CHP moto accident on Lakeville hwy

[Gnarly Cranium]

Damn, a torn aorta! If that's the case, he was just a hair's width from death. That is some serious shit. Docs go nutz even if there's just a pin prick in the aorta.

Biggest artery in the body, the one that would spew like a fire hose if it's ever severed. I'd go nutz too. When I read that part I figured the ambulance that was responding to the same traffic accident he was headed to must have been right on his tail when this happened.

 

[SM610]

I still feel that the cops on motorcycles need to have better gear, especially as they are expected to drive at a high rate of speed and take higher risks. They wear gear in other countries - I think it is time that tradition was overlooked and officer safety was put first.

Agreed, I mean, from that photo, it looks as if they are slowly giving up the traditional moustache (3 fer 11), and nothing is more traditional than that...

 

[Diezel]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say overtaking at speed is not reckless when you have blinking lights and a screaming goddamn siren specially designed to warn everybody within several blocks that you're coming, and you're trying to do a JOB which involves getting somewhere important very fast, with life and death on the line. It's not like he was pulling this maneuver for shits and giggles.

Heal fast!
And it brings me back to this thread: http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=331659
NEVER PULL TO THE LEFT!

Agree'd. Even if she DID have a turn signal on. She failed to yield to an emergency vehicle.

Heal fast CHP Sergeant Overzet.

Given all these doodads, it seems like it would be easy to have emergency vehicles emit a special high-frequency tone, which passenger cars can receive, sending a signal to the computer to turn down the volume and alert the driver that an emergency vehicle is approaching, pull over. Same for the new move over law, if you're coming up on a stopped cruiser, have it tell you to move over.
Of course I see this technology being manipulated by morally corrupt individuals.

Actually, they already tried this once. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Data_System The RDS system was theoretically designed to warn drivers of problems. Weather, Traffic, etc. One of the driving things the really wish to incorporate to this was warning systems for approaching emergency vehicles. However it was deemed to cost prohibitive to continue with.

Now, we still see RDS. However all we really see now is from Radio Stations that have decided to purchase the said encoders and transmit station data (time, station callsign, station "name", song title and small data like weather, etc.) Other then that I've yet to EVER see an Amber Alert, Traffic Alert, or Weather alert from an RDS system.

 

[SuperMike]

Agree'd. Even if she DID have a turn signal on. She failed to yield to an emergency vehicle.

I don't think it's quite that cut & dry. The officer was coming up behind her at a high rate of speed, (as evidenced by the impact damage visible in the photo) going the wrong way in the adjacent lane, which would normally have traffic flowing in the direction opposite her vehicle's direction of travel.

Put yourself in her shoes for a moment. Under the presumption that (she) you didn't hear the officer's cycle approaching, why in god's name would you check your six before turning across the opposing lane?

 

[VtownMac]

Put yourself in her shoes for a moment. Under the presumption that (she) you didn't hear the officer's cycle approaching, why in god's name would you check your six before turning across the opposing lane?

This is true. The Motor was gambling by zooming on/over the DY like that, and it should come as no suprise to him that he lost. Not that he didn't have reason or right. It's a dangerous job. slamming into the side of that ol lady's car was just the way the dice landed.

 

[Diezel]

why in god's name would you check your six before turning across the opposing lane?

I don't know about you, but I live and drive as a field tech in the bay area. It's a force of habit for me to "scan" what is around me at all times.

You've obviously never been passed on the left by a jackass blowing a DY. Well, I have. Luckily it's never ended in a fatality.

Just sayin' of course. Not calling the LEO a jack ass blowing a DY. But it's something I've seen more then a few times. So I've grown to expect it.

 

[DataDan]

It was not a double yellow, but a legal passing zone. The road can be seen in this KTVU video.

 

[SuperMike]

You've obviously never been passed on the left by a jackass blowing a DY. Well, I have. Luckily it's never ended in a fatality.

I don't know how that's obvious to you. That's happened to me more than a couple times, too. I'm just saying that, providing the woman in the car was making a legal left turn, it's my opinion as a motorcycle rider that Officer Sergeant Overzet bears the bulk of the responsibility for the collision.

What would Enchanter call it?

Oh, yeah... Riding too fast for conditions.

 

[I'm OaklandLion]

I don't know how that's obvious to you. That's happened to me more than a couple times, too. I'm just saying that, providing the woman in the car was making a legal left turn, it's my opinion as a motorcycle rider that Officer Sergeant Overzet bears the bulk of the responsibility for the collision.

What would Enchanter call it?

Oh, yeah... Riding too fast for conditions.

I think you might be right.

Heal up Patrolman!

 

[VtownMac]

It was not a double yellow, but a legal passing zone. The road can be seen in this KTVU video.

