[Fort Worth] Man dies of injuries from motorcycle wreck

[wonder91178]

RIP

Posted on Fri, Aug. 10, 2007
Man dies of injuries from motorcycle wreck
BY BILL MILLER
wmiller@star-telegram.com

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/197632.html

FORT WORTH -- A 63-year-old man has died of injuries he suffered in a motorcycle wreck Wednesday at the intersection of NE Loop 820 and Interstate 35W in north Fort Worth, according to reports.

Billy McCurdy of Fort Worth was identified by the Tarrant County medical examiner's office. He died at 6:45 a.m. Thursday at John Peter Smith Hospital, where he was taken after the accident.

The crash happened at 4 p.m. Wednesday, said Sgt. Rodney Bangs, supervisor of the traffic investigation unit.

McCurdy, riding a Moto Guzzi motorcycle, was westbound on the loop and then he merged onto the exit to southbound I-35W, Bangs said.

"He changed lanes from the inside to outside lane," Bangs said. "He clipped the rear of a Dodge pickup and then he struck the retaining wall."

The motorcycle wrecked, fatally injuring McCurdy, who was wearing a helmet, Bangs said.

[TexasShadow]

Both sides of the I-820/I-35 intersections are nightmares. I've seen way too many close calls there, inclusive of all vehicles on wheels. The entire stretch of I-820 between 121/183 to west of I-35 is poorly planned and archaic, incapable of safely accommodating the volume of traffic throughout the day. Bikes on that section of highway are a high risk (I now ride with a glaring Hi-vis vest).

I'm sorry to see one go down so tragically.

[KenH]

I ride that intersection at least twice every day. It is a monumental tribute to stupid engineers. There is a wreck almost every day, and they are usually bad.

Upside-down and/or spun around seems to be the norm. There is enough real estate on the right-of-way to widen I820 to six lanes all the way through without needing to rebuild any bridges. There won't be emergency lanes under a few of the bridges, but a lot of bridges in Dallas don't have emergency lanes under them. There is also enough real estate to build a 270*-turn-right-ramp from I35 south to I820 west instead of that murderous left-lane-to-left-lane ramp with no acceleration space. Even adding a couple hundred yards of acceleration lane would help tremendously. Try it in a van with no side windows. You'll need a crowbar to get the vinyl out of your crack. Sadly, since the state is resurfacing both I820 and I35, I don't see any widening or rebuilding for another 30 years.

[RedPill]

Um, 820 is going to be widened in the next few years. I know because our church is losing a bunch of parking space to it. They are already starting on the Meadow Lakes bridge (just east of Rufe Snow).

[KenH]

That is good news, but I'll believe it when I see it.

[RedPill]

That is good news, but I'll believe it when I see it.

I know what you mean. It will be great news when it's done. During the work, it will be absolutely rotten.

[Waco Kid]

Sad news. :-( DFW traffic scares me in a car with seatbelts and airbags. I don't think I'd ride my motorcycle as often if lived there.