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Author Topic: Crashes Reported in the Media  (Read 155366 times)

Offline pkpk

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Re: Crashes Reported in the Media
« Reply #465 on: July 21, 2013, 02:23:34 PM »
All available information for
incident number 13801056.

    Incident Number:    13801056    Incident Date/Time:    7/20/2013 6:42:00 PM
    MSP District:    2800    Incident Contact:    MN STATE PATROL DISTRICT 2800 - (218) 828-2230
    Number of Individuals:    2       
    Number of Vehicles:    2    
                   
    Location:    NB HWY 371 AT OAK DRIVE N    Road Type:    BLACK TOP
    Milepost:    14    Road Condition:    DRY
    County:    CROW WING    Number of Lanes:    4
    Crash Type:    REAR END    Divided/Undivided:    DIVIDED ROADWAY
    Incident Classification:    SERIOUS INJURY    Hazardous Material:    NOT PRESENT
                   
    Assisting Agencies:
       
    CROW WING COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE
                   
     Person 1:    HANSEN, MYRIAH J , 19 , OF BLAINE MN , DRIVER OF VEH 1 , Phys. Cond. : NO APPARENT INJURY
     Person 2:    CASH, TIMOTHY J , 56 , OF LITTLE FALLS MN , DRIVER OF VEH 2 , Phys. Cond. : SERIOUS INJURY
     

    Vehicle 1:
       2000   LINCLON CONTINENTAL 

    Vehicle 2:
       2004   KAWASAKI MODEL UNKNOWN 
     
          
    IncidentDescription:    BOTH VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING NB ON HWY 371, VEHICLE 1 A PASSANGER CAR REAR ENDED VEHICLE 2 A MOTORCYCLE. DRIVER OF MOTORCYCLE WAS AIR LIFTED TO NORTH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.
            
    Information Complete:    INFORMATION BELIEVED COMPLETE   
    Last Updated:    7/20/2013 8:36:41 PM
         

Individual Records

    Listed below are the individual records that match the criteria you specified.
    *Estimated age used only when true age is unknown.
    Case Number:    13801056    Seatbelt:    UNKNOWN
    Incident Date/Time:    7/20/2013 6:42:00 PM    Airbag:    NONE OR NOT DEPLOYED
    Info Released:    7/20/2013 10:00:00 PM    Helmet:    N/A
                   
    Person ID:    13801056V1P1    Age:    19
    Full Name:    HANSEN, MYRIAH J    Estimated Age:    ACTUAL AGE ABOVE
    Associated Vehicle:    13801056V1    Alcohol in System:    NO ALCOHOL DETECTED
    Role in Crash:    DRIVER    Hospital:    N/A , N/A 
    Residence:    BLAINE , MN , USA    Physical Condition:    NO APPARENT INJURY 
    Sex:    FEMALE       
    Relation to Driver:    SELF    Fatal Date:    N/A - NOT RECORDED
                   

Individual Records

    Listed below are the individual records that match the criteria you specified.
    *Estimated age used only when true age is unknown.
    Case Number:    13801056    Seatbelt:    N/A
    Incident Date/Time:    7/20/2013 6:42:00 PM    Airbag:    N/A
    Info Released:    7/20/2013 10:00:00 PM    Helmet:    YES
                   
    Person ID:    13801056V2P1    Age:    56
    Full Name:    CASH, TIMOTHY J    Estimated Age:    ACTUAL AGE ABOVE
    Associated Vehicle:    13801056V2    Alcohol in System:    NO ALCOHOL DETECTED
    Role in Crash:    DRIVER    Hospital:    NORTH MEMORIAL , ROBBINSDALE 
    Residence:    LITTLE FALLS , MN , USA    Physical Condition:    SERIOUS INJURY 
    Sex:    MALE       
    Relation to Driver:    SELF    Fatal Date:    N/A - NOT RECORDED
                   
       
                   

Offline pkpk

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Re: Crashes Reported in the Media
« Reply #466 on: July 21, 2013, 02:25:04 PM »
All available information for
incident number 13300733.

    Incident Number:    13300733    Incident Date/Time:    7/21/2013 9:40:00 AM
    MSP District:    2300    Incident Contact:    MN STATE PATROL DISTRICT 2300 - (507) 537-6277
    Number of Individuals:    1       
    Number of Vehicles:    1    
                   
    Location:    WB I 90 AT THE STATE LINE    Road Type:    CONCRETE
    Milepost:    1    Road Condition:    DRY
    County:    ROCK    Number of Lanes:    4
    Crash Type:    RAN OFF ROAD    Divided/Undivided:    DIVIDED ROADWAY
    Incident Classification:    PERSONAL INJURY    Hazardous Material:    NOT PRESENT
                   
    Assisting Agencies:
       
    ROCK COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE
                   
     Person 1:    GOULET, ERIN M , 25 , OF ALBERTA AB , DRIVER OF VEH 1 , Phys. Cond. : INJURY - NON LIFE THREATENING
     

    Vehicle 1:
       2009   HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHR RO 
     
          
    IncidentDescription:    MC WAS TRAVELLING WB ON I 90 WITH ANOTHER MC WHEN IT SWERVED FOR SLOWER MC CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE EJECTED BEFORE COMING TO REST ACROSS THE MEDIAN IN THE SB DITCH.
            
