Bikers collide with Police car in Buller Gorge (1 December)

**MSTRS:Me** · 28th December 2007, 07:43

Originally Posted by Patrick

Had a radio DJ come out on patrol with me, live on air, and he wanted me to "guess the speed of oncoming cars" then check it against the radar. Was dubious and thought it was a fit up but felt confident enough to give it a go.

Was only a few Kms out each time most within 5 kmph... But hey, it aint accurate...

Could you do the same with a bike viewed coming straight at you, and have perhaps 1 second to 'calculate' it's speed? I don't doubt it is possible in normal circumstances to do so for a car...but there is a little matter of points of reference (ie triangulation) missing in the bike case.
Still, you are right about the charge level, we should all be more than happy with that. It is more than we thought might happen.

**Deano** · 28th December 2007, 07:51

Originally Posted by Nonbeliever

FFS TV1 news is uncovering dope dealers selling shit to schoolkids from their front yard while the cops are out getting "crims" that break the law by going 10km faster than they should.

The guy from Methcon (ex cop) tells people at seminars that the revenue from traffic infringements is used to fund the raiding of P-Labs, cause an investigation and prosecution costs so much money. He said that in Northland, Police knew of at least half a dozen P-Labs bubbling away but did not have the resources to tackle them.

Just what I heard - don't turn this into a 'messenger bashing' thread eh ?

**rwh** · 28th December 2007, 10:55

Originally Posted by Deano

The guy from Methcon (ex cop) tells people at seminars that the revenue from traffic infringements is used to fund the raiding of P-Labs, cause an investigation and prosecution costs so much money. He said that in Northland, Police knew of at least half a dozen P-Labs bubbling away but did not have the resources to tackle them.

Interesting - I thought the cops didn't get any fine revenue? That it all went into the consolidated fund?

Richard

**Deano** · 28th December 2007, 14:20

Originally Posted by rwh

Interesting - I thought That it all went into the consolidated fund?

Richard

Probably does first - then gets redistributed via various mechanisms and beauraucratic processes, chewing up a lot of it along the way.

MD · 28th December 2007, 17:56

Health update #...I'm having a few beers right now to celebrate a positive visit with the injured Riders.

Brent will be going home tomorrow wheelchair bond but no more hospital bed.

I was pleasantly surprised today to see Marty has bounced back something wicked! There were days over the first couple of weeks that the Docs expected him to die or come out with permanent brain damage. He was totally lucid today and mentally back to normal for the first time that I have been visiting. He has regained most of his sight in the eye that looked dead to me when he was in ICU.
Both Lads have had their last operations with internal plates & pins and plaster casts now - much better than those external frames.

I just can't find the words to say how happy today made me feel.

They got a nice get well letter from a Blenheim woman who was soon on the scene with her son. She commented that she saw me heading away [unbeknown]from the accident scene "winding effortlessly through the gorge" She shed some interesting insights from bystanders at the scene on the Officer's behaviour, and the views of witnesses there, about the bad choice for a place to turn around.
To date the lads have not heard from the Officer involved but have had very supportive contact from the Senior Police/Investigators. Who have reiterated that all their enquiries show that the riders were not speeding.

**homer** · 28th December 2007, 20:22

Interesting , I htought they all sat round the boiler when they had to burn the weed

Yeah ive been drinking and out on the gn250
Just cant go off the propery ,but you can go round our place so i can still ride

**Patrick** · 29th December 2007, 10:12

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Could you do the same with a bike viewed coming straight at you, and have perhaps 1 second to 'calculate' it's speed? I don't doubt it is possible in normal circumstances to do so for a car...but there is a little matter of points of reference (ie triangulation) missing in the bike case.
Still, you are right about the charge level, we should all be more than happy with that. It is more than we thought might happen.

Usually... as there is other traffic in the vacinity... but again, can be easily done... Bikes seem to elude my radar or pass the attitude test better than some for some reason..

Ahhhh... the silence of the naysayers is deafening... for a change....

Originally Posted by MD

Health update #...I'm having a few beers right now to celebrate a positive visit with the injured Riders..........

To date the lads have not heard from the Officer involved but have had very supportive contact from the Senior Police/Investigators. Who have reiterated that all their enquiries show that the riders were not speeding.

Unfortunately, he will have been "directed" at a guess not to approach or comment, directly or indirectly, by the hierachy... It would be seen by the media as him trying to influence a better outcome for himself...

Originally Posted by homer

Interesting , I htought they all sat round the boiler when they had to burn the weed

Nah... the diesel and shitty old tyres ruin a perfectly good sesh.......

**scumdog** · 29th December 2007, 10:17

Originally Posted by Patrick

Ahhhh... the silence of the naysayers is deafening... for a change....

Hey! I said that yonks ago on this thread - and it's still true, even if there have been a few half-arsed attempts by some.

**SDU** · 29th December 2007, 13:54

That's great news MD. I hope they continue to surprise you & heal in leaps & bounds.

**bell** · 29th December 2007, 18:40

Originally Posted by MD

...over the first couple of weeks that the Docs expected him to die or come out with permanent brain damage. Both Lads have had their last operations with internal plates & pins and plaster casts now - much better than those external frames.

Thanks for keeping the updates coming MD.

I ask myself somedays when I go for a ride whether the risks (and some of the potential outcomes highlighted above) are worth it.

I've just returned from a week of touring the SI and marvelled at the lunacy of some other riders' habits. On more than one occasion I had to take defensive action to avoid a head-on as there was a bike and/or rider well and truly over my side of the line. I'm no racer-wannabe and consider that my cornering lines were safe and defensive but it just wasn't enough on a few occasions. It is all too easy to imagine how a wide line into a corner could "interfere" with one's longevity.

These two fellas have been to hell and back, with years of associated shit still to come. May they (and their friends and families) find the strength to overcome these hurdles and find some peace and prosperity in the years ahead.

**John W** · 1st February 2009, 18:41

Hi there

Ive been quietly watching this thread and was wondering if there had been a decision made by the Independant commission looking into this affair.

An update on the riders would be great.

Finally, did the Police financially the riders in this incident. I recall one of them not having Income Protection Insurance and ACC will welch out any possible way.