One of the many fatalities the motorcycle community has suffered this year happened last week as a motorcyclist hit a patch of gravel. He was wearing his helmet but it was the guy behind him that hit him that caused the fatality. The reasons I write this column are two-fold. To warn anyone traveling this route and to remind us all that dangers often come in multiples.
First, here is where the accident happened according to MySA.com:
"...exiting from the S.W. Loop 410 southbound lane to the Interstate 35 South ramp when he likely hit the gravel."
Disclaimer: I was not there and I do not know the motorcyclist and in no way is this a comment about anyone's riding or this particular accident. But as a reminder, make sure to look at edges and corners as that's where gravel and sand often accumulate. As always it is not only important to look far ahead but also to scan the road surface.
But that's likely not what killed him. There was a man exiting right behind him who hit him. He was wearing a helmet. There are just some things that tend to stack up in cases like this. Was the guy behind him at a safe following distance? Was the rider slowing down way too much through the turn that shortened that distance or was he being followed too closely? What was the rate of speed?
These may never be answered but know that separating elements can be the difference between making it through a spill and not. RIP fellow rider.
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