    Information Complete:    INFORMATION BELIEVED COMPLETE   
    Last Updated:    7/21/2013 2:15:52 PM
         
Individual Records

    Listed below are the individual records that match the criteria you specified.
    *Estimated age used only when true age is unknown.
    Case Number:    13300733    Seatbelt:    NO
    Incident Date/Time:    7/21/2013 9:40:00 AM    Airbag:    NONE OR NOT DEPLOYED
    Info Released:    NOT RECORDED    Helmet:    YES
                   
    Person ID:    13300733V1P1    Age:    25
    Full Name:    GOULET, ERIN M    Estimated Age:    ACTUAL AGE ABOVE
    Associated Vehicle:    13300733V1    Alcohol in System:    UNKNOWN
    Role in Crash:    DRIVER    Hospital:    AVERA MCKENNAN , SIOUX FALLS, SD 
    Residence:    ALBERTA , AB , CANADA    Physical Condition:    INJURY - NON LIFE THREATENING 
    Sex:    FEMALE       
    Relation to Driver:    SELF    Fatal Date:    N/A - NOT RECORDED
                   
       
                             

Offline pkpk

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Re: Crashes Reported in the Media
« Reply #467 on: July 21, 2013, 11:32:47 PM »
http://www.startribune.com/local/216382241.html


Rash of motorcycle deaths worries Minnesota riders, officials

    Article by: JENNA ROSS , Star Tribune
    Updated: July 21, 2013 - 10:41 PM



One man, with his wife on board, lost control of his motorcycle on July 4th, killing them both. Another veered off the road on a sharp curve and struck a road sign, dying. A Coon Rapids couple was killed when they crossed the centerline and collided with a pickup.

All were in their 50s.

Minnesota is on track for an especially deadly riding season this year, with at least 32 motorcycle deaths so far, and baby boomers are most often the fatalities. Since January, more than half of those killed in motorcycle crashes statewide were over the age of 45.

The toll last year also was bad, perhaps because of an early spring, authorities said. But despite May snowstorms that kept many hogs in the garage well into spring, this year appears worse. Total fatalities, so far, are up 60 percent over the Department of Public Safety’s tally at this time last year. (The 2012 number later grew once more reports were compiled.)

“People are just going crazy this year,” said Bill Shaffer, director of the state’s Motorcycle and Roadway Safety Programs. “It’s discouraging, to say the least.”

The number and nature of the crashes have safety officials, riding instructors and motorcyclists worried. Nearly half of this year’s fatalities were caused by a motorcyclist losing it on a curve. That’s way more than typical and speaks to a lack of skill, Shaffer and others said.

Meanwhile, fewer riders are getting trained. Despite a record number of licensed riders, sign-ups for state safety courses have fallen from their peak in 2008. This season, the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center canceled some classes because of low registration.

Rider coach Bill Gregor has never seen so many cancellations. “The economy is better than it was two years ago, gas prices are high. We should have 50 people trying to get in here,” he said, gesturing to his class of 15. “I can’t figure that out.”

His teaching partner, Ashley Delzer, chimed in: “It’s because they’re all out there, uneducated and dying.” They both got quiet, shaking their heads.

‘Makes you feel younger’

Some wore leather jackets and head wraps. Others sported suits. But the dozen customers at a Harley-Davidson dealership in Lakeville on an evening last week had one thing in common: their age.

Baby boomers have driven the last decade’s dramatic rise in motorcycle riders. In Minnesota, a record 237,000 motorcycles were registered in 2012 — a number that has more than doubled since the mid-1990s.

Roger Holmes, 59, perused Harley-logo shirts with Sue Kealy, his regular companion on rides. Many of Holmes’ friends were buying bikes, so in 2004 he did too. The Rosemount resident takes his Sportster to work on summer weekdays, an occasional band gig at night and, with Kealy as his passenger, on little trips on weekends. The couple’s most recent ride brought them south on Hwy. 61 to Wabasha, Minn.

“It makes you feel good,” Holmes said, of riding. “It makes you feel younger.”

“Maybe they don’t go to school because they rode when they were younger,” said Jed Duncan, owner of Rider Academy in St. Paul. “Maybe they don’t wear a helmet because they grew up with that image of ‘Easy Rider.’ Maybe they have a beer or two because they came along before M.A.D.D.”

