Gauley Bridge motorcycle accidents

KBasa said:

For what it's worth, I wouldn't expect an organization that's involved in legislative activity to have an interest in your very unfortunate incident.

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The AMA does involve itself in high profile, news worthy cases involving crashes where the criminal justice system fails to treat motorcyclists seriously. Had I died in this crash, I'm sure the AMA would have taken an interest in it, but I didn't.

The short story is that a motorist struck me while I was riding to work. He then left the scene of the crash. The police didn't want to investigate the crash, even though there was a witness. Several days later, I was able to find the guy, by simple detective work. I notified the police of his license number. It took a month of calling the police investigator and finally going to Internal Affairs before the investigator would even interview me. He refused to look at the bike or talk to the witness. I was able to identify the guy out of a photo lineup. Under pressure the investigator did charge the guy. The prosecutor failed to consider the case seriously. He didn't subpoena me, the cop, or the witness. I found out when the case was going to trial by checking the Internet. Fortunately, the cop was in court for another case. The prosecutor did a bad job and the judge found the guy innocent even though the guy admitted to the crime, in court. The judge clearly showed a bias against motorcyclists.

I certainly think this case meets the standards of the cases the AMA routinely gets involved in--except one: there was no news media coverage. I do have transcripts of the trial and other paperwork.

First of all, let me come to the defense of the AMA. Not only are they on the case but things are happening fast! The contact I made was handled professionally and with serious intensity. Keep watching this post for details but a meeting is in the works, that involves The Maintenance Engineer and several officials of the CSX Railroad along with a WVDOT representative.

WVDOT has been contacted about this crossing by a number of people, including the mayor of Gauley Bridge. The meeting had been planned previously, but the AMA has been in touch with the West Virginia DOT (Department of Transportation), District 9 office. The District Engineer and the maintenance Engineer from CSK. They are in the loop and making noise. The AMA said they will forward me via email the progress.

My hat is off to Mr. Imre F. Szauter Legislative Affairs Specialist
AMA Government Relations Department American Motorcyclist Association.

Keep paying those dues boys. There's somebody working for us.


DONS

On Wednesday morning, I came upon the railroad crossing just after the rain had stopped. I was not traveling fast, and hit the brakes hard. Thank God for ABS. I slowed almost to a stop, squared myself to the tracks, and crossed. Then I pulled off to catch my breath. My passenger and I both knew we were very close to a crash. I thought it was just me -- that I was not being cautious enough. Reading this post makes me feel better that I was not the only one, and also that this group may have some influence over rectifying this dangerous situation.

I too was bitten by the wet tracks, riding a 650gs with happy trail panniers. The right pannier took the brunt of my slide with some damage to the right hanlebar weight, I was ok with a torn rainsuit, however, a couple on a Harley went down and broke the passagers ankle, or at least she thought it was broken. It is a bad piece of crossing, I don't know how I could have avoid the spill not being familar with the road.

After reading about and seeing the crossing in WV, I started looking at the RRxings in our area of Iowa. I did find one in the town I live in. and for some reason it is at the crest of a hill and angles across the ciy street at approx 45 degrees. I don't ride my motor in town except to get out of town, but I will start paying more attention.

I'm glad to hear that the AMA got on the WV. RRxsing issue.

AMA on the Case

I spoke with a very nice woman at the AMA this week and registered my concerns about this crossing. I'm happy to see the traffic about this issue and recent comments about AMA involvement. I just received my membership package for the AMA prompted by this experience and my decision that if I'm gonna whine I better line up with some professionals. Not to imply that the AMA is a bunch of whinners - no wait, that is exactly what I want here. I want loud and persistent whinning so that the bureaurcrats get tired and do something before there are more broken bones, not to mention pride. Waaaaa - let's hear it.

Ya I think everyone's heard these old addages:

There is strength in numbers.

And a personal favorite:

We can hang together or we can hang separately.

Learn to ride!

You beemer riders seem to think you started something here. Actually, as the one person admitted to (above), this has been brought to the attention of our local officials and they have been talking about solving it, way before you guys showed up for your rally. As with any bureaucracy (in any state), it takes time and money to solve the problem. We've got it under control and really don't need the meddling. I'm sure I can find dangerous roads in your states.

In the meantime, the crossings are well marked, and are crossed successfully everyday, rain or shine.

