Multi-bike crash on Carefree Hwy - 3 dead, many injured

[hoyden]

Looks like it happened a little after 1:00pm this afternoon. Group of bikes involved in crash with "semi or large vehicle"...
3 dead, many injured.

http://www.abc15.com/content/news/phoenixmetro/north/story/FD-3-dead-6-hurt-in-HUGE-wreck-on-Carefree-Highway/VwL7ONcC50ut3E2abcC4Qg.cspx

http://www.azcentral.com/community/northvalley/articles/2010/03/25/20100325motorcyle-crashes-phoenix.html

[hoyden]

Apparently, this is a video on the news - it didn't load for me (having network issues)
http://www.kpho.com/video/22958978/index.html

[Michael]

There's a Ducati Monster on the scene. 

A dozen motorcycles at a stop light got ran over by that dump truck before it burst into flames. In the video the reporter says there are several dead bodies still under the dump truck.  :'(

I'm guessing the driver was drunk because you can see in the video he's doing a sobriety test.



http://www.kpho.com/video/22958978/

[Randimus Maximus]

Wow.

That is just horrible.

In the news articles, it states the driver did not appear to be impaired.  Odd you wouldn't see the bikes, the SUV in front of them or the traffic light, however.

[Michael]

Here's another image. Looks like a red trellis frame on pearl white.

[Povidius]

RIP

 

[Pip]

Looks like an older one from here.... maybe S4RS? God bless 'em all, either way. 

[Bick]

Wow.

That is just horrible.

In the news articles, it states the driver did not appear to be impaired.  Odd you wouldn't see the bikes, the SUV in front of them or the traffic light, however.

You would think.  Not the first time a bike has been rear-ended at a red light.

Tragic. 

[Le Pirate]

suck.



RIP guys 

[Popeye the Sailor]

Wow.

That is just horrible.

In the news articles, it states the driver did not appear to be impaired.  Odd you wouldn't see the bikes, the SUV in front of them or the traffic light, however.

Impaired meaning on any sort of drug. I'd lay money a cell phone was involved somehow.

[Randimus Maximus]

Impaired meaning on any sort of drug. I'd lay money a cell phone was involved somehow.

I was referring to Michael's claim that the driver was "drunk".

It does say in one of the articles that he, "wasn't paying attention...shuffling paperwork".

Sucks for all involved.

[Michael]

I was referring to Michael's claim that the driver was "drunk".

It does say in one of the articles that he, "wasn't paying attention...shuffling paperwork".

Sucks for all involved.

Randy is right, the driver later said he was looking down at paperwork instead of look up at the road. However, in some of the early reports they leaned towards alcohol being an issue because you can see the policeman giving the driver a sobriety test (and in the video it didn't look like he was passing it).

[Michael]

More on this.

Go here to see the group's page -- http://www.meetup.com/Phoenix-M-C-Kruzers/calendar/12890674/

On the right side of that page you can see a few of the members that confirmed that they were going. Sadly you can match some of those profile photos with the bikes in the crash photos. A lot of people assume it was all guys, but as you can see there were a lot of women in that group.

I'm trying to find out about my friend Julian, but whoever owns that Ducati is probably okay since it was parked nicely facing the other direction.

Anyway, here is the group's route --

And here are some more photos.

[hoyden]

Randy is right, the driver later said he was looking down at paperwork instead of look up at the road. However, in some of the early reports they leaned towards alcohol being an issue because you can see the policeman giving the driver a sobriety test (and in the video it didn't look like he was passing it).

I thought a sobriety test was required in crashes like this?
However, you are right in that in the video he does not look terribly stable. 
That said, I am not there giving the test, so until facts come out, I'm not going to speculate as to the driver's mental state.

If the driver was paper-work distracted or "under the influence", either way he was negligent and irresponsible. If the brakes in his truck failed, then well, not much you can do there.

And any way you look at it, it's make the beast with two backsed up.
There are multiple fellow bikers dead and injured.
It makes me sad. It pisses me off.

It's also a reminder that even in groups we are not safe...
keep your eyes constantly open and check your mirrors.

[cyrus buelton]

^^^

You beat me to it.

Whenever a fatal accident occurs, the driver of the vehicle has to submit to sobriety testing and most likely a blood test to determine if drugs were involved.


that is at least the law here in Ohio, but may vary by state but I highly doubt it.



that is tragic. Just awful.