Fatal Motorcycle Accident

[jamming]

Saturday morning at approximately 0400 a Motorcyclist died here in Phoenix. It was someone I had met on at least 2 occasions. He worked for Southwest Airlines as a maintenance supervisor, and was a retired Senior Master Sergeant, Air Force. We had at least 3 things in common, The Air Force, Airplanes, and of course Motorcycles.

Someone I work with and happens to be a neighbor and friend witnessed the accident. What happened in their words was, "a Cadillac went by them doing at least 90 when he tried to go around the bike, a White full dresser HD, ....I believe Tom rode an Electra Glide...he clipped the bike which was in the HOV lane Eastbound on the I-10 just West of 83rd ave. The bike went down and bike and rider slid into the cable barrier. The rider
Tom Finnigan died on scene. I saw a notice on Sunday, I believe, on the AZBeemers website, and as Ryan my neighbor told me I got a sinking feeling that was to be true. He left behind a wife and 12 grandchildren.

It pisses me off that a guy, doing nothing wrong AND properly geared up dies because some asshole acts irresponsibility. I ride by the scene on my way to work everyday and it has haunted me, I see the skidmarks, and I wonder if a lesson is to be learned or was Tom just in the wrong place at the wrong time? I didn't really know Tom, we chatted over coffee a couple of times in Cave Creek, but a fellow Motorcyclist is no longer with us.

The investigation is on going, but I hope that that justice will be served.
I guarantee I'll be watching.

Now for a question, would it be proper for me to attend the service? Like I said, we really didn't know each other, and how would I field any questions about how I knew him? I'd be honest, I just think it's important for the family to know, that for the brief time we talked I remembered him, and liked him, and I am deeply sorry that a man that had a lot to live for was taken far too soon. Would it be proper to take the bike? I'm not very good at this manner's stuff, and I'm thinking at least one of you all are.
What you say?

[BobFV1]

Roger -

Terribly sad news about Tom. may he rest in peace.

I attended the service of another area rider there a couple of years ago. It was in the evening at a home, and several riders showed up on their bikes and came in to the event in all their gear. Some of the riders had witnessed the death.

I thought it was great for them to come to the service, but not appropriate to come in riding gear. The widow's family was there, as was the widow herself - a bunch of guys in leather was just not a good image at that terrible time.

So, I would say, go and honor Tom by all means, but don't remind the survivors of motorcycling - probably too soon.

[kocook]

My guess is that lots of people around helps the family know that they have friends sharing their grief.

[TorqueMonsterMT-01]

Sorry to hear the bad news. I hope his family copes and remembers him well.


I thought it was great for them to come to the service, but not appropriate to come in riding gear.

I agree with this. You'll never know if motorcycling was a point of contention between Tom and his wife or other family members. In cases of aquaintances who aren't close friends, it may be perceived as rude to show up as a fellow biker, but it is always a good gesture to show up as an aquaintance who liked and appreciated the deceased as a person.

[DarthRider]

Roger...what Bob said.
Sounds like *you* need to be there, and you really don't need a reason anyway.
Would you want Tom there had it been the other way around? Bet you would.
Personally, when I go to these, if the widow lets word out she wants or would appreciate riders on bikes, I take the bike. Otherwise, the cage.
But most of the services I've been to in the last 10 years, she did and we did.
I'd just let the family call the shot.
Same for the dress. Lots of "informal services" these days.
Too bad about Tom, don't let it weigh on you too much.
Please let us know the outcome.

[Capt. Blackadder]

Another needless death of a motorcyclist... very sad. May Tom rest in peace.

There was a motorcycle accident this week on the westbound US60. Police and fire engines were already on the scene when I passed by, and they were immobilizing the rider on a stretcher. His bike looked like a silver and black Honda CBR600. Anybody know him? I hope he'll be ok.

Roger, I think it would be fine for you to attend Tom's service. However, I would drive, not ride, and dress in customary fashion. Since you don't really know the family, it's hard to guess whether they would construe your presence in full riding gear as a display of support for a fallen fellow rider, or whether they would take it as an affront.

[Ed K]

Roger,

Agree with what everyone else says... go, but definitely in a cage... unless you *know* the wife wouldnt mind you attending on the bike.

[socalrob]

I hate to hear this. I also hate those cable barriers, we don't seem to have them in CA or they are rare here in any case. I don't know if there is a worse barrier for a rider. I'd rather have no barrier.

Funerals seem pretty casual dress affairs these days. Slacks & sportcoat & I'd be pretty sure that would be in the upper level of dress. I think the family always likes to see people there, to know their loved one has well liked. I'd go.