I live in Maryland and am sure that there is a dangerous road situation somewhere in the state. If anybody from any state would like to get something done about correcting it I have no objection. I won't consider it meddling.

your patience is hardly to be complimented. If your doing such a bang up job dealing with your system and everything is "under control", then why is my motorcycle totaled and my knee throbbing. I mentioned the near 70 thousand miles on my current bike without an accident. Not to mention the 10 bikes before it. I sure have been one lucky incompetent rider up till now. Your tolerance of this obvious and dangerous situation is a sad commentary. If we did have a similar situation in my state I'm here to tell you I would welcome all the "meddling" real motorcyclist could muster, no matter where they came from. DonS

Re: Learn to ride!

Unregistered said:

You beemer riders seem to think you started something here. Actually, as the one person admitted to (above), this has been brought to the attention of our local officials and they have been talking about solving it, way before you guys showed up for your rally. As with any bureaucracy (in any state), it takes time and money to solve the problem. We've got it under control and really don't need the meddling. I'm sure I can find dangerous roads in your states.

In the meantime, the crossings are well marked, and are crossed successfully everyday, rain or shine.

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Um. I bet we could get this done a lot faster if we all coordinated. Better for you, better for us. Are you guys working with the AMA at all? Perhaps they can help you too. Are there contacts on your side the AMA can coordinate with?

Many hands lighten the load and all....

Stones

Grow some and sign your name.

Learn to Ride

You beemer riders seem to think you started something here. Actually, as the one person admitted to (above), this has been brought to the attention of our local officials and they have been talking about solving it, way before you guys showed up for your rally. As with any bureaucracy (in any state), it takes time and money to solve the problem. We've got it under control and really don't need the meddling. I'm sure I can find dangerous roads in your states.

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"There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life."
- Frank Zappa

Re: Learn to ride!

Unregistered said:

As with any bureaucracy (in any state), it takes time and money to solve the problem. We've got it under control and really don't need the meddling.

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Good job! You should be proud of your efforts and the results.

MarkF

Gauley Bridge Accident

I also went down on those tracks as did the fellow behind me. His bike hit me while I was on the ground and I spent [4] days in two hospitals..broken bones and a lacerated liver. New GT was damaged and cost $$ to get it home. Three weeks later I'm still hurting. If I can do something to prevent others from accidents on this trap please let me know.

Last entry - Gauley Bridge "I also went down"
was from
John Colleton
The Lonesome Weirdos

Hi John Get an email address to me when you get a chance.
Thanks, DonS

To Dave Swider:

See page 2 post #7

beemerdude2001 said:

To Dave Swider:

See page 2 post #7

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That's very, very encouraging. Nothing succeeds like cooperation does it?



I was thinking about this whole thing yesterday afternoon. I was driving (yes, in the Miata, I had a lot of stuff to bring) and saw a warning sign made specifically for motorcycles for some railroad tracks . It had a picture of a motorcycle on the top part of the sign and a picture of railroad tracks crossing the road at a pretty steep angle. I think it's enough to at least get you warned of the crossing's issues. It was on a big yellow diamond shaped warning sign.

I thought about Gaulley Bridge and thought that if they'd had a big sign up like this, it probably would have helped. It's cheaper than trying to move the tracks or something.

I wish I'd taken a picture of it. It was on Hwy. 1 between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz.

dave

RR X Crash

I was one of the unfortunate few who crashed on the tracks on Hwy. 60 just outside of Gauley Bridge. I was in the lead of a small group of bikes. We had been to Fayetteville to visit the New River Gorge bridge and were on our way back to the rally. Our group had crossed these tracks on the way out so we knew to take it easy. The difference on the return trip was the rain. I was maybe going 20 mph. As soon as my front wheel contacted the rubber apron, I went down. I was'nt braking and was only leaning sightly. It happened so fast it was as if someone had just slapped me over! I slid several feet but at least I stayed in my lane and did'nt cross the centerline into oncoming traffic. The rest of my group slowed to a crawl and made it over the tracks but a K1200 rider still almost lost it.
I got banged and bruised but thankfully no serious injury. The right side of my R1150RT was scraped from front to back. My rain suit is history. With a little help from my friends I was able to get back on the road and return to the rally. All my damage is now repaired but it cost me several hundred bucks.
I'm a veteran law enforcement officer and I have investigated hundreds of accidents. I have been riding motorcycles for 37 years and I've never encountered anything like this. My crash happened on Sat. afternoon (7/12/03). I can't believe no one from the county or state posted any warnings at this crossing once it became apparent that bikes were crashing.