Things I learned from the accident scene

[Kiwi675]

Twilight Road is a stupid one to try to go fast on. I dont care what you ride. There is no line of site up any of the corners going up or down the hill. And its often covered in clay/moss.

Who said anyone was trying to go fast? You're right covered in crap at the moment, cyclists on the corners, chooks on chicken corner and a bit of loose gravel......perfect. But someone's idea of safe may not be the same as someone's else's, especially when taking into account the equipment being used......just saying.......

[nzspokes]

But someone's idea of safe may not be the same as someone's else's, especially when taking into account the equipment being used......just saying.......

Well unless the riders have some way of seeing through the hillside I dont care if they are on MotoGP bikes, its still a stupid road to go fast on.

[R650R]

I wouldn't worry about the need to preserve the scene if moving stuff means making the victim safer. As long as you inform the plod at earliest opportunity and don't lie about it then its not a problem. The initial impact point/marks is what they mostly interested anyway.
One tip another truckie gave to me after a head on crash was to write down somewhere what happened for your own personal use and tuck it away as over time the mind can play tricks on you as you worry about what might have been etc, what else could you have done etc. Damn good advice that.
As for the other person changing their story, yep had that one two. The cop kept on ringing me up (while I was at work driving a truck laden with Hazardous goods) asking me to make another statement, question me again etc. Told her no I'd already given them a statement, my story hasn't changed only the other persons. In the end she got stroppy and said investigation was over as our accounts differed so much! This was despite clear evidence from me as to the light phases and time for 44T to roll from a standing start that not only had the other person ran into the back of me (which is 99.99% always that persons fault) that she had run a red light to do it. Also the destination of the other drivers workplace 100m up the road clearly indicated that she'd intended to overtake at speed to get to the driveway before me, which is where I had to chase her to for details after she fled the scene without stopping!
I made that office post me out a letter also that the matter was concluded as the other person was in a profession where they knew all the dirty tricks to obfuscate a crash situation...
Back to bike stuff, keep an eye in your mirror as to where you last saw your mate. One of our group went down just out of Clevedon once, came round the corner to find other mate parked in middle of road frantic as to where the other rider was. Due to speed he had stopped some 200m past crash scene. Steep ditches and thick scrub made it hard to find rider. While we were at the hospital the cops went out there and they couldn't even find the where the scene had been or the bike that was still down bank!
Bear in mind on a bike even the smallest amount of gravel is an official cause for loss of control, not speed xxx in to xx corner!

[iYRe]

R650R - the only marks at the scene in this was was where I lifted the bike off my mate, and pulled it away and put it down again. He was pretty much leaning on the vehicle he hit. Otherwise pretty good advice

In hindsight, the guy has cut across the apex of the corner. Talking to my mate after he got out of hospital, he says "i wasnt going fast, but when I saw him I hit the brakes, and thought I had slid into him". There were no skid marks, nothing, so what I think happened was they both jammed on the brakes and stopped.. the 4x4 coming down the hill, crossing the white line, and being 90 yrs old reacted a bit slower and collected the bike.

Total impact speed was probably less than 40kmh (total of both vehicles). The damage done to the bike was so minimal.. fairing, screen, brake lever.. even so, broken ankle, 2 broken ribs, and a kidney tear is hard to get over.

[GDOBSSOR]

Darn..........

I'd claim the drivers injuries were are result of their accident ........ you know their face must have hit the wheel officer.

Well... I have an eighty year old uncle, much like the driver in this accident. Up until recently, he was allowed to drive, and I was quite worried at the thought of him hitting a motorcyclist. However, I'd have also been quite upset if he'd been hit in the face in retaliation at his age.

[GDOBSSOR]

R650R - the only marks at the scene in this was was where I lifted the bike off my mate, and pulled it away and put it down again. He was pretty much leaning on the vehicle he hit. Otherwise pretty good advice

In hindsight, the guy has cut across the apex of the corner. Talking to my mate after he got out of hospital, he says "i wasnt going fast, but when I saw him I hit the brakes, and thought I had slid into him". There were no skid marks, nothing, so what I think happened was they both jammed on the brakes and stopped.. the 4x4 coming down the hill, crossing the white line, and being 90 yrs old reacted a bit slower and collected the bike.

Total impact speed was probably less than 40kmh (total of both vehicles). The damage done to the bike was so minimal.. fairing, screen, brake lever.. even so, broken ankle, 2 broken ribs, and a kidney tear is hard to get over.

Good to hear the bike's ok. Pretty sad to hear your mate won't be riding for a while from the sound of it. I hope he has a speedy recovery.

[iYRe]

Good to hear the bike's ok. Pretty sad to hear your mate won't be riding for a while from the sound of it. I hope he has a speedy recovery.

thanks..

I am assuming the impact was slow enough there was no other damage.. only the visible.. but.. I guess the insurance guys will have to figure that out.