Witnessed a wreck today.....

[lewismug]

So my wife and I are sitting in traffic today in Horn Lake, MS (a suburb of Memphis, TN) and I just happened to look over to my right across the intersection.  I saw two men flying through the air.  They both hit the ground and one tried to get up, but fell back down.  We flew through the intersection and stopped to check on them, but a motorcycle cop came flying up before we could even get outta the car.  They were riding 2 up on a HD.  The car pulled across two lanes of traffic and just nailed them.  One of the guys obviously had a broken leg, and the other one didn't really look all that hurt.  Well, the one that didn't look like he was hurt too bad was airlifted to The Med in Memphis.  The bike was a total loss, and the car sustained MAJOR damage to the front end.  The bumper was off and the hood was crumpled all to hell.  Their legs took the brunt of the collision and it really scared my wife and I.  She was crying almost uncontrollably.  It really made me realize just how easily one can get hurt riding a motorcycle.  It doesn't really matter if you are paying attention or not.  It can happen.  I've never been in a mc wreck, and I hope to never be in one after today.  Neither of the guys were wearing gear.  Only helmets.  One was in blue jeans, and the other was wearing shorts.  I'm not really sure if gear would have helped them though.  I took a few pics of the car and the hd, but they are way too blurry to really see.  I had to tell someone about it, because my wife won't talk about it with me.

[yamahonkawazuki]

yup been there. saw that. and judging by your description, yeah i doubt gear would have helped. in most cases gear protects against abrasions, ( cept for teh helmet) and minor impacts. not major ones

[DoD#i]

One of the reasons I harp on MSF so much is the knowledge, beaten into me by folks I knew who rode before I started riding, that you don't have a cage of steel around you, and you need some way to compensate. When a huge motorcycle takes on a sub-compact car, the motorcycle rider is the loser - and it only gets worse from there. A GS500 and some idiot texting while driving their Hummer is seriously not going to be a good thing for the GS500 rider.

Gear is good. But it probably would not have helped the guys you saw much at all.

Gearing up your brain is good.

Some folks sell their bikes and gear and start driving Volvos. This probably means they didn't fully consider the harsh reality of what riding a motorcycle .vs. driving a car means in the first place.

There is risk in everything, from getting out of bed to staying in it. If you try to live without risk, you'll fail, and you might also miss out on a lot of rewarding things - but you can manage it, to some extent.

[scottpA_GS]

 Dont focus too much and relate this to your riding/life   Crap happens   As im sure you know. You can get nailed by a bus while walking down the street.. I'm sure you wouldn't have any gear on then  

It always makes you think when you see some crazy event first hand. I have been very shaken by some traffic accidents that I witnessed.  Just keep focused on you! and ride as safe as you can

[pandy]

It really made me realize just how easily one can get hurt riding a motorcycle.  It doesn't really matter if you are paying attention or not.  It can happen. 

This is soooooooooooooo true, and it can happen in a split second. The cagers also don't realize how much damage they can do to us (nor do they think about it much or care, really). I know the risks and accept them (while mitigating them as much as possible). I can't imagine not riding, and I hope you're able to reassure your wife. 

[warmouth]

crashes suck aright  but my brother allways told me there are two kinds of motorcycle riders ---- those that have crashed and those that are going to crash --- so don't worry about crashing just be careful as you can and hope all the cars see you and have fun riding ,

                                 i'm one that has crashed                       luckly not hurt to bad and not on my new gs   

[lewismug]

crashes suck aright  but my brother allways told me there are two kinds of motorcycle riders ---- those that have crashed and those that are going to crash --- so don't worry about crashing just be careful as you can and hope all the cars see you and have fun riding ,

                                 i'm one that has crashed                       luckly not hurt to bad and not on my new gs   

Yeah, my older buddy that I ride with a lot has said that to me as well.  Seeing the wreck hasn't changed my mind about riding.  It just helped me to see the importance of paying attention 100% of the time and not acting stupid on a bike.  I used to be a fireman and I've seen way too many gory car wrecks for this to have bothered me much.  I know it's easy enough to get killed/maimed in a car wreck.

Some folks sell their bikes and gear and start driving Volvos. This probably means they didn't fully consider the harsh reality of what riding a motorcycle .vs. driving a car means in the first place.

I have a Volvo, but I had it way before I ever purchased a bike.  My wife hates the looks of the car, but we take 100% of our family trips in the thing.  I knew the first time I rode my bike what it meant.  Not having the extra stuff around you to help protect you in a wreck.  I felt so vulnerable.  I know that if I ever come into contact with another vehicle while riding my bike I may not live to ride another day.  I know the chances of being injured seriously/losing my life on a bike are much higher in the event of a wreck than if I were in a car/truck.  The feeling that riding gives me is worth it though.  I've never felt so free and in touch with what is going on around me than when I ride.  The same old roads look completely different on my bike.  It's like I have moved to a different part of the country.  The scenery has completely changed!

Anyway, thanks for listening and letting me know your thoughts on this guys.  It helps tremendously.

[frankieG]

what an odd experience...just looking over and seeing two guys flying through the air...i hope they are ok

[Revere2]

I'll bet that was certainly an eye opener. We've had several deaths in the area down here recently as well. Most of them have been H-Ds.
We have a lot of 'em down here. Lotta poker runs and bike bars/cruisin' spots so I guess that ups the odds too. Hey Lewis!! I see you is from MS!!!! Guess what? I'm from MS too!!! I spent the first 27 years of my life in "the Delta" and the next 27 driving back occasionally several times a year. Just trying to get over it man. Hahahahahahaa. What a hellish place it has become. Later.

[lewismug]

Yeah Revere, my home is right on the edge of the delta and the hills.  I grew up in the delta and love it there.