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Almost 30 Harley's Crash--Oregon

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drfood

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Sorry, but I'm trying to recover from 5-10 minutes of hard laughing. I know I should not laugh, but dang.....this one is one for the books. I especially like the statement highlighted in red. I asked J-Dawg who they would race, a mountain bike rider?

Can't you just see a bunch of Harley's doing one of those huge domino tricks?

I hope those who were injured recover.
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WILSONVILLE, Ore. – An accident involving almost 30 motorcycles just south of Wilsonville on Interstate 5 Friday afternoon injured several people, two critically.

The crash happened at about 3 p.m. near milepost 282. LifeFlight airlifted Herbert Sinclair of Heyburn, Idaho and David Bowyer of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to Oregon Health Sciences University and Legacy Emanuel Hospital, respectively. Both were motorcyclists.

Representatives of Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue said that it treated eight patients for shoulder and hip injuries and broken bones. They were also taken to area hospitals.

The accident closed northbound lanes of Interstate 5 for over two hours.

The motorcyclists were part of a local motorcycle club called Brothers Speed which was established in May 1969, according to its Web site. It has chapters in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, specifically in Portland, Ore. Camas, Wash., and Boise, Idaho.

Oregon State Police said the motorcyclists were riding in standard formation – two columns – when traffic ahead slowed suddenly. The two lead motorcyclists were able to avoid a collision by maneuvering clear of the stopped traffic, but the rest of the motorcyclists could not stop in time, causing a chain-reaction of crashes with the rest of the group.

A witness to the crash, Terry Scott, said he and his girlfriend were driving northbound from Salem behind the motorcycles when he witnessed an SUV, that was driving in front of the group of motorcycles, suddenly slow down or slam on its brakes.

“It was a domino effect,” Scott said. “There were bikes and people and gear flying.”

When Capt. Mike Towner of Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene with his crew from Wilsonville he said "it was ordered mayhem. There were almost two dozen motorcycles scattered across the freeway, and firefighters from Aurora and Canby providing medical care to injured bikers, as non-injured bikers tried to assist."

TVF&R said there were at least two SUVs that were also involved in the crash.

A club insider, who didn’t want to be identified, said the bikers were in town from all over the Northwest to celebrate an annual birthday celebration of the club. She said that a motorcycle accident like the one that happened Friday is unheard of.

“Normally it’s one motorcycle, maybe two,” she said. “To see the scale of 20 to 30 bikes that are riding together have an accident of that magnitude – I’ve never seen before.”

She said she grew up around these bikers and said despite perceptions, they’re cautious.

“I know some people say they must be up to no good: They were racing or doing something. But anyone who’s familiar with Harley-riding knows you don’t race a Harley, you don’t do tricks on your Harley. You just ride,” she said.

Members of the club declined to be interviewed for this story. They said they are focusing on taking care of their brothers.

Oregon State Police are continuing to investigate the accident.
 
:doh:

“I know some people say they must be up to no good: They were racing or doing something. But anyone who’s familiar with Harley-riding knows you don’t race a Harley, you don’t do tricks on your Harley. You just ride,”....with your head in a place where no sun shines. Wasn't there something on u tube from Europe or maybe Russia where a bunch of sport bikes started slamming each other on a bridge? Dumb riding happens in lots of large groups.
 
“Normally it’s one motorcycle, maybe two,” she said. “To see the scale of 20 to 30 bikes that are riding together have an accident of that magnitude – I’ve never seen before.”

So, one or two crashed bikes per ride is "normal"??

I hope these people recover.
 
It sounds like they were riding too close together.
 
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A witness to the crash, Terry Scott, said he and his girlfriend were driving northbound from Salem behind the motorcycles when he witnessed an SUV, that was driving in front of the group of motorcycles, suddenly slow down or slam on its brakes.

When I read this, I wondered if it was done on purpose to produce the reported effect. :angryfire There have been reports of cagers doing this to individual motorcyclists, including one in Ft. Worth.

Regardless, I find no humor where folks are hurt.
 
I don't find a lot to laugh about. I've ridden in formations larger than this with the Patriot Guard either on the way to a service or while transporting a fallen soldier to his/her final resting place.

Yeah, dumb things happen to dumb people but dumb things happen to good people who are doing everything right but get caught in an unexpected situation.

That's my 2 cents. Flame on.
 
Oregon State Police said the motorcyclists were riding in standard formation – two columns
I'm assuming they meant two abreast as opposed to a staggered column with 2-3 second intervals which most likely would have allowed most of them to avoid crashing into each other.
 
Nope, I should not have laughed. But I can just see these overweight leather clad bearded harley riders with ape hangers doing a domino routine on the interstate because they were following too close and thinking they were bad ***.

And I know there are those on here who will never admit to it, but I am sure they chuckled or giggled a bit as well.
 
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If you're riding in a group that big without a police escort and traffic control, you're essentially begging to be involved in a mishap. I'm astounded that it doesn't happen more often.
 
It sounds like they were riding too close together.
I just talked to Tanaya, who had seen them ride by the shop about 30 minutes before the incident. She said they were hauling ****. She also related that they were riding side-by-side (which is legal in OR) and close together.

She mentioned folks are still debating if the SUV driver purposely slammed on the brakes, or pulled out in front of them. The crash occurred right after a rest area; perhaps the driver miscalculated and pulled out.......don't know.

She's fine; that's what I was concerned about. She and Evan don't ride in big groups. And she was working at the shop when it occurred.

Now I can breathe.
 
Glad to hear Tanaya and Evan were not in the group.
 
Nope, I should not have laughed. But I can just see these overweight leather clad bearded harley riders with ape hangers doing a domino routine on the interstate because they were following too close and thinking they were bad ***.

And I know there are those on here who will never admit to it, but I am sure they chuckled or giggled a bit as well.

Okay I'll admit it I laughed.:rofl:
 
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I'm laughing also, but only at drfood who thinks an accident is funny. This make me feel very, very sad a person could even find any humor in this. No matter who or why the reason for the mishap, it is sad. A life may have been lost, people may have to endure a stay in a hospital along with months of rehab, their families will have hardships, etc, etc...
Funny!, No I dont think so.
 
Nope, I should not have laughed. But I can just see these overweight leather clad bearded harley riders with ape hangers doing a domino routine on the interstate because they were following too close and thinking they were bad ***.

As a member of the ATGATT Harley contingent, I am offended by that statement.

And I know there are those on here who will never admit to it, but I am sure they chuckled or giggled a bit as well.

I never find it funny when someone wrecks a bike. I don't care who they are or what they are riding. I find it sad when someone is riding beyond their ability, or not being a safe rider, but not funny.
 
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