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Thoughts go out to those affected by the horrific accident

solus

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here nc
K.B. My thoughts go out to you if any of yours were involved in this accident...best to you if there were kin or friends involved...

Several motorcycles and a pickup truck collided on a rural, two-lane highway Friday, killing seven people and injuring three others, and sending onlookers rushing to treat and help the motorists peppered along the road.

New Hampshire State Police said a 2016 Dodge 2500 pickup truck collided with the riders on U.S. 2 in Randolph Friday evening. The cause of the deadly collision is not yet known. The pickup truck was on fire when emergency crews arrived.
Witnesses described a "devastating" scene as bystanders tried to help riders lying in the road.

Parts of the highway was closed Friday evening, state police said, and would be closed for several more hours as investigators comb the scene for clues. A photo posted by WMUR-TV [ https://www.wmur.com/ ] showd motorcycles and wreckage scattered across the highway and a truck on the shoulder in flames.

Randolph is about a two-hour drive north of Concord, the capital, and a three-hour drive from Boston.

"There was debris everywhere," said Miranda Thompson, 21, of Manchester, who was several cars back and recalled seeing a truck in flames on the side of the highway and six motorcycles.

"People were in the grass. There were people putting tourniquets on people, trying to make sure they didn't move," she said. "You could tell people were lost who it happened to ... It was a sad day for all of them." Unquote
 

KBCraig

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I do appreciate your thoughts.

I don't know anyone involved. The crash was about 15 miles southeast of me. I have a good friend (former USMC, current USAR) in Berlin who is a rider, but he wasn't in this MC.

Local folks who were immediately on the scene are the heroes, even though they couldn't save the seven who were clearly deceased at the scene from major trauma. They tried, and comforted others. Of the three riders who were transported, two have been released. The third was flown to a trauma center in Maine and is described as "recovering".

The direct cause of the accident was obvious: the Ram 2500 pulling a gooseneck auto hauler crossed the centerline into the group of bikes, less than a quarter mile after they had pulled out from the motel where their group was staying. Why he did so remains to be seen; could have been fatigue, or distraction. In the end, it was negligent driving, so I don't care to speculate if he was texting or changing the radio or drifted off the right shoulder and over-corrected.

The driver and the company he was working for, and most of the riders, were from Mass (one rider was from Maine).

At the press conference today in Lancaster (my town, the county seat), one a**h*** reporter from "Channel 3 in Vermont" tried to badger Gov. Sununu about helmet laws, and whether he would push for them when he returned to Concord. The governor brushed that aside quite professionally.

Back to topic: Gov. Sununu has also promised to veto all four anti-gun bills that passed the legislature and came out of committees of conference. The Democrats don't have a veto-proof majority.
 

Firearms Iinstuctor

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northern wis
Why do think it was obvious because he ended up on the wrong side of the center line.

That is not always a indication of being across the center line at start of the crash.

I have investigated hundreds of motor vehicle crashes.

Jumping to conclusions like that can leave a lot of egg on ones face.

Let the experts gather all the information finish the investigation.
 

KBCraig

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Why? Because all the motorcycles were in the proper lane, and the truck crossed over their lane and crashed on the shoulder on that side. There were direct eye witnesses not involved in the crash who said he crossed the center line into the path of the motorcycles.

The investigators have enough evidence that he's already been arrested and charged with 7 counts of negligent homicide.
 

Firearms Iinstuctor

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northern wis
More info.

They arrested him 3 days after the crash.


CONCORD — The driver of the truck involved in the fiery crash in Randolph that killed seven motorcyclists and injured three others on Friday was arrested Monday morning on seven charges of negligent homicide. Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 23, was arrested at his home, 90 Newbridge Street, West Springfield, Mass., about 8 a.m. on Monday by Massachusetts State Police Fugitive Apprehension Unit, according to a statement issued by Deputy Attorney General Jane E. Young, Coos County Attorney John McCormick and New Hampshire State Police Colonel Christopher J. Wagner
 

solus

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Aug 22, 2013
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here nc
Posted 1330EST ~
Why? Because all the motorcycles were in the proper lane, and the truck crossed over their lane and crashed on the shoulder on that side. There were direct eye witnesses not involved in the crash who said he crossed the center line into the path of the motorcycles.

