Ducatisti Killed in Denver, Driver runs, later turns self in

[Raux]

reallly cannot believe we are debating the speed of the rider here.
the truck driver made a bad move, 45 35, 15... the truck driver is at fault period.

Last year when a lady pulled out of a T intersection where I had the right of way, I wasn't going fast, hell I was going a lot slower than usual, AND I hesitated towards the intersection... didn't matter, she pulled out in front of me... LUCKILY I was in my car not the bike. Totalled both cars. I would have been toast on the bike.

AND I would have been pissed in the afterlife if you guys would sit here and think my speed had anything to do with her idiot move pulling out in front of a driver with the right of way.

[ducatiz]

reallly cannot believe we are debating the speed of the rider here.
the truck driver made a bad move, 45 35, 15... the truck driver is at fault period.

actually ,it's a valid point and it's hard to say.  if the bike was moving too fast, the truck could have reasonably underestimated how much time he needed.

either way, it doesn't excuse him leaving the scene in that manner.

we can't just look the other way if the biker was going too fast.  i am not saying he definitely was, but i would like to know.

[Raux]

also, I think the speed is deceiving because of the vehicles in the opposite lane are slowing due to traffic.

[fastwin]

Your right in a way. Debating his speed after the fact is like shooting rubber bands at the moon. It only matters that the POS driver pulled in front of him and what's worse is he drove away then ran from his car. You just killed someone and that's what you do? Jeez! Piece of shit is WAY too good a term for him. I still say he was drunk, ran abandoning his vehicle and friends, then waited until he sobered the next day before he turned himself in. What? Turning yourself in somehow now makes you a good guy? Guess he thinks that will lessen his sentence. "Hey, I did the right thing!" BS. Wish I was on that jury. Needs to be hung by his nuts.

[rideserotta]

I still say he was drunk, ran abandoning his vehicle and friends, then waited until he sobered the next day before he turned himself in. What? Turning yourself in somehow now makes you a good guy? Guess he thinks that will lessen his sentence. "Hey, I did the right thing!" BS. Wish I was on that jury. Needs to be hung by his nuts.

+1...

[hbliam]

always bad to hear stuff like this...

i have to agree that the video does show that the biker is going a lot faster than the rest of traffic though, seemingly faster than 45 mph.  and the forensic guy mentioned in this article might not be the guy on scene.  it states that the max scott guy is a part of "the forensic trio" which is seemingly a group hired by law firms/people involved in litigation for accident reconstruction.  i'm guessing the reporters just sent him the video and had him give a quote on it.  i def could be wrong about this, but i would think that the official report would come out of the police forensics dpt, not a 3rd party.

The forensic guy was quoted as making his findings from the skid marks. Speed from skid is a fairly solid way to determine the speed of the vehicle.

[DucatiTorrey]

The forensic guy was quoted as making his findings from the skid marks. Speed from skid is a fairly solid way to determine the speed of the vehicle.

yeah we did this stuff in college physics, weight and coefficient of friction of tires to road, that with the skid marks, you can figure out the speed pretty easily

While working at an airport, we used a truck with a bike wheel on the back. just tp figure the coefficient of friction (mew) for the landing aircraft.

[z0mb1e_DUC]

FYI, one of the posters on the FOX website said the guy was making an illegal U turn there.  He ran cause he knew he'd screwed up.  See below.

"Elaine03 at 1:02 PM June 29, 2011

This is very sad for everyone involved, especially for the victim & his family. I grew up around that neighborhood & the speed limit is 45MPH. The driver of the Jeep is totally at fault, since he is the one that made an illegal left hand turn. It would have taken thirty more seconds for him to have exited on to W. Virginia Ave. & pull up to the light & make a left hand turn from there. Anyway this a very tragic story."

[derby]

they are using moment of impact to determine that. 

yes, he was definitely going too fast to have a large, stationary object in his path.

[Greg]

When you speed on busy streets you run the risk of people misjudging your speed, especially when you are heading almost straight towards them. When you put the video on full screen, you get a much better idea of the speed he was doing and more importantly how much distance he had to stop. I'd say he was probably doing 45 at moment of impact, and a lot more than that before he started slowing down.
That said it was still unforgivable for the driver to leave.

[scduc]

Guy on bike looked to be going way too fast and the driver of the SUV is still at fault. The bike looks like he locked em up for about 40' maybe less, but  the SUV pulled out slow, so that should have given the bike some time. I will always take the side of the bike. This is almost sickening to watch. To say that he had room to veer left, well thats 20/20 hide site. When panic sets in all rationality goes out the window.

[rgramjet]

Not defending or accusing anybody but at what speed would this be the riders fault?  

The driver is a chicken shit pos for not stopping (given) but what if it was you or me driving.  If the rider was going 65 in a 45?  75?  Looks like dude on bike was going way faster than 45.

make the beast with two backsed up situation.  RIP.

[He Man]

RIP To the rider.

I wrote a whole post that was probably more appropriate to riding techniques more then anything. But i feel like the rider could of had some proactive choices as a street rider that could of spared his life.

[ducatiz]

Guy on bike looked to be going way too fast and the driver of the SUV is still at fault. The bike looks like he locked em up for about 40' maybe less, but  the SUV pulled out slow, so that should have given the bike some time. I will always take the side of the bike. This is almost sickening to watch. To say that he had room to veer left, well thats 20/20 hide site. When panic sets in all rationality goes out the window.

+1

[the_Journeyman]

RIP rider, comfort to friends and family. 

Driver made a poor choice, then went totally stupid by running. 

It seems to me that bikes have a visual effect much like that of an oncoming train.  The train doesn't *look* to be traveling that fast until it actually passes in front of you.  This seems the case with bikes too.

Nothing excuses leaving the scene.  Mistakes happen, and the driver should have stopped.

I agree with the possibility the driver was drunk/high/impaired and ran to avoid a DUI.  In NC causing a death with your vehicle while impaired can be tried as premeditated murder.

JM