Rider killed in Bosque County

[TXTrophy]

Anyone know this guy?
Died on Hwy 174 in Morgan.




Monday, March 24, 2008

By Van Darden

Tribune-Herald staff writer

A Sunday afternoon wreck claimed the life of a motorcyclist in Bosque County.

Donald Ray Arden Jr., of Plano, Texas, was killed when his 2007 Kawasaki motorcycle struck the side of a pickup truck that had failed to yield right-of-way, a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman said.

Miguel Gonzales, of Cleburne, Texas, was driving a 2001 GMC Sierra pickup south on State Highway 174 in Morgan when he made a left turn into the path of the northbound motorcycle, the spokesman said. He was unsure of the exact time of the collision.

Arden, 46, was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision, the spokesman said. However, the spokesman could not say whether Gonzales was cited for failing to yield right-of-way.

Gonzales’ age was unavailable Sunday. He was not injured in the collision, the spokesman said.

Arden was taken to Goodall-Witcher Hospital in Clifton and pronounced dead at 12:43 p.m.

[Jbay]

an article says the passenger side of the truck is where the collision occured, so they were approaching each other and then the truck turned

[TXTrophy]

A friend of mine lives in the area. He says the driver of the pick-up had no license or insurance. Also had warrants from Johnson County outstanding.
Real nice going there ...

[swill]

Don "X" Arden was a very well respected manager at Texas Instruments and a dedicated member of Texas VROC (www.texasvroc.org). He had logged many miles on his various bikes he owned. You can read about his trips and see his pictures on his website www.xarden.com. He made a lasting impression on his many co-wrokers at TI as well as all his fellow riders. Information about his arrangments are listed in the following post on the texas VROC forum: http://texasvroc.proboards7.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1206307583

We have lost a good man. RIP.

[dukey33]

RIP Don.
May God bestow peace and comfort to his family and friends.

Dave

[Gilk51]

We have lost a good man. RIP.

Yeah, sure looks like it. Sorry your initial post on TWT had to be for this reason, swill. Thanks for the additional information.

[DANNYROTH]

Sad news.

This incident proves again that no amount of safety awareness, preparation, or behavior can overcome STUPIDITY.

[Spook]

What a waste of life ...... It sounds like the pickup driver needs to be in jail for along time but he will not ........when are going to stop this stuff ????

[scar04]

Its strange because one of my friends keeps his eye out for riders when he drives around. I just happened to ride by him (I had full gear so he didnt recognize me) and he starts yelling and honking at the guy tailgating me. People need to learn you are supposed to drive first, not talk on the phone, put on make up, or zone out. Way too many people are on autopilot when they drive. One of my other buddies and I were discussing this yesterday. We're both kinda of the opinion that if you injure someone in an accident, there needs to be more than just a citation issued sometimes.

I remember in about 02-03 at A&M a girl tried to pull out of Luther and turned left (southbound) onto 2818. She got passed the stop sign, and was broadsided by a kid going North on the same road (its 55-60 speed limit). Poor guy was killed on impact if I remember it right. The poor girl I heard later on had to seek heavy psychiatric help due to her guilt from getting the guy killed.

Im sorry to hear about the guys passing and hope his family finds the help they need to cope with his loss. And thanks for the info Swill. It is appreciated.

[Spook]

They also need to be legal, with drivers license and insurance :angryfire

[scar04]

They also need to be legal, with drivers license and insurance :angryfire

plus like eleventy billion.

[swill]

Updated story from Waco Tribune:

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

A Central Texas man has been arrested after a collision that killed a motorcyclist Sunday.

Miguel Gonzales, of Cleburne, was charged with criminally negligent homicide and driving with an invalid license, a Texas Department of Public Safety spokeswoman said.

Gonzales was driving a 2001 GMC Sierra pickup when he turned into the path of a motorcycle on State Highway 174 in Morgan in Bosque County.

The motorcyclist, Donald Ray Arden Jr., of Plano, was pronounced dead at an area hospital shortly after noon Sunday, the spokeswoman said. Arden was 46. Gonzales’ age was not available Monday.

Gonzales was being held Monday at the Bosque County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond, the spokeswoman said.



For reference:

Criminally Negligent Homicide

Criminally negligent homicide (TPC sec. 19.05) is causing the death of an individual by criminal negligence. It is a state jail felony under which in general, a person can be confined in a state jail for not more than two years nor less than 180 days. In addition, a fine of not more than $10,000 may be assessed.




Should be more, but at least some jail time and fines can be imposed.

Ride safe and watch out for those idiots. It's not enough to be a good driver on your bike. You also have to compensate for all of the bad drivers you encounter to be safe. Sometimes even that is not enough. *sigh*

[Hemibee]

Sorry to hear of the death.



How did they come up with the Criminally Negligent Homicide charge?

[WoodButcher]

Sorry to hear of the death.



How did they come up with the Criminally Negligent Homicide charge?

I would suspect it had something to do with the invalid driver's license.

[Hemibee]

Thanks Rusty I hadn't thought of that. Still doesn't seem to be enough punishment with that charge.

[sharkey]

RIP Don.


Charge has more to deal w/ his failure to yield and the subsequent death.

[wanabeguru]

A friend of mine lives in the area. He says the driver of the pick-up had no license or insurance. Also had warrants from Johnson County outstanding.
Real nice going there ...

OMG!! Prayers to the family of the fallen rider.:tears:

[ToroGuy]

Prayers go out to Mr. Arden's grieving family and for the negligent driver and his family...a terrible tragedy for all involved.

[69firebird]

This kind of thing happens way too often. I agree that there need to be something done when your driving (DWHUA) results in the injury or death of another.
And then to find out he has no D.L. or insurance. I start thinking illegal immigrant. I was run off of the road by one of these guys. And when P.D. showed up tey stated that all they could do was issue him a citation for no D.L. and no insurance. When I asked him who he was going to write the ticket to, He said what ever name the driver gives me....What is wrong with that picture?

My prayers go out to his friends and family.

[TXTrophy]

What is wrong with that picture?

Indeed....that's messed up!

I rode thru Morgan twice last Sunday. You better believe I was extra careful.

R.I.P. Mr Arden