Thank you for the update. Please know that both I and especially the driver feel terrible for what happened. I hope you friend makes a full recovery.
I apologize if my comments appeared to be casting blame on your friend. Even supposing it were entirely his fault, I wouldn't want anyone I know to go through what he, his friends, and his family are.
Again, I was just passing on some facts that I learned to inform, and hopefully use the incident to remind anyone reading this that as Enchanter taught me years ago in the CMSP, [on a bike] "You can be totally right but still end up dead". Certain actions can reduce the risk of injury/death and certain actions can increase it:
1.) My friend looked but did not see the rider approaching. As riders we lash out at the "I just didn't see him/her" explanation as if it's some kind of excuse, but the sad fact is that it can be true. Whether through inattentive driving or the fact that motorcycles can be difficult to detect, particularly at night with traffic around.
I know I've been surprised more than once to realize the lights I was looking at were actually that of a bike with a car or cars behind it....and I'm a rider.... I watch for bikes.
2.) The impact was severe, evident by the injuries to the rider and the damage to the car. The bike struck the left rear quarter and yet the front airbag(s) deployed. The responding LEOs made comments to the effect based on the *short* length of the skid marks that the bike was likely traveling at excessive speed. I'm not trying to blame the rider, but I'm also not going to ignore just because someone got severely injured that it's possible or even probable that he increased the likelihood of a collision through his actions.
When my friend started his story with "I was making a left turn..." my stomach churned and I felt angry.... but then I listened to and thought through the story and put together what made the most sense to me, and intended only to offer that information up to the other readers here.
Praying your friend recovers
-Jason
My sources say he hit the car about 45-50 mph. A fairly new rider and lets remember he was on a Honda 250r, I'm not saying high speeds can't be achieved but have you ridden one? Skid marks don't mean anything but a oh shit moment. The the car being "rotated" 90 degrees by the impact could very well be because the car was already turning in that direction. There are many sides to a story, it is really up to the police investigation to bring us some answers.
I just hope he pulls through and if he remembers tells us his side. I would hate to see another "high rate of speed" label slapped on another motorcycle accident. I am fed up with riders like you me and our friends and family getting cut off by drivers who don't see us. It just seems that is someone doesn't see us we must be speeding and it is time to look for a better excuse.
He wore a black Helmet, if it teaches anyone anything get some high visibility gear, wear it! especially at night I personally have seen a difference.
His condition is still the same, critical but stable. He did breathe on his own a couple of times but also suffered a stroke. The swelling seems to be going down Doctors say if he survives trough tomorrow Tuesday his chances of survival will increase. hoping for the best for all involved, rider his family and the driver.