Mark Koon is president of the St. Croix Valley Riders, which pays for its members to take safety courses. But Koon himself probably put 500,000 miles on his bike before taking a class last year. “I grew up in the country, riding dirt bikes,” he said. Braking techniques have changed since then, he said, and the class helped him correct some bad habits.

“Even if you’re an experienced rider,” Koon said, “it’s well worth the time.”
Holmes took a safety class at Dakota County Technical College and believes that riding has made him a more attentive driver. But four years ago he was in his truck when someone ran a red light, hitting him hard. If he had been on his Harley, he guesses, “I’d be dead.”

“It’s one of those things: You think, I better do this before I die,” Holmes said, laughing. “Then you get into it, and you think, ‘I’m going to die doing this.’ ”

Do classes work?

Already, it’s the deadliest July in four years. At least 11 people have died in motorcycle crashes — matching the total for the entire month in 2009.

“People! We must do something about this,” pleaded Koon, of the bikers rights group, in a note to members.

His organization touts classes as the solution, but some experts question whether they’re effective. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which conducts and compiles research on road safety, argues that “there is no evidence that safety training for motorcyclists reduces crashes,” said Russ Rader, the nonprofit’s spokesman.

The group also has found little difference in insurance claims between states that require all new riders to take courses and those that do not. Six states, including Texas and Oregon, have that requirement. Minnesota is among 19 states that order younger riders, only, to complete a safety class. Here, those under 18 must enroll.

Helmets are a flash point

But the Insurance Institute does advocate for another fix — helmets.

Helmets cut the risk of a motorcycle fatality by 37 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Two-thirds of motorcyclists who have died this year in Minnesota were not wearing helmets.

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia require helmets for all motorcyclists. Minnesota requires them only for riders under 18. Many rider groups, including Koon’s, oppose mandatory helmet laws.

Duncan believes that the cheapest way to cut down on motorcycle fatalities is to enact a mandatory helmet law. But he’s against that.

“Everybody should be able to choose,” he said. “At the same time, I wear a helmet every single time I’m on a motorcycle.”

A 2011 survey of 1,350 riders in Minnesota found that about half said they wear a helmet either “most of the time” or “all of the time.”

Those in their 40s were the least likely to report wearing helmets. The youngest and oldest riders — under 30 and over 60 — were the most likely to.

A different crowd

Greger stood before the half-full classroom, gray-haired and goateed. Many students appeared to be in their 20s and 30s. That’s not typical, said Greger, 59. But it’s this year’s mix.

Dennis Urabe, 42, had his motorcycle license for 20 years, until he moved to Minnesota from New York six years ago. His wife worries about him riding, so partly to assuage her concern, he plans to take both the beginner and the advanced safety courses.

“I’m getting older, so I definitely want to be as safe as possible,” Urabe said during a class break.

On Saturday, the group would get on bikes, practicing balancing, braking and turning. But the course’s first session was indoors. They worked through a thick rider handbook, answering questions on helmets, gear and controls. They watched short videos of attractive people checking their bikes before a ride. They also talked about crashes.



“OK, now for my least-favorite question,” Greger said. “Who’s got Number 6?”

“Describe one crash from your previous experience, or that you are aware of,” one man read from the book. “Briefly describe the circumstances.”

Jenna Ross • 612-673-7168


Offline pkpk

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Re: Crashes Reported in the Media
« Reply #468 on: July 21, 2013, 11:38:30 PM »
All available information for
incident number 13102894.

    Incident Number:    13102894    Incident Date/Time:    7/21/2013 2:06:00 PM
    MSP District:    2100    Incident Contact:    MN STATE PATROL DISTRICT 2100 - (507) 285-7406
    Number of Individuals:    2       
    Number of Vehicles:    1    
                   
    Location:    HWY 21 & BAGLEY ROAD    Road Type:    BLACK TOP
    Milepost:    1    Road Condition:    DRY
    County:    RICE    Number of Lanes:    2
    Crash Type:    RAN OFF ROAD    Divided/Undivided:    UNDIVIDED ROADWAY
    Incident Classification:    SERIOUS INJURY    Hazardous Material:    NOT PRESENT
                   
    Assisting Agencies:
       
    FARIBAULT POLICE DEPARTMENT
    RICE COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE
                   
     Person 1:    SEVERSON, DONALD W , 54 , OF OWATONNA MN , DRIVER OF VEH 1 , Phys. Cond. : SERIOUS INJURY
     Person 2:    DANIELS, SUSAN L , 54 , OF OWATONNA MN , PASSENGER OF VEH 1 , Phys. Cond. : SERIOUS INJURY
     

    Vehicle 1:
       2008   YAMAHA MC 
     
          
    IncidentDescription:    VEHICLE #1 WAS WEST BOUND ON HWY 21, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL WENT ONTO THE SHOULDER & FLIPPED VEHICLE. DRIVER & PASSENGER WERE EJECTED. FARIBAULT FIRE DEPARTMENT & NORTH MEMORIAL AMBULANCE WERE DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE.
            
