Sad news, car crash ....

[Lannis]

https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2020/09/04/one-dead-one-hospitlized-after-blue-ridge-parkway-crash-in-floyd-county/

The fellow killed in the crash, Danny Shelton, was the fellow we knew as "Dan" who was Will's groundskeeper at Willville Campground at Meadows of Dan.   Many of you who have camped there knew him and talked to him - always friendly, always working hard to keep the place nice, always something interesting to say.

I'll miss seeing him - he was part of our riding experience.

Lannis

[twowheeladdict]

Sorry to hear.  Since he, the experienced driver for the area, cross the yellow line makes me wonder if a health crisis was the cause.  RIP.

[Lannis]

Sorry to hear.  Since he, the experienced driver for the area, cross the yellow line makes me wonder if a health crisis was the cause.  RIP.

That very thing happened to another Britbike-riding friend of mine in Pennsylvania.   He was 79 but in excellent health, still kicking over his big BSA and Matchless singles; I rode with him many a mile.

He was in his pickup one day on a two lane road; the folks in the car behind him saw him slump over the wheel, and his truck went straight through a curve to the right into the other lane and head-on'ed a car.   He was likely dead before the collision; the guy he hit was in the hospital with critical injuries for a month.

His family and insurance company was sued for allowing him to drive, I suppose so that they could get his health records and find out if there was evidence that he shouldn't have been driving.   It was finally settled after about 2 years, this past spring.

Thing is, it could happen to any of us.   And pay attention to people coming the other way - get ready to dodge!

Lannis

[twowheeladdict]

That very thing happened to another Britbike-riding friend of mine in Pennsylvania.   He was 79 but in excellent health, still kicking over his big BSA and Matchless singles; I rode with him many a mile.

He was in his pickup one day on a two lane road; the folks in the car behind him saw him slump over the wheel, and his truck went straight through a curve to the right into the other lane and head-on'ed a car.   He was likely dead before the collision; the guy he hit was in the hospital with critical injuries for a month.

His family and insurance company was sued for allowing him to drive, I suppose so that they could get his health records and find out if there was evidence that he shouldn't have been driving.   It was finally settled after about 2 years, this past spring.

Thing is, it could happen to any of us.   And pay attention to people coming the other way - get ready to dodge!

Lannis

When my wife used to ride with me, we discussed what she should do if I were to slump over on the bike.  While stationary I would slump forward and she would reach over me and grab the clutch and front brake.  Hopefully, she would get slowed down enough, or even stopped before falling over.

I ride near the yellow line on two lane roads and when approaching an oncoming car move to the white line until they pass. 

Also, when using a rest area, I always park near the exit instead of the entrance because some cars just don't slow down as much as they should when first entering the rest area. 

My wife says I think too much. 

[JJ]

Sorry to hear about this tragedy and the loss of your colleague.  R.I.P. Danny Shelton and Godspeed...

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

That is sad news. As was mentioned, probably a health crisis before the accident.
Just as an aside, tractor trailer “proper by the book” is for there to be a slight pull to the right. So if the driver removes their hands like in a health crisis the rig goes off the right side of the road vs going into oncoming traffic. I asked the mechanics one day why it didn’t matter what tractor I was in they pulled to the right slightly. I thought it was the crowning of the road but found out it was intentional.

[Dilliw]

Sad news Lannis as we had a great fireside weekend with him a couple of months ago.

RIP Dan