River road accident this morning

[battlecry]

So sorry to hear about this accident.  I remember when my daughter was learning to drive and she took us to St. Barts one Sunday morning.  She terrified us on that decreasing radius exit turn.   RIP to the couple and prayers for them and their families. 

Stay aware and safe everybody. 

[DRKWNG]

Apparently the riders were on a Duc. 

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/06/bethesda-motorcycle-crash-kills-two-61929.html

Anyone here know a Christopher Walker, 27, of Kensington, and Kristen Wolcott, 26, of Hyattsville?

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Two-People-Die-In-Beltway-Motorcycle-Accident--123448119.html

RIP

[MongoReturns]

My God this is terrible - I heard about the accident, and whenever I hear such things think "Sure hope it wasn't on a Ducati."

I wonder what model it was - I've gone into too many exit turns on the 1098 at night WAY too hot until it was almost too late, such that I rarely drive it at night anymore.

It's easy to not realize you're going way to fast, combined with the headlights not turning when you turn the bars IMHO.

Rest in peace.

[rgramjet]

There's a red 1098 that I see occasionally on Parkwood Drive.  Only one I've seen around here.  Don't know which Ducati was involved.  I'll drive by today.

RIP

[dolci]

Heard that yesterday morning and I know that exit ramp.  What a tragedy.

RIP

[Slide Panda]

According to one of the reports linked in the OP, 'helmets were found' the scene. That wording makes me wonder - it's just odd.

Regardless of that, crappy crappy news.

[The Mad King Pepe']

Might not have been wearing their helmets or had them not fastened properly. Used to see that all the time in Italy, especially in the summer.

I really think there should be a federal (not just state by state) law for learning and newly licensed riders to be allowed to ride bikes with limited power for the first few years.

While it's true that an idiot will be just as dangerous on a 250, it'll take them more effort to get up to 'dangerous' speeds vs a 150+ hp bike.

[bikepilot]

I'm not so sure that more laws is really what this country needs (and this from a lawyer). There's something to be said for the freedom to make our own choices rather than have some politician in DC do the thinking for us - really a quintessential, (and sadly in my view, dying) aspect of the American way.

[Autohag]

Rumors suggest that there's some resurfacing going on at (or near) that exit. Can anyone familiar with that stretch of 495 confirm that one way or another? Anyway, more rumors suggest that the front wheel got trapped in a groove/rut.

Sad, sad news. Be safe out there.

[Slide Panda]

I go through that most days for work. If they have been resurfacing, it's not super obvious. I haven't seen any obvious signs of resurface work when I got by on 495

[dolci]

Rumors suggest that there's some resurfacing going on at (or near) that exit. Can anyone familiar with that stretch of 495 confirm that one way or another? Anyway, more rumors suggest that the front wheel got trapped in a groove/rut.

Sad, sad news. Be safe out there.

There's some a little bit further on towards the Clara Barton but going in the opposite direction - I don't recall anything right there either.

[battlecry]

Gosh, I thought it was the other exit ramp from the outer loop.  Yes, I remember seeing chunks of road missing there in the small transition area from the asphalt of the exit ramp and the concrete slab of the bridge over Cabin John Parkway.  Don't know the current status.  The seam between the two surfaces is at an acute angle too.  Tankslapper? 

[MadDuck]

Accident at 2:50 am.  That can't be good right there. RIP.

[Slide Panda]

Accident at 2:50 am.  That can't be good right there.

Yeah at 3 am.. not so good.

Might not have been wearing their helmets or had them not fastened properly. Used to see that all the time in Italy, especially in the summer.

I really think there should be a federal (not just state by state) law for learning and newly licensed riders to be allowed to ride bikes with limited power for the first few years.

I'm all for more education and 50/50 on the tiered power thing, but it's not the worst concept I've heard. But in this case it's sort of irrelevant. We don't know what the pilots background was. he could have been riding since he was a kid for all we know.

I think the helmet comment is what probably did them in. If the helmets were not on, or not fastened it doesn't take much head trauma to kill a human. If they helmets were proper, they should have been on with little regard to how bad the accident was. We have all see race riders get off at well over 100 in some epic crashes and their helmets stay on.

[The Mad King Pepe']

We don't know what the pilots background was. he could have been riding since he was a kid for all we know.

That's true, and let me point out that I mean in no way to disrespect or discredit the two people who died last night. It just angers me (and it always will!) to see lives lost in vain like this!

I'm not so sure that more laws is really what this country needs (and this from a lawyer). There's something to be said for the freedom to make our own choices rather than have some politician in DC do the thinking for us - really a quintessential, (and sadly in my view, dying) aspect of the American way.

I don't see it as something that simple. Too much freedom and you'll see more of what's going on in Mexico. Too little and we'll turn into Canada (kidding ).