Ah. I used to drive that road daily, there are not many passing stretches. She definately shoulda checked her six.

 

[budman]

I don't know about you, but I live and drive as a field tech in the bay area. It's a force of habit for me to "scan" what is around me at all times.

That is why I think experienced moto riders are the best car drivers.

We actually think ahead and look for things even when behind the wheel.

 

[gixxerjoeca]

^^^ Agreed i dont know any non moto riders personally that are as safe behind the wheel of an automobile as moto riders. Im constantly on the lookout for things that would ruin my day wether in a cage or on my bike.

 

[GAJ]

Holy CRAP!!!!

"A CHP motorcycle officer who was injured when he slammed into a passenger car earlier this week remained in critical condition Friday as Petaluma Police clarified a key detail of the accident.

The civilian driver, Novato resident Theresa Fermanich, was making a U—turn on Lakeville Highway when she turned into the path of the oncoming officer, Petaluma Police Sgt. Ken Savano said.

It was earlier believed that Fermanich, 73, was turning left onto Matteri Lane, a private dirt driveway, when she failed to see the passing motorcycle.

Instead, she turned into its path in an attempted U-turn, causing Officer Todd Overzet to be ejected, authorities said."

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/articl...675/1349?Title=New-details-in-officer-s-crash

 

[DataDan]

I don't think it makes any difference whether it was a U or a left. Either would normally be legal. Neither was legal with the code-3 CHP moto approaching.

 

[SuperMike]

I don't think it makes any difference whether it was a U or a left. Either would normally be legal. Neither was legal with the code-3 CHP moto approaching.

Even if said code-3 CHP moto was approaching in the opposite lane, going the wrong way?

Tough call.

 

[Diezel]

Even if said code-3 CHP moto was approaching in the opposite lane, going the wrong way?

Tough call.

It was a broken yellow line, which is OK for PASSING, last I checked PASSING ON THE LEFT (provided the lane is available and legal) is your ONLY option.

In any case if she made a LEFT/U-Turn/Stopped, infront of a CODE 3 responding unit of ANY type, and was hit. She simply failed to yield to an emergency vehicle.

 

[GAJ]

I don't think it makes any difference whether it was a U or a left. Either would normally be legal. Neither was legal with the code-3 CHP moto approaching.

I pay a lot more attention to traffic ahead and behind when making a U turn vs. a simple left turn into a driveway.

But maybe that's just me.

 

[akacastle]

+999999

I don't think it makes any difference whether it was a U or a left. Either would normally be legal. Neither was legal with the code-3 CHP moto approaching.

Yes, I agree, and pretty obvious. What in the hell is personally more important that overrides leo on code 3? Unless the LEO was blatantly and unneccessaily risking the lives of others, likely the obvious applies here. Just my 2 cents.

 

[machete]

Yes, I agree, and pretty obvious. What in the hell is personally more important that overrides leo on code 3? Unless the LEO was blatantly and unneccessaily risking the lives of others, likely the obvious applies here. Just my 2 cents.

before assuming that she made the turn in front of a code 3 vehicle on purpose, or because she had other things more important than yielding, ponder other reasons.

after seeing some sides to this, I read that the lady is 73 y/o per the reports. senses are dulled at an older age, that is a fact, and the motorcycle was approaching at a high rate of speed. that has also been established, as he was going code 3, in a not too common location relative to the car that was hit.
so rather than hang her high, here is a few more points to think about.

maybe she is hard of hearing? assumption
I don't remember taking a hearing test at the dmv.
but maybe she didn't hear the sirens?

maybe the bike came up on her too fast for her reaction time? assumption

it wasn't said (at least I couldn't find it)whether she had her signal on or not. in which case, it could be a case of wrong place at the wrong time for the officer. If I have my signal,and haven't heard an emergency vehicle, then I assume that the vehicle behind me is taking the necessary actions to not hit me. ie..at fault when you hit someone in front of you, no?

yes, the law says that you have to yield to emergency vehicles, but that is also dependent on when you hear/notice/see them. at a high rate of speed, with a small footprint as motorcycles have, it is still a risky move, and it sucks for all involved. especially if it was just a case of, she didn't see the bike in time.

not condoning this or trying to excuse her, but many factors play a role in motor vehicle crashes, not just one action.

speedy recovery to the cop though. and definitely something to learn for everyone whether they are riding or driving.

 

[sliverstorm]

Under the presumption that (she) you didn't hear the officer's cycle approaching, why in god's name would you check your six before turning across the opposing lane?

Force of habit? I check my left blind spot any time I move left, and that includes when I merge into a protected left turn lane surrounded by concrete and when I flip U's.