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Fatal accident on Washington Beltway
06-02-2007, 07:48 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Fatal accident on Washington Beltway
http://www.wusa9.com/video/player.aspx?aid...249&bw=hi&cat=2
The above link has an animation of how this fatal accident occurred. The media is blaming this fatal accident on the motorcyclist that was not actually involved. In this news video there is rhetoric about banning high performance motorcycles.
What do you think?
Ban high performance motorcycles and cars.
Or low performance riders and drivers
P.S. The witness mentioned that the motorcycle was going about 90 MPH. That is about twenty miles per hour over the average speed on the Washington Beltway where most do 70 MPH on a road where the speed limit is 55 MPH.
The above link has an animation of how this fatal accident occurred. The media is blaming this fatal accident on the motorcyclist that was not actually involved. In this news video there is rhetoric about banning high performance motorcycles.
What do you think?
Ban high performance motorcycles and cars.
Or low performance riders and drivers
P.S. The witness mentioned that the motorcycle was going about 90 MPH. That is about twenty miles per hour over the average speed on the Washington Beltway where most do 70 MPH on a road where the speed limit is 55 MPH.
06-02-2007, 08:01 PM
#2
Looking at the reinactment, my opinion is that the policemen did not use rational judgement in this pursuit. He was out horse powered, the traffic was too congested, and a reasonable individual would have realized that he didn't have a prayer of catching that bike.
06-02-2007, 09:08 PM
#5
Registered User
The police officer should have used his radio. I have seen this work on FFCP and other roads.
There is no way a car can catch a bike. The radio is the safest way to catch them.
This entire disaster could have been avoided.
There is no way a car can catch a bike. The radio is the safest way to catch them.
This entire disaster could have been avoided.
06-03-2007, 03:01 PM
#7
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There should be no question that deciding to be the focus of a high speed police chase (by riding 45 mph over the psoted speed limit) carries far more potential consequences than simply getting a ticket. The issue here, however is pretty much spelled out by the law enforcement policy.
They are not to get into a high speed pursuit unless they are chasing someone suspected of committing a felony. While the police spin folks initially tried to assert that the bike rider had committed a felony, that story faded into the background when they were pressed on it. My guess is that, had they had even a hint of evidence of a felony, they would have broadcast it to anyone who would listen, given that one of their own was now facing serious attention for apparently violating the chase policy that was put into effect to avoid this very event.
The rider was a speeder. The officer created an avoidable and deadly risk where he clearly had other options and a policy to follow. Had he followed it, those unfortunate guys who he hit would be home tonight.
They are not to get into a high speed pursuit unless they are chasing someone suspected of committing a felony. While the police spin folks initially tried to assert that the bike rider had committed a felony, that story faded into the background when they were pressed on it. My guess is that, had they had even a hint of evidence of a felony, they would have broadcast it to anyone who would listen, given that one of their own was now facing serious attention for apparently violating the chase policy that was put into effect to avoid this very event.
The rider was a speeder. The officer created an avoidable and deadly risk where he clearly had other options and a policy to follow. Had he followed it, those unfortunate guys who he hit would be home tonight.
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06-03-2007, 09:06 PM
#10
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There doesn't appear to be any question about the chase policy and there isn't any apparent evidence that the rider was being chased as a felony suspect. Based upon the facts as we know them, the officer made a bad choice. No need to nurture a long term relationship with an opinion, but for what we know now, the facts speak for themselves.