    Information Complete:    INFORMATION BELIEVED COMPLETE   
    Last Updated:    7/21/2013 4:59:29 PM
         
Individual Records

    Listed below are the individual records that match the criteria you specified.
    *Estimated age used only when true age is unknown.
    Case Number:    13102894    Seatbelt:    N/A
    Incident Date/Time:    7/21/2013 2:06:00 PM    Airbag:    N/A
    Info Released:    NOT RECORDED    Helmet:    NO
                   
    Person ID:    13102894V1P1    Age:    54
    Full Name:    SEVERSON, DONALD W    Estimated Age:    ACTUAL AGE ABOVE
    Associated Vehicle:    13102894V1    Alcohol in System:    NO ALCOHOL DETECTED
    Role in Crash:    DRIVER    Hospital:    NORTH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL , ROBBINSDALE, MN 
    Residence:    OWATONNA , MN , USA    Physical Condition:    SERIOUS INJURY 
    Sex:    MALE       
    Relation to Driver:    SELF    Fatal Date:    N/A - NOT RECORDED          

boatwhiskers

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Re: Crashes Reported in the Media
« Reply #469 on: July 22, 2013, 12:34:08 PM »
http://www.startribune.com/local/216382241.html


Rash of motorcycle deaths worries Minnesota riders, officials

    Article by: JENNA ROSS , Star Tribune
    Updated: July 21, 2013 - 10:41 PM


This story brings up so many issues that I have an opinion about, I don't know where to start?
I do know, it concerns me, that others who also ride, "have officials worried"



One man, with his wife on board, lost control of his motorcycle on July 4th, killing them both. Another veered off the road on a sharp curve and struck a road sign, dying. A Coon Rapids couple was killed when they crossed the centerline and collided with a pickup.

All were in their 50s.

Minnesota is on track for an especially deadly riding season this year, with at least 32 motorcycle deaths so far, and baby boomers are most often the fatalities. Since January, more than half of those killed in motorcycle crashes statewide were over the age of 45.

The toll last year also was bad, perhaps because of an early spring, authorities said. But despite May snowstorms that kept many hogs in the garage well into spring, this year appears worse. Total fatalities, so far, are up 60 percent over the Department of Public Safety’s tally at this time last year. (The 2012 number later grew once more reports were compiled.)

“People are just going crazy this year,” said Bill Shaffer, director of the state’s Motorcycle and Roadway Safety Programs. “It’s discouraging, to say the least.”

The number and nature of the crashes have safety officials, riding instructors and motorcyclists worried. Nearly half of this year’s fatalities were caused by a motorcyclist losing it on a curve. That’s way more than typical and speaks to a lack of skill, Shaffer and others said.

Meanwhile, fewer riders are getting trained. Despite a record number of licensed riders, sign-ups for state safety courses have fallen from their peak in 2008. This season, the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center canceled some classes because of low registration.

Rider coach Bill Gregor has never seen so many cancellations. “The economy is better than it was two years ago, gas prices are high. We should have 50 people trying to get in here,” he said, gesturing to his class of 15. “I can’t figure that out.”

His teaching partner, Ashley Delzer, chimed in: “It’s because they’re all out there, uneducated and dying.” They both got quiet, shaking their heads.

‘Makes you feel younger’

Some wore leather jackets and head wraps. Others sported suits. But the dozen customers at a Harley-Davidson dealership in Lakeville on an evening last week had one thing in common: their age.

Baby boomers have driven the last decade’s dramatic rise in motorcycle riders. In Minnesota, a record 237,000 motorcycles were registered in 2012 — a number that has more than doubled since the mid-1990s.

Roger Holmes, 59, perused Harley-logo shirts with Sue Kealy, his regular companion on rides. Many of Holmes’ friends were buying bikes, so in 2004 he did too. The Rosemount resident takes his Sportster to work on summer weekdays, an occasional band gig at night and, with Kealy as his passenger, on little trips on weekends. The couple’s most recent ride brought them south on Hwy. 61 to Wabasha, Minn.

“It makes you feel good,” Holmes said, of riding. “It makes you feel younger.”

“Maybe they don’t go to school because they rode when they were younger,” said Jed Duncan, owner of Rider Academy in St. Paul. “Maybe they don’t wear a helmet because they grew up with that image of ‘Easy Rider.’ Maybe they have a beer or two because they came along before M.A.D.D.”

Mark Koon is president of the St. Croix Valley Riders, which pays for its members to take safety courses. But Koon himself probably put 500,000 miles on his bike before taking a class last year. “I grew up in the country, riding dirt bikes,” he said. Braking techniques have changed since then, he said, and the class helped him correct some bad habits.

“Even if you’re an experienced rider,” Koon said, “it’s well worth the time.”
Holmes took a safety class at Dakota County Technical College and believes that riding has made him a more attentive driver. But four years ago he was in his truck when someone ran a red light, hitting him hard. If he had been on his Harley, he guesses, “I’d be dead.”

