Houston - Motorcyclist Plunges From HOV Lane

[leekellerking]

Anybody know anthing about this? I heard on the radio this morning that there was an accident, but not that it was a motorcycle.

Lee

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Dec. 11, 2007, 11:00AM
Motorcyclist plunges from HOV lane to road below


Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Police are investigating an accident that sent a motorcyclist plunging from an HOV lane onto the main southbound lanes of the Gulf Freeway near Beltway 8 at about 7:45 a.m., Houston TranStar spokeswoman Dinah Massie Martinez said.

The rider apparently lost control of the motorcycle, which struck the left wall of the Dixie Farm Road entrance ramp and then the right wall, officials said.

The motorcycle remained on the entrance ramp, while the driver was thrown to the roadway below, officials said.

The rider, who has not been identified, was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital in unknown condition, officials said.

[mlinkibikr]

Ouch.

[leekellerking]

Ouch.

Ouch, indeed! I've seen nothing further on the wreck so I assume the rider is still hanging in there.

A very scary thing.

Lee

[varko]

I was in the car directly behind this rider. The officer who took our statement informed my wife on Wednesday that he didn't make it. I can tell you for sure he would have died instantly had he not been wearing a helmet. He did actually survive the fall. I can only assume his internal injuries were too great.

I know this is a long shot, but if anyone here knows who he was, I would like to give my condolences to his family. He looked like he was in his early twenties, maybe younger, and he had blond hair. He was riding a yellow late model Triumph Daytona 600.

Witnessing this event along with my wife, who just started riding last year, has reinforced in us the reasons why we wear helmets and ride cautiously and within our limits. Making a seemingly small mistake on a bike can have very serious consequences. Everyone please ride safe out there.

[RedPill]

It is traumatic even to witness such a thing. My prayers go out to the rider's family and to you.

On another note, welcome to the forum.

[leekellerking]

Sorry that you and your wife had to witness the crash. Any idea what happened?


Lee

I was in the car directly behind this rider. The officer who took our statement informed my wife on Wednesday that he didn't make it. I can tell you for sure he would have died instantly had he not been wearing a helmet. He did actually survive the fall. I can only assume his internal injuries were too great.

I know this is a long shot, but if anyone here knows who he was, I would like to give my condolences to his family. He looked like he was in his early twenties, maybe younger, and he had blond hair. He was riding a yellow late model Triumph Daytona 600.

Witnessing this event along with my wife, who just started riding last year, has reinforced in us the reasons why we wear helmets and ride cautiously and within our limits. Making a seemingly small mistake on a bike can have very serious consequences. Everyone please ride safe out there.

[varko]

He lost control of his bike right where the HOV on-ramp meets the elevated HOV lane. I've ridden my bike (a 2000 Suzuki SV650, BTW) on the HOV many times and there is a typical slight irregularity at that joint in the pavement. He was definately going faster than I usually do going up that ramp, and we saw his bike wobble right at that spot. I believe his speed combined with that irregularity and the fact that you're also turning at that spot (although it's just a slight turn) and possibly his inexperience with bike instability caused him to lose control. After the wobble his bike immediately veered into the left barrier and he flew over and landed on the I-45 shoulder below. His bike then veered right across the HOV lane and ran into the right barrier while my wife was hitting the brakes thinking we may run into the bike or the rider (we didn't realize yet that he had actually been thrown from his bike over the barrier). When I got out of my car and couldn't see him anywhere, I knew the unthinkable had happened.

[Larry_77084]

There is talk of banning motorcycles on the HOV lanes in Houston because 3 riders are suing Metro for being injured by the gates, at the exits, coming down and hitting them. One rider was seriously hurt. I would guess that all 3 of these could have been avoided by the rider but no matter they are suing. This incident will add fuel to the anti motorcycles fire.

[Mike in Clear Lake]

I am familiar with that HOV ramp. This is very close to my house. Sounds like he leaned away from the turn when he it the anomaly, instead of leaning into it. Sorry for the loss.

Mike


P.S. See my post on ERC and cornering schools.

[atlas750]

I ride the south 59 HOV all the time. In some spots there is a gap in the cement in the center of the lane. It always makes me a litter nervous about getting caught up in it. instead of banning motorcycles why not just make them safe for motorcycles? I like riding in them during rush hour as you only have to worry about the people behind you and not people coming into you lane from the sides.