The driver of the Caddy should be headed for prison, but I imagine none of us is holding our breath. Sounds like you said, Tom was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Still pisses me off about those barriers though. Were there to have been a nice smooth K-rail concrete barrier or wall I imagine Tom might well be in the hospital today. What the hell are the road engineers thinking??????

RIP, Tom. Take care of yourself Roger. These things have a way of playing on your thoughts in a much more profound manner then you might think.

[Gord]

Terribly sad. Totally unnecessary. A life is lost and a family devestated all because one selfish person in a hurry thought they were more important than everyone else on the road. One hopes the legal system will stand up for the victim, but my fears (based on Canadian precedent!) suggest otherwise.

You don't need to know someone closely to pay respect, so by all means, go. I am sure it will make you feel better, and I know that Tom's family will feel better knowing that there is a community sharing their grief.

RIP, Tom.

[jamming]

Thanks all, I'm going...in the cage, and a dark suit. Dave, it does weigh on me a bit. Had it been any day during the week, I would be on the same freeway, SAME place, at the SAME time. Could have been me, very sobering. That's the 3rd fatal motorcycle accident in 20 days on the west side of Phoenix, on the I-10. The other 2 I rode by early in the AM. Makes you think. I think I'm taking another ERC...soon. Makes me feel proactive.
Ride safe.

[DarthRider]

Rog -
Sometimes when there is no "learning" available from the aftermath of a bike crash and only pain & outrage, taking the ERC again is a most excellent thing to do!
It would honor Tom as you know he would want you to be safe.
It will make you safer and maybe can restore a bit of lost self-confidence.
I won't bore you with the details, but the last ERC course I took *literally* saved my life 2 weeks after.

I like your sig line...a lot.

[Wild Will]

My son has a softball team, and lost the right fielder (24) last week to a wheelie gone wrong on his CBR 600. He was a new rider. The trick stuff that's all the rage with the young guns does take a toll. His dad was there at the game the other night, and his 2 brothers played as well. It was a sad, tearful game. What a loss. What a waste.

He was wearing cloth, and his hide was stripped off like a catfish nailed to a tree. What's the point of the graphic description? TELL a new rider you see just how lethal riding can be. Help MENTOR a young and restless rider. TELL your representative that there should be MANDATORY time spent on a 250cc or smaller bike before that Hayabusa can be sold to them. Let's get our collective heads out of our arses and try to educate these young people before they let fly the clutch and those 100+ lethal ponies, oblivious to their own mortality and the pain they leave forever in their grieving families.

I'll be at the funeral. In a cage. Thanking Odin that it wasn't my kid.

[Biff's R]

I hate to hear this. I also hate those cable barriers, we don't seem to have them in CA or they are rare here in any case. I don't know if there is a worse barrier for a rider. I'd rather have no barrier.

Sounds like you said, Tom was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Still pisses me off about those barriers though. Were there to have been a nice smooth K-rail concrete barrier or wall I imagine Tom might well be in the hospital today. What the hell are the road engineers thinking??????


The cable barries are a lot cheaper than the concrete barrier wall. We are starting to get them here in central OH.

I always feel if the person was someone I knew, and I could attend the funeral/calling hours I would. Usually calling hours. I also agree with Bob about the riding gear.

[Jaythro]

What do you guys do over there if you have a problem with somethng that needs a ruling? Can you not declare to the justice that those road barriers are an endangerment to your lives as road users and post some evidence that the chance of a fatality rises by X%

At the end of the day if a road dept or senior engineer were to be sued (or dragged thru some court?) because the crash retention methods endangered life? How long do you think they'd be there?

I agree Suit and Cage but If you didn't know them? Why put yourself thru the torment?
Stick a plaque by the roadside "Another motorcyclist died here because someone wanted to save a few dollars with these cable barriers!" That would be more justice for Tom?

My apologies if I have offended anyone it was not my intention to do so! I was merely offering my opinion

[Wild Will]

When I built our house, rurally in '89, I tried to get signs posted that said "slow down, children at play" to no avail. The county govt. said not enough accidents had occurred yet. Yet!
Why do the county road crews use tar and gravel to patch the roads when it's anathema to single track vehicles who pay their share of road taxes?
Tar snakes? Ad nauseum. Big Brother couldn't care less. All our guard rails are cold rolled steel or cast concrete. The world just isn't built with us in mind.
Truth is, riding in post apocalyptic rubble roaded chaos makes for better rider skills. If you live that long.
Yesterday, on my brain clearing foray out to the Annapolis bridge, I entered a blind corner to the outside as I always do, and encountered an SUV roaring past on his 9 foot wide lane, happily. I was passed there last January by a young buck on his new 1200GS. The guy was lucky his hairball act didn't ruin some young guy's new SUV!

[jamming]

I went, in a cage, dark suit, paid my respects and left. Hope it's the last one for a long time.