“It’s one of those things: You think, I better do this before I die,” Holmes said, laughing. “Then you get into it, and you think, ‘I’m going to die doing this.’ ”

Do classes work?

Already, it’s the deadliest July in four years. At least 11 people have died in motorcycle crashes — matching the total for the entire month in 2009.

“People! We must do something about this,” pleaded Koon, of the bikers rights group, in a note to members.

His organization touts classes as the solution, but some experts question whether they’re effective. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which conducts and compiles research on road safety, argues that “there is no evidence that safety training for motorcyclists reduces crashes,” said Russ Rader, the nonprofit’s spokesman.

The group also has found little difference in insurance claims between states that require all new riders to take courses and those that do not. Six states, including Texas and Oregon, have that requirement. Minnesota is among 19 states that order younger riders, only, to complete a safety class. Here, those under 18 must enroll.

Helmets are a flash point

But the Insurance Institute does advocate for another fix — helmets.

Helmets cut the risk of a motorcycle fatality by 37 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Two-thirds of motorcyclists who have died this year in Minnesota were not wearing helmets.

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia require helmets for all motorcyclists. Minnesota requires them only for riders under 18. Many rider groups, including Koon’s, oppose mandatory helmet laws.

Duncan believes that the cheapest way to cut down on motorcycle fatalities is to enact a mandatory helmet law. But he’s against that.

“Everybody should be able to choose,” he said. “At the same time, I wear a helmet every single time I’m on a motorcycle.”

A 2011 survey of 1,350 riders in Minnesota found that about half said they wear a helmet either “most of the time” or “all of the time.”

Those in their 40s were the least likely to report wearing helmets. The youngest and oldest riders — under 30 and over 60 — were the most likely to.

A different crowd

Greger stood before the half-full classroom, gray-haired and goateed. Many students appeared to be in their 20s and 30s. That’s not typical, said Greger, 59. But it’s this year’s mix.

Dennis Urabe, 42, had his motorcycle license for 20 years, until he moved to Minnesota from New York six years ago. His wife worries about him riding, so partly to assuage her concern, he plans to take both the beginner and the advanced safety courses.

“I’m getting older, so I definitely want to be as safe as possible,” Urabe said during a class break.

On Saturday, the group would get on bikes, practicing balancing, braking and turning. But the course’s first session was indoors. They worked through a thick rider handbook, answering questions on helmets, gear and controls. They watched short videos of attractive people checking their bikes before a ride. They also talked about crashes.



“OK, now for my least-favorite question,” Greger said. “Who’s got Number 6?”

“Describe one crash from your previous experience, or that you are aware of,” one man read from the book. “Briefly describe the circumstances.”

Jenna Ross • 612-673-7168


http://www.startribune.com/local/216382241.html


Rash of motorcycle deaths worries Minnesota riders, officials

    Article by: JENNA ROSS , Star Tribune
    Updated: July 21, 2013 - 10:41 PM



One man, with his wife on board, lost control of his motorcycle on July 4th, killing them both. Another veered off the road on a sharp curve and struck a road sign, dying. A Coon Rapids couple was killed when they crossed the centerline and collided with a pickup.

All were in their 50s.

Minnesota is on track for an especially deadly riding season this year, with at least 32 motorcycle deaths so far, and baby boomers are most often the fatalities. Since January, more than half of those killed in motorcycle crashes statewide were over the age of 45.

The toll last year also was bad, perhaps because of an early spring, authorities said. But despite May snowstorms that kept many hogs in the garage well into spring, this year appears worse. Total fatalities, so far, are up 60 percent over the Department of Public Safety’s tally at this time last year. (The 2012 number later grew once more reports were compiled.)

“People are just going crazy this year,” said Bill Shaffer, director of the state’s Motorcycle and Roadway Safety Programs. “It’s discouraging, to say the least.”

The number and nature of the crashes have safety officials, riding instructors and motorcyclists worried. Nearly half of this year’s fatalities were caused by a motorcyclist losing it on a curve. That’s way more than typical and speaks to a lack of skill, Shaffer and others said.

Meanwhile, fewer riders are getting trained. Despite a record number of licensed riders, sign-ups for state safety courses have fallen from their peak in 2008. This season, the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center canceled some classes because of low registration.

Rider coach Bill Gregor has never seen so many cancellations. “The economy is better than it was two years ago, gas prices are high. We should have 50 people trying to get in here,” he said, gesturing to his class of 15. “I can’t figure that out.”

His teaching partner, Ashley Delzer, chimed in: “It’s because they’re all out there, uneducated and dying.” They both got quiet, shaking their heads.

‘Makes you feel younger’

Some wore leather jackets and head wraps. Others sported suits. But the dozen customers at a Harley-Davidson dealership in Lakeville on an evening last week had one thing in common: their age.