The investigators have enough evidence that he's already been arrested and charged with 7 counts of negligent homicide.

Posted 1500EST~
More info.

They arrested him 3 days after the crash.


CONCORD — The driver of the truck involved in the fiery crash in Randolph that killed seven motorcyclists and injured three others on Friday was arrested Monday morning on seven charges of negligent homicide. [suspect’s name, address deleted as the individual is still afforded the basic perception of privacy and not mob rule] ., about 8 a.m. on Monday...snipppp....

Uh FI, you both stated the same thing on the same day...?

Remember it took the idiot FL DAs six weeks to arrest Zimmerman and he only ‘allegedly’ killed a singular 17yo!
 

WalkingWolf

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Jul 31, 2011
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North Carolina
Tragic, very tragic. Considering the arrest it would appear who was at fault, I would imagine the investigation will take some time.

If YOU ride keep in mind that you have to pay attention to more than just YOUR riding. Situational awareness is not just for carrying a firearm, and can make the difference in life and death situations. It would appear this was on a curve cutting reaction time desperately needed to avoid a collision.

The arrest, and conviction will not bring these marines back, but as tragic as it is we should take every precaution when riding to not become a statistic.
 

Firearms Iinstuctor

Regular Member
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Jul 12, 2011
Messages
3,428
Location
northern wis
Tragic, very tragic. Considering the arrest it would appear who was at fault, I would imagine the investigation will take some time.

If YOU ride keep in mind that you have to pay attention to more than just YOUR riding. Situational awareness is not just for carrying a firearm, and can make the difference in life and death situations. It would appear this was on a curve cutting reaction time desperately needed to avoid a collision.

The arrest, and conviction will not bring these marines back, but as tragic as it is we should take every precaution when riding to not become a statistic.

For sure when riding one has to be very proactive and ride very defensively.

Had UTV roll through a stop sign when on my MC the other day. The driver looked at me like where did you come from.
 

KBCraig

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A bit more about the driver: the latest reports are that he was already pending arraignment for DUI in Connecticut on May 11; he had an underage DUI and was suspended for a couple of years, not regaining his license until 2017; he was the subject of an "intoxicated individual" complaint in Texas, and police seized a crack pipe from him; and, when he was arrested for these charges, police found folded wax papers with suspected heroin residue on them (results are pending).

I actually put the least faith in that last bit, just because it's still "alleged", and it was Mass.
 

Firearms Iinstuctor

Regular Member
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Jul 12, 2011
Messages
3,428
Location
northern wis
I started riding at 7, and had my own first motorcycle at 10. I spent many great weekends riding with my dad.

As he always drilled into me about right-of-way: dead right or dead wrong, it doesn't matter if you're dead.

It is very hard to convince some riders of two wheeled vehicles. Human or motored powered of that fact.

Well I have the same rights as they do.

I try and tell them if you get hit by a bigger vehicle you lose.

The lug nut theory applies the vehicle with the most nuts holding the wheels on wins.
 

WalkingWolf

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Jul 31, 2011
Messages
11,930
Location
North Carolina
I sometimes ride with groups, but enjoy riding alone. The problem with groups they think they are not riding alone in a group. A single, or couple motorcycles can avoid collisions due to their small size, and agility, in a group this is near impossible to dodge stupid large vehicles.

This was a discussion my brother, and I had last month about riding in groups. Neither one of us wants to ride at the 5mph+ over the speed limit they seem to think is safe. Most refuse to slow into corners or blind hills, it is like being in the group makes them invincible, which sadly is not true. There have been several incidents of group ride collisions this summer across the country, this being a very fatal one.

The Marines may have been riding safely, but alas most times I have rode with groups they are lost. I will give credit to the MC's I have rode with that they ride much more disciplined, usually -5mph below the limit, and taking precausions in blind hills, and curves. Those warning signs posted before curves are not just there to keep you(general) on the road. They are also there because of the chance of being surprised around the curve. When I ride with another rider, as with my wife or my brother we break the staggered formation, and go single file into the tight curves. This gives time to avoid a collision without involving colliding with the other rider.
 
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