[varko]

It is traumatic even to witness such a thing. My prayers go out to the rider's family and to you.

On another note, welcome to the forum.

Thank you for the prayers and the welcome.

[varko]

There is talk of banning motorcycles on the HOV lanes in Houston because 3 riders are suing Metro for being injured by the gates, at the exits, coming down and hitting them. One rider was seriously hurt. I would guess that all 3 of these could have been avoided by the rider but no matter they are suing. This incident will add fuel to the anti motorcycles fire.

I didn't know about that. I ride my bike on the HOV quite frequently and I would hate to see a ban. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

[Squeaky]

There was talk on another forum about there being an investigation by TxDot at the accident site regarding the roadway. Hearing about the "typical slight irregularity at that joint in the pavement" makes me wonder if that curve might be updated to be less "irregular" maybe? Are accidents (hopefully minor) frequent there?

[varko]

I am familiar with that HOV ramp. This is very close to my house. Sounds like he leaned away from the turn when he it the anomaly, instead of leaning into it. Sorry for the loss.

Mike


P.S. See my post on ERC and cornering schools.

Please see my edited post for the correct description of the event. (I typed left barrier when I should have said right barrier). However, your explanation is probably correct. It all happened so fast.

[ndmiller]

When I moved from Florida, I travelled the 45 HOV from downtown Houston up to just before the Woodlands just once on my 1200GS. I was commuting from work at dusk and took me a few days to figure out how to even get into HOV. When I finally figured it out it the entrance was a bizarre sort of signed partially lit curvy unevenly paved pretty bad experience. I have yet to travel it again in the last 18 months. Perfectly fine in the car, but just screwy on a bike. Of course the actual HOV was also tough with exits where people turned left with pretty worn out signs.

I think I entered off of 610E North Loop and got off at Airline or something like that.

Noah

[grandelatte]

He lost control of his bike right where the HOV on-ramp meets the elevated HOV lane. I've ridden my bike (a 2000 Suzuki SV650, BTW) on the HOV many times and there is a typical slight irregularity at that joint in the pavement. He was definately going faster than I usually do going up that ramp, and we saw his bike wobble right at that spot. I believe his speed combined with that irregularity and the fact that you're also turning at that spot (although it's just a slight turn) and possibly his inexperience with bike instability caused him to lose control. After the wobble his bike immediately veered into the left barrier and he flew over and landed on the I-45 shoulder below. His bike then veered right across the HOV lane and ran into the right barrier while my wife was hitting the brakes thinking we may run into the bike or the rider (we didn't realize yet that he had actually been thrown from his bike over the barrier). When I got out of my car and couldn't see him anywhere, I knew the unthinkable had happened.


varko,
thank you for explaining what happened. i ride there everyday. i passed the accident scene that morning wondering what happend. i don't know who that rider was, but i've seen a yellow daytona around commuting time, and have cruised with one once in a while.

i have been riding there last 3-4 years, but never experienced any irregularity on the surface there. i need to watch out for that.


RIP Daytona Rider ....

[Mike in Clear Lake]

...a yellow daytona around commuting time, and have cruised with one once in a while...

Was it yellow helmet and yellow parka too? I've seen him also. RIP.

Mike

[Warpbender]

RIP Daytona Rider ....

+1
Very sad.

[ToroGuy]

Prayers go out to the dead motorcyclists family.

I ride the I-45 HOV from where it begins in Spring to I-10 every workday to save time (typically 10 - 20 minutes per day). I am less concerned about the surface irregularities in the HOV than the surprise debris on the main lanes.

If motorcylces are banned on the HOV, I will probably park the ST and drive the truck due to safety concerns on main lanes. That would be the wrong message from the government regarding safety, environmental damage, traffic density, energy imports, etc. etc.

[thestudent]

When I have to ride during rush hour, normally out to Katy via I-10 to visit the folks, I also prefer the HOV. The fact that I don't have to contend with multiple lanes full of cagers during rush hour makes the ride that much safer. I would hate for them to ban us from the HOV lanes.

[varko]

Was it yellow helmet and yellow parka too? I've seen him also. RIP.

Mike

The guy that crashed was wearing a gray jacket and a black or dark blue helmet.