Baby boomers have driven the last decade’s dramatic rise in motorcycle riders. In Minnesota, a record 237,000 motorcycles were registered in 2012 — a number that has more than doubled since the mid-1990s.

Roger Holmes, 59, perused Harley-logo shirts with Sue Kealy, his regular companion on rides. Many of Holmes’ friends were buying bikes, so in 2004 he did too. The Rosemount resident takes his Sportster to work on summer weekdays, an occasional band gig at night and, with Kealy as his passenger, on little trips on weekends. The couple’s most recent ride brought them south on Hwy. 61 to Wabasha, Minn.

“It makes you feel good,” Holmes said, of riding. “It makes you feel younger.”

“Maybe they don’t go to school because they rode when they were younger,” said Jed Duncan, owner of Rider Academy in St. Paul. “Maybe they don’t wear a helmet because they grew up with that image of ‘Easy Rider.’ Maybe they have a beer or two because they came along before M.A.D.D.”

Mark Koon is president of the St. Croix Valley Riders, which pays for its members to take safety courses. But Koon himself probably put 500,000 miles on his bike before taking a class last year. “I grew up in the country, riding dirt bikes,” he said. Braking techniques have changed since then, he said, and the class helped him correct some bad habits.

“Even if you’re an experienced rider,” Koon said, “it’s well worth the time.”
Holmes took a safety class at Dakota County Technical College and believes that riding has made him a more attentive driver. But four years ago he was in his truck when someone ran a red light, hitting him hard. If he had been on his Harley, he guesses, “I’d be dead.”

“It’s one of those things: You think, I better do this before I die,” Holmes said, laughing. “Then you get into it, and you think, ‘I’m going to die doing this.’ ”

Do classes work?

Already, it’s the deadliest July in four years. At least 11 people have died in motorcycle crashes — matching the total for the entire month in 2009.

“People! We must do something about this,” pleaded Koon, of the bikers rights group, in a note to members.

His organization touts classes as the solution, but some experts question whether they’re effective. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which conducts and compiles research on road safety, argues that “there is no evidence that safety training for motorcyclists reduces crashes,” said Russ Rader, the nonprofit’s spokesman.

The group also has found little difference in insurance claims between states that require all new riders to take courses and those that do not. Six states, including Texas and Oregon, have that requirement. Minnesota is among 19 states that order younger riders, only, to complete a safety class. Here, those under 18 must enroll.

Helmets are a flash point

But the Insurance Institute does advocate for another fix — helmets.

Helmets cut the risk of a motorcycle fatality by 37 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Two-thirds of motorcyclists who have died this year in Minnesota were not wearing helmets.

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia require helmets for all motorcyclists. Minnesota requires them only for riders under 18. Many rider groups, including Koon’s, oppose mandatory helmet laws.

Duncan believes that the cheapest way to cut down on motorcycle fatalities is to enact a mandatory helmet law. But he’s against that.

“Everybody should be able to choose,” he said. “At the same time, I wear a helmet every single time I’m on a motorcycle.”

A 2011 survey of 1,350 riders in Minnesota found that about half said they wear a helmet either “most of the time” or “all of the time.”

Those in their 40s were the least likely to report wearing helmets. The youngest and oldest riders — under 30 and over 60 — were the most likely to.

A different crowd

Greger stood before the half-full classroom, gray-haired and goateed. Many students appeared to be in their 20s and 30s. That’s not typical, said Greger, 59. But it’s this year’s mix.

Dennis Urabe, 42, had his motorcycle license for 20 years, until he moved to Minnesota from New York six years ago. His wife worries about him riding, so partly to assuage her concern, he plans to take both the beginner and the advanced safety courses.

“I’m getting older, so I definitely want to be as safe as possible,” Urabe said during a class break.

On Saturday, the group would get on bikes, practicing balancing, braking and turning. But the course’s first session was indoors. They worked through a thick rider handbook, answering questions on helmets, gear and controls. They watched short videos of attractive people checking their bikes before a ride. They also talked about crashes.



“OK, now for my least-favorite question,” Greger said. “Who’s got Number 6?”

“Describe one crash from your previous experience, or that you are aware of,” one man read from the book. “Briefly describe the circumstances.”

Jenna Ross • 612-673-7168

Offline pkpk

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Re: Crashes Reported in the Media
« Reply #470 on: July 22, 2013, 12:38:38 PM »
Hi Jim,

You must have requoted the article (twice) and included your own comments in various places?  Awful hard to figure it out without out using multi-level quoting.  :)

Offline pkpk

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Re: Crashes Reported in the Media
« Reply #471 on: July 22, 2013, 12:40:08 PM »
http://www.startribune.com/local/south/216428291.html

Owatonna woman, 54, adds to state's surging motorcycle death toll

    Article by: PAUL WALSH , Star Tribune
    Updated: July 22, 2013 - 8:17 AM

A motorcycle went out of control on a highway just south of the Twin Cities, and a female passenger was killed, authorities said.

