September 22nd, 2008 by R.J.
I read this story today on KTUU and found it pretty disturbing as a motorcyclist.
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) - A Las Vegas man has died in a motorcycle crash on the Elliott Highway in Alaska’s interior.
The motorcyclist was identified as 64-year-old Donald A. Cornell of Las Vegas and was pronounced dead at the scene by Alaska State Troopers.
Troopers say the crash occurred when the motorcycle ridden by Mr. Cornell struck the back of another motorcycle ridden by 61-year-old Daniel Vanderhorstof, also of Las Vegas. Vanderhorstof was attempting to turn right to get off of the highway when he was rear-ended.
Both men were thrown from their motorcycles and an investigation estimated that the bikes were traveling no more than 25 miles per hour. Both riders were wearing helmets and Vanderhorstof was not hurt in the accident.
It’s kind of disturbing to know that even a slow-speed crash like that, while wearing helmets, can be fatal. I’ve had friends that were rear-ended by other motorcyclists they were riding with, but thankfully were okay. It makes you really choosy about who you want to be riding with.
September 17th, 2008 by R.J.
An Elk Creek man died Saturday after crashing his motorcycle and plunging nearly 40 feet off the Stony Creek Bridge.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Joseph Nuckolls, 37, was riding a 1983 Honda Nighthawk motorcycle northbound on County Road 306 at about 55 mph. He attempted to turn into the eastbound lane on the Stony Creek Bridge when he lost control and hit the bridge wall, ejecting him over.
“There was an odor of alcoholic beverage on his person,” Sheriff’s Sgt. Todd James said at the scene.
Chad Davidson of Willows said he saw Nuckolls drinking alcohol prior to the accident.
Davidson said he, Nuckolls and another man were going from Elk Creek to Stony Gorge Reservoir at the time of the crash. They had planned to spend the day at the lake, he said.
Nuckolls was transported from the scene by a life-flight helicopter and died several hours later at Enloe Medical Center in Chico.
No other people were involved in the collision.
September 5th, 2008 by R.J.
A motorcyclist has died during time trials at the Utah salt flats just east of the Nevada state line.
Investigators say that Cliff Gullet, 47 of Bozeman, Montana lost control of his motorcycle while traveling at 239 mph and died of the injuries he sustained.
Gullett was the owner of Team Bozeman Motorsports, a motorcycle and snowmobile dealership. He had set a handful of land-speed records and said that he wanted to eventually become the first to reach 400 mph on a two-wheeled Streamliner.
Curt Lance, Team Bozeman’s general manager, said this of Gullet: “Cliff always told me that if anything happened on the Salt, he wanted it to be quick and not lingering. He died doing the thing he loved to do most — racing at Bonneville.”
September 4th, 2008 by R.J.
The man who crashed his motorcycle off an offramp yesterday in Las Vegas has been identified. According to police, the man is 25-year-old Joseph Kongnalinh of Las Vegas.
Police have said that Kongnalinh stole an alcoholic beverage from a Chevron station at 3061 St. Rose Parkway, near Spencer Street at 8:30 a.m. A police chase ensued and Kongnalinh was involved in two accidents, the latter of which flung him over a concrete retaining wall on an overpass and onto the 15 freeway 50 feet below below.
September 3rd, 2008 by R.J.
Yesterday, a Vegas man crashed and fell 50 feet to his death from an overpass above the I-15 freeway.
This has to be one of the weirdest motorcycle story I’ve ever written about. The man, apparently, robbed a convenience store with a gun to steal a bottle of liquor in his helmet and motorcycle jacket. He then hopped on his bike where a chase with Las Vegas Metropolitan Police ensued. He was able to outrun metro, but crashed his bike near Jones and Tropicana. He then took off his jacket and helmet, left it on the side of the road along with his handgun, and resumed running from the cops on his bike.
Police were not chasing him at the time he crashed on the Tropicana overpass of the I-15. His bike impacted a cement retaining wall and flung his helmetless body onto the freeway shoulder below where he was pronounced dead.
I’m not sure if the moral of the story is to not run from the cops; to always wear your helmet; or to not rob convenience stores.
Better go with all three.
July 29th, 2008 by R.J.
Tehama County Undersheriff Dennis Garton was seriously injured Friday while riding his 1991 Honda Goldwing on Interstate 80 near Winnemucca, Nevada.
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July 24th, 2008 by R.J.
KINGMAN, AZ - A woman convicted of driving under the influence, fatally crashing her car into a motorcyclist, and fleeing the scene of the crime was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Mohave County Superior Court Commissioner Lee Jantzen sentenced Marian Marlene Hoffman, 59, of Kingman to 10 years and six months in prison on manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and extreme driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor charges.
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June 25th, 2008 by R.J.
If anybody has been to R1-Forum.com in the last few years you’d be bound to come across a great poster there by the screenname of Gawarrior. His real name is Chad Clifton and today he passed due to complications after a motocross collision at this year’s forum convention.
http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=236772
Shane has set up a donation link for the family to arrange for funeral expenses. I hope everyone that’s ever been touched by Chad donates.
June 23rd, 2008 by R.J.
NORTH RICHMOND, CA - A 37-year old Pinole man died late Thursday night when he lost control of his 2000 Harley Davidson motorcycle and crashed on Richmond Parkway, the California Highway Patrol said.
The CHP said Paul Benter was riding his motorcycle in the fast lane, traveling northbound, speeding and passing cars when, for unknown reasons, he lost control of the bike just past Parr Boulevard.
Benter collided with the center divider and the impact threw him from the motorcycle and into two trees. CHP said Benter was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash is still under investigation. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is urged to contact CHP investigators at 510-450-3821.
June 21st, 2008 by R.J.
The California Highway Patrol released the name of a 49-year old Oakville man who rode his motorcycle off the road on Sunday night in Napa County near Yountville.
Officers responded to the scene off Oakville Grade, west of Highway 29, just after 8:00 p.m where Stephen Lloyd Ogle was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ogle lost control of his 2006 Big Dog custom-built motorcycle for unknown reasons and began to slide as he approached a curve in the roadway, according to the CHP. He slid off the road and into a tree and a fence.
The crash remains under investigation.