prius driver kills rider on electric motorcycle in santa rosa

[snowface]

Matt's Service will be held at the Thanksgiving Lutheran Church in Santa Rosa @ Fulton & W. College at 2pm on 9/11/2010

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/articl...st-killed-near-Coddingtown-Steele-Lane-closed

A Santa Rosa motorcyclist was killed Monday morning in a a collision that forced the closure of a major intersection next to Coddingtown shopping center.

Santa Rosa Police said the fatality at the intersection of Range and West Steele Lane occurred at 10:40 a.m.

A Toyota Prius and an electric motorcycle were traveling in opposite directions on Steele Lane when the car turned into the path of the motorbike, according to Sgt. Doug Schlief.

He said the eastbound motorcyclist and the westbound Prius both had a green light.

Both drivers were men from Santa Rosa, but their names were not immediately released.

The intersection was expected to be closed for several hours and motorists were advised to avoid the area.

EDIT

updates to the story came later:

Authorities identified the man killed in a vehicle collision Monday at a major intersection near Coddingtown Mall as a local electric motorcycle entrepreneur.


Matthew Dieckmann, 29, of Santa Rosa died in the 10:40 a.m. crash, Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Doug Schlief said.

Gilbert Dorame, 71, of Santa Rosa was identified as the driver of a silver Toyota Prius that collided with Dieckmann, Schlief said.

Authorities reopened the intersection at Range Avenue and West Steele Lane at about 3:30 p.m. Monday, Schlief said.

The light was green for both drivers as they approached the intersection from opposite directions, according to witness reports, Schlief said.

Dorame was driving east on West Steel Lane and began to turn left onto southbound Range Avenue, Schlief said.

Dieckmann was heading east on West Steel Lane when his motorcycle crashed into the right side of the Prius in the intersection, Schlief said.

Officers closed the intersection for about five hours.

Investigators were still determining who may have been at fault in the collision, Schlief said.

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looks like matthew dieckmann was the president (at 29) of "Electric Race Bikes"

"The company, in Santa Rosa, California, sells parts and does electric conversions. The pack uses Headway lithium iron phosphate cells in a pack Dieckmann designed."

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/05/electric-race-bikes-egp/?intcid=postnav

 

[clutchslip]

Is this still the number one cause of accidents for motorcycles?

I wonder if our motorcycle accident statistics will get worse with silent electric bikes that may have good motorcycle function as a secondary design consideration and attract more newbies.



:rose ride in peace

 

[rsrider]

Irony, thy sting is deadly.

 

[rodr]

I wonder how bright the headlight was on that electric scoot. I'm guessing not very, given the desire to maximize range by conserving power.

 

[auntiebling]

I wonder how bright the headlight was on that electric scoot. I'm guessing not very, given the desire to maximize range by conserving power.

if it's street legal it has to meet DOT lighting requirements. 55w high and low last i checked. of course, it could have been a home built dealio with illegal lighting, the article doesn't specify

 

[Factor5]

Both had green lights? I call BS.

 

[Burning1]

Both had green lights? I call BS.

There are plenty of intersections where traffic is permitted to make a left turn on a solid green across oncoming traffic that also has a green. That doesn't mean that the driver isn't at fault though; left turning vehicles are required to yield to oncoming traffic.

 

[Archimedes]

My only question is was the rider experienced, or did run down to Best Buy and pick a bike this weekend?

My thoughts as well. Ride defensively folks. Our lives depend on it. I expect every single car that could cross my path, will. If I didn't, I'd have been killed twice this past weekend alone.

Sure the left turner is technically at fault, but we all know the old saying about right and wrong when you're the one in the graveyard.

 

[PorradaVFR]

Both had green lights? I call BS.

:wtf Both directions can have greens with the left-turner having to yield to oncoming traffic. This is not at all uncommon (both the traffic layout AND unfortunately the accident model of a car turning into the path of a rider with right-of-way).

 

[Roadstergal]

:wtf Both directions can have greens with the left-turner having to yield to oncoming traffic. This is not at all uncommon (both the traffic layout AND unfortunately the accident model of a car turning into the path of a rider with right-of-way).

Yep - that's how my only street crash went down. And ja, I had just started riding at that point; experience and training has gotten me to automatically assume any left-turner is going to violate my right-of-way, and prepare accordingly to evade. It's saved my vegetarian bacon substitute any number of times.

 

[Yo!Joe!!!]

It was the Prius fault. By default... :thumbdown

 

[tuxumino]

I hope the prius driver is charged apropriately

 

[VicTim]

Damn! RIP Rider :rose

 

[Local6Sparky]

It was the Prius fault. By default... :thumbdown

Prius drivers are so f'n busy looking at there heads-up display too see how many miles per gallon their getting, when they step on the brake they practically have an orgasm watching their battery charge and their m.p.g. sore. R.I.P. Sad.

 

[Aluisious]

I hope the prius driver is charged apropriately

hmm

 

[russ69]

I wonder how bright the headlight was on that electric scoot. I'm guessing not very, given the desire to maximize range by conserving power.

Cars don't see you, they are not looking for a bike, they are looking for a truck or a car but they are not looking to see if the road is clear.

 

[Caddywumpus]

It was green envy. The Pius driver HAD to defend his green honor.

 

[maxandgrinch]

One Friday in Boston on an electric scooter, now one here.

Some of smaller electric scooters do not require reg/lic/insurance....

RIP both riders.

 

[Human Ills]

Both had green lights? I call BS.

That intersection happens to be the closest intersection to me that is controlled by a traffic light. There are no dedicated turn signals on Steele lane at Range.

 

[Hooli]

I hope the prius driver is charged apropriately

hmm

Damn.

Nvm.