Young Motorcyclist Dies on Sugar Grove

[XLFD]

Another sad story on the local BUMPS front, a 15 y.o. motorcyclist dies when passing a young motorist who was turning left into her driveway.   9-10-11 Motorcycle-Car Crash

 

At first, I looked over the basic facts put in the newspaper story.  The biker was riding a 2009 Kawasaki motorcycle.  The time was 5:30 PM.  They were both travelling east on the basic flat area of Sugar Grove near the highway.  The biker passed, while the other turned.  No mention of a turn signal. 

Then I synthesized: it was light out, not raining, warm, not windy, neither were looking into the sun, other traffic was likely not involved.  The motorist, who was 18, may not have signalled the turn.  Or she may have, and it did not register with the biker, who was even younger.  But then it hit me. 

 

A 15 year old  should not have been on the road with a motorcycle.  This is against Michigan law. 

 

A motorcycle is a potentially dangerous weapon that almost always winds up hurting its rider when not used properly.  You have to feel sorry for Kegan's parents, but whoever allowed him to ride this motorcycle is culpable for his death.  Because of that, I hope Kegan took this motorcycle for a joyride without anyone else's permission-- not his parents not his relatives, or not an older friend.  Because if anyone did, Kegan and the female driver really are not the ones at fault here.  Those who allowed this are. 

 

And I hope the Ludington Daily News, and/or more sensible local news organizations, use this accident not as a tragic traffic fatality or statistic, but as a teaching moment so that other people who may be parents, uncles, or older friends of kids who want to ride motorcycles, but are too young to do so, to not let those kids ride.  You could have a young man's or woman's blood on your hands.

[Sweater Cows!]

When I posted on FB about not permitting my kid to ride on her dads bike to the movie theater I got a few nasty replies. I wanted to tell those people to shove it.

They were making it sound like I didn't trust him, what they were not grasping is that it had nothing to do with him, I would not care if it was the world champion of safe biking,I would not want her on the back, it is too dangerous, seems the people who were angry with me were motorcyclists. Those who weren't were in agreement that it was not a good Idea.

[Sweater Cows!]

They were gf and bf

[XLFD]

The comments on the bottom of the LDN would indicate that.  Plus I heard some stuff along the grapevine which may or may not have some merit.  But I neglected to get the sheriff's report on this one to find out the particulars; I still plan on doing that, however.  

I would never argue with any mother who decides that something is too unsafe for their kid, only praise them for caring enough.  That's a mother's job.  Kids under 16 need guidance so they will make the right decisions later.