The crash occurred on Hwy. 21 at Bagley Road in Faribault shortly after 2 p.m. Saturday, according to the State Patrol.

Killed was Susan L. Daniels, 54, of Owatonna, the patrol said. The motorcycle’s operator, Donald W. Severson, also 54 and from Owatonna, was taken to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale with serious injuries.

Neither Daniels nor Severson were wearing helmets, according to the patrol.

The motorcycle was heading west on Hwy. 21, when it went onto the shoulder and flipped, the patrol said.

The crash marks Minnesota’s 33rd motorcycle death this year, with more than half of the victims being at least 45 years old.

At least 11 people in the state have died in motorcycle crashes in the first three weeks of July. That’s equal to July 2009. There were 19 in July 2006, the deadliest total for that month in Minnesota dating back to 1998.

Of the 27 motorcycle fatalities this year for which details on helmets were available, 19 riders were not wearing helmets. Although adult riders are not required to wear helmets in Minnesota, the Department of Public Safety said they should be worn by everyone, along with brightly colored protective gear for improved visibility.

boatwhiskers

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Re: Crashes Reported in the Media
« Reply #472 on: July 22, 2013, 01:01:48 PM »
Sorry I got a bit confused and distracted.

Offline Elk

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Re: Crashes Reported in the Media
« Reply #473 on: July 22, 2013, 04:00:22 PM »
Good thing you were not approaching a corner.

Offline Joel S

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Re: Crashes Reported in the Media
« Reply #474 on: July 22, 2013, 07:21:38 PM »
Good thing you were not approaching a corner.

Lol
16 FJR ES               More seat time, less feet time.

Offline Chris

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Re: Crashes Reported in the Media
« Reply #475 on: July 23, 2013, 02:18:58 PM »
Of the 27 motorcycle fatalities this year for which details on helmets were available, 19 riders were not wearing helmets. Although adult riders are not required to wear helmets in Minnesota, the Department of Public Safety said they should be worn by everyone, along with brightly colored protective gear for improved visibility.

I see more law in the future of Minnesota.... 
Chris
----------

Offline pkpk

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Re: Crashes Reported in the Media
« Reply #476 on: July 24, 2013, 10:36:00 PM »
Actually I'm surprised we don't hear about more scooter fatals.

http://www.republican-eagle.com/content/one-dead-early-morning-scooter-crash

One dead in early morning scooter crash

One person is dead after a car versus scooter crash that occurred shortly before 6 a.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Highway 61 and Hill Street in Red Wing, the Minnesota State Patrol said.

The unidentified driver of the scooter was traveling eastbound on Highway 61 when he or she collided with a Chevy Malibu driven by Nicholas Sparby, 29, of Red Wing, as he was turning left off of Hill Street, a crash report states.

The name of the deceased driver was not immediately released.

Sparby sustained no apparent injuries, the State Patrol said.

Red Wing Police and Fire and Ambulance assisted on the scene, Police Chief Roger Pohlman said.

State Patrol is continuing to investigate.
- See more at: http://www.republican-eagle.com/content/one-dead-early-morning-scooter-crash#sthash.OXB44wLY.dpuf
« Last Edit: July 24, 2013, 10:38:19 PM by pkpk »

Offline Powershouse

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Re: Crashes Reported in the Media
« Reply #477 on: July 25, 2013, 04:43:05 PM »
St. Paul couple killed in WA motorcycle crash
The Associated Press
Posted:   07/23/2013 12:17:29 PM CDT | Updated:   2 days ago

TWISP, Wash.—The Washington State Patrol says a couple from St. Paul, Minn., were killed Sunday when their motorcycle collided with a car on Highway 20 east of Twisp.

The patrol identifies them as the 64-year-old driver, Ronald A. McKinley, and his 49-year-old passenger, Ann K. Johnson.

The Wenatchee World reports (http://bit.ly/19fVkwh) they were hit by an oncoming vehicle that crossed the centerline. The driver was a 25-year-old Omak woman who was injured and treated at a hospital.

The crash caused a grass fire that burned about a quarter-acre before firefighters put it out.

———

Information from: The Wenatchee World, http://www.wenatcheeworld.com

Offline pkpk

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Re: Crashes Reported in the Media
« Reply #478 on: July 25, 2013, 05:53:57 PM »
http://www.southernminn.com/northfield_news/news/local/article_e2e0ed2a-b642-5df8-bde0-1220861a53c2.html

UPDATE: Faribault man identified in fatal motorcycle crash with semi in Northfield

Posted: Thursday, July 25, 2013 9:00 am | Updated: 9:49 am, Thu Jul 25, 2013.

