car in front of me, but because I saw the can=r in my mirrors closing in on me at a rate that I knew they would hit me if I did not make a quick exit.

Bob wrote:

The first car to hit him was a Prius!!

Bob spelled backwards still spells moron

A from All Around wrote:

<quoted text>
I move to the shoulder at least one a week, not because I am following too close, but the vehicle behind me is! I try to drive defensively and protect myself at all times. It must work, over 80,000 M/C miles with no insurance claims. You cannot imagine what it feels like when you hear the tires lock up behind you.

75,000 M/C miles here. I do not need to imagine that feeling. Been there, done that, changed my shorts!

Hang up the phone, quit putting on make-up or grooming yourself, quit text messaging, quit reading papers, quit using computers while driving (cops) and pay attention to the road.

M/C riders driving like idiots will either grow up or eliminate themselves. Worry about your own driving first.

A word on helmet usage. In MN helmets are not required. More non-helmeted riders are killed than helmeted riders in MN. In other states where helmets are required the situation is reversed. I was just researching Tennessee laws and M/C accident deaths. For the year 2006, 21 non-helmeted riders where killed compared to 140 helmeted riders that died. This alone is proof that helmets are not the miracle lifesaver so many like to claim.

Liberal Conservative wrote:

<quoted text>
Bob spelled backwards still spells moron

Liberal Conservative spelled backward always spells impossible.

Poor guy!!! state patrol stated he had no helmet on....but it likely would not have helped in this accident anyways. There have been several fatal accidents on bikes this summer.......makes me not want to ride anymore.

Although I do not ride, I pay extra attention to those that do. Bikers have the same rights on the road as we do and need to be respected. I have seen drivers cut off bikers and even worse, throw out cigs when a bike is behind them. Everyone needs to stay at least a cars length behind the one in front of you, lesson #1 in drivers ed.

Mellers wrote:

I have to ask the question: was he wearing a helmet? If not, is there any chance it could have saved his life?
I'm so sorry to hear of this accident. I heard on the news that car accidents are down around the state but motorcycle accidents are up.

yes he was wearing a helmet. I saw it laying in the road about 200'from his left shoe

About the Helmet-- I was at the scene of the accident after they removed the body. I saw a helmet on the road right in front of the SUV.

Only in America wrote:

<quoted text>
Loud pipes...annoy your neighbors!
The battle cry of the Beertown brigade has been proven over and over again to be nothing more than a slogan. They deny the existence of the doppler effect, ignore that fact that a large number of crashes are four wheel vehicles making left turns in front of them, many more simply can't negotiate a simple turn and run off the road.
"Harley-Davidson, turning gasoline into noise without the beneficial side effect of horsepower since 1903."

I totally agree that loud pipes aren't any safer, but blaming HD for them is silly. My bike is only loud enough to assure that I get good performance. On start up, I idle it for a bit, but take off as soon as I feel that oil is circulating. The after market pipes that do nothing, and the riders that "dial it on" to get attention have no interest in safety, they are just profiling for the effect. Their bikes rolled off the line just as quiet as as any other. Crotch Rockets make a far more annoying sound than HD's, and I'd be willing to bet that they crash for stupidness just as often as HD riders.

The reason that riders die, is commuters have forgotten that there are consequences for poor driving habits. They multi-task on their way to and from work. They exchange recipes on the cell phones, with no regard for the danger that they present. Loud pipes do nothing to get the attention of the distracted driver, except for the occasional startled reaction that is more likely to cause an accident.

The other day, I was driving next to a young lady, in a van on 35W going north. I noticed that she was crowding my lane, and trying to wedge in, but wasn't signalling. I backed off and she moved in. When I got along side her, I could see that she was chatting away on the cell phone, and couldn't free up her hand to signal. This is the selfish behavior that is killing car and motorcycle drivers.

People, when you are driving, you should be driving. It's plain and simple that we have lost the connection between commuting and safety. The car is not an extension of your home, and it's also not a big purse to be filled up with conveniences. It is transportation to be treated with respect.

A from All Around wrote:

<quoted text>
I move to the shoulder at least one a week, not because I am following too close, but the vehicle behind me is! I try to drive defensively and protect myself at all times. It must work, over 80,000 M/C miles with no insurance claims. You cannot imagine what it feels like when you hear the tires lock up behind you.

I thought I was the only one pulling over for "loonies" following too close. It's a good practice, and I do it often.

XD40 Fan wrote:

<quoted text>
Helmets are not magical. It makes no difference if this cyclist was wearing one. The driver who hit him was driving dangerously by following too closely. Because he/she didn't have enough room to stop safely, he/she killed the cyclist. I doubt highly that a helmet would have made a difference.

Yes, that's EXACTLY what I think: helmets are magical. C'mon. I know that they don't save every life but wondered if he was wearing one and if not, could his life have been saved?

picklesnorkie wrote:

Poor guy!!! state patrol stated he had no helmet on....but it likely would not have helped in this accident anyways. There have been several fatal accidents on bikes this summer.......makes me not want to ride anymore.

Thanks-that's all I was curious about-no further agenda.

aric wrote:

<quoted text>
yes he was wearing a helmet. I saw it laying in the road about 200'from his left shoe

Oooh. That's so horrible. Probably flew off in impact. I feel horrible for this guy and hope he didn't suffer.

One of my very first memories in life is my dad taking me around the neighborhood on a motorcycle. And having friends who have motorcycles, I send out a silent prayer to any biker.

Helmets DO save lives. If you've ever had a low speed get-off you understand why. Even at 5-10 mph if your head bangs on the pavement it'll crack like an egg. My helmet's been tagged a time or two and has saved my life - or at least allowed my to eat my food rather than drink it.

Wearing a helmet in a higher speed impact like this, likely would not have saved this poor fellow.

Given all that, I am NOT a proponent of forced helmet laws. It just makes sense to wear one.

the state patrol says he was not wearing the helmet- i did not see him with the helmet on but definitly saw a helmet laying in the road - why would they say he wasnt when he was? maybe they think if they say he was but died then people wouldnt wear them - of course they just cut your chances but they are not a gaurantee - i always wear mine bit know i would still die if i was smashed into like he was - sorry to call out the state patrol on their lie but i know what i saw