By KAITLYN WALSH kwalsh@northfieldnews.com



A rural Faribault man driving a motorcycle Wednesday morning was killed in a crash with a semitrailer in Northfield.

The Rice County Sheriff's Office, Minnesota State Patrol, Northfield police and a Northfield ambulance responded to a crash between a motorcycle and a semitrailer at about 10:11 a.m., near the Flying J Travel Plaza at 8051 Bagley Ave.

At about 11:15, a medical examiner was at the scene, as other officers examined the damage and took photos.

Todd R. Fletcher, 50, was driving a motorcycle on Bagley Avenue (County Road 46) toward Hwy. 19 and collided with a semitrailer, driven by a 63-year-old Dallas man, Herschel L. Johnson, according to a press release.

According to Rice County Chief Deputy Dave Stensrud, the driver of the truck was heading southbound, making a left turn to enter the rest stop area.

"The driver of the semi is fine," Stensrud said. "Names [were] being withheld until the families are notified. It’s currently under investigation as to what caused the crash."

Fletcher was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to Stensrud. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a press release.

The crash is being investigated by the sheriff's office and state patrol.

Offline pkpk

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Re: Crashes Reported in the Media
« Reply #479 on: July 27, 2013, 08:22:16 PM »
All available information for
incident number 13603471.

    Incident Number:    13603471    Incident Date/Time:    7/26/2013 6:33:00 PM
    MSP District:    2600    Incident Contact:    MSP PIO LT. ERIC ROESKE 651.201.7146
    Number of Individuals:    2       
    Number of Vehicles:    2    
                   
    Location:    MAIN ST NE/HWY 9 & 2ND AVE NE    Road Type:    CONCRETE
    Milepost:    NONE RECORDED    Road Condition:    DRY
    County:    KANDIYOHI    Number of Lanes:    2
    Crash Type:    BROADSIDE    Divided/Undivided:    UNDIVIDED ROADWAY
    Incident Classification:    SERIOUS INJURY    Hazardous Material:    NOT PRESENT
                   
    Assisting Agencies:
       
    KANDIYOHI COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE
                   
     Person 1:    SCHAEFFER, JOSEPH C , 41 , OF NEW LONDON MN , DRIVER OF VEH 1 , Phys. Cond. : NOT DOCUMENTED
     Person 2:    KNUTSON, MICHAEL JAMES , 32 , OF NEW LONDON MN , DRIVER OF VEH 2 , Phys. Cond. : SERIOUS INJURY
     

    Vehicle 1:
       1996   CHEVROLET PK 

    Vehicle 2:
       1982   YAMA ROAD-STRT 
     
          
    IncidentDescription:    V1 WAS EB ON 1ST AVE NW CROSSING HWY 9 TO GO EB ON 1ST AVE NE. V2 WAS NB ON HWY 9. V1 HIT V2 AT A RIGHT ANGLE. M/C WAS PARTIALLY UNDER THE TRUCK.
            
    Information Complete:    INFORMATION BELIEVED COMPLETE   
    Last Updated:    7/26/2013 10:15:58 PM
         
Individual Records

    Listed below are the individual records that match the criteria you specified.
    *Estimated age used only when true age is unknown.
    Case Number:    13603471    Seatbelt:    YES
    Incident Date/Time:    7/26/2013 6:33:00 PM    Airbag:    NONE OR NOT DEPLOYED
    Info Released:    7/26/2013    Helmet:    N/A
                   
    Person ID:    13603471V1P1    Age:    41
    Full Name:    SCHAEFFER, JOSEPH C    Estimated Age:    ACTUAL AGE ABOVE
    Associated Vehicle:    13603471V1    Alcohol in System:    ALCOHOL DETECTED
    Role in Crash:    DRIVER    Hospital:    HOSPITAL NOT RECORDED , N/A 
    Residence:    NEW LONDON , MN , USA    Physical Condition:    NOT DOCUMENTED 
    Sex:    MALE       
    Relation to Driver:    SELF    Fatal Date:    N/A - NOT RECORDED
                   
Individual Records

    Listed below are the individual records that match the criteria you specified.
    *Estimated age used only when true age is unknown.
    Case Number:    13603471    Seatbelt:    N/A
    Incident Date/Time:    7/26/2013 6:33:00 PM    Airbag:    N/A
    Info Released:    NOT RECORDED    Helmet:    NO
                   
    Person ID:    13603471V2P1    Age:    32
    Full Name:    KNUTSON, MICHAEL JAMES    Estimated Age:    ACTUAL AGE ABOVE
    Associated Vehicle:    13603471V2    Alcohol in System:    NO ALCOHOL DETECTED
    Role in Crash:    DRIVER    Hospital:    CENTRE CARE , ST CLOUD 
    Residence:    NEW LONDON , MN , USA    Physical Condition:    SERIOUS INJURY 
    Sex:    MALE       
    Relation to Driver:    SELF    Fatal Date:    N/A - NOT RECORDED