Car vs. Motorbike

[MacD]

There's some more detail in the Herald.

Inspector Darroch Todd of the police northern communications centre said the motorbike and a car, going south through the intersection from Karangahape Rd, collided with a second car coming along Symonds St.

I commute through this area and decided a long time ago that it wasn't worth filtering up to the front of the lights as there are too many red-light runners through these intersections. Even if I'm at the front of the queue I wait until I'm sure nobody is coming through the intersection, particularly buses which seem to be as bad at it as cars!

Hope the rider recovers, I know a few people that ride through there but none have a small red bike.

As for Crashe's experience, if I can't speed up to avoid paralleling a car, I tend to drop back. Being beside a car on the left seems to be a significant blind-spot for most drivers. Glad you made it past OK!

(Heh, Krayy beat me to the draw by 1 minute! Damned slow typing! )

[Sycophant]

The Herald's got this one.... http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?...ectID=10010131
Key piece of info is:

"Inspector Darroch Todd of the police northern communications centre said the motorbike and a car, going south through the intersection from Karangahape Rd, collided with a second car coming along Symonds St. "

This to me sounds like cager # 2 ran a red while going up or down Symonds and collected both the poor bastards. What do you reckon the chances are he'll get done for any serious charge in the biker doesn't pull through? Damn sentencing laws in the country are piss weak.

I walked through the intersection on the way to work this morning. Judging by the painted marks on the road, that looks pretty accurate... Although I can't quite imagine how it happened. When I went past all the wreckage was very much on the north side of the intersection.

I assume the northbound car just collected both the car and bike and shunted them through the intersection. There are some fairly hefty gouges in the road, and very strong tyre marks.

I've had some close calls on that intersection myself, with redlight runners and also people who decide they don't want to do where their lane is supposed to go.

Edit:
If anyone is concerned about who the biker was, there is a very clear photo of the bike on A2 of today's NZ Herald, with the number plate clearly visible.

[Atomic]

Tell me it wasnt a Red Honda GN250 with white wheels!?
I havent got the herald.

[Krayy]

Tell me it wasnt a Red Honda GN250 with white wheels!?
I havent got the herald.

It looks like a Suzi GN125 or 250 from the back with the plate 23WGS. Looks like its brand new with no scuffing on rear and chrome all polished with no visible dirt. Even the pipe doesnt have any carbon build up.

[Atomic]

Whoops I meant Suzuki GN/Honda CB! Whats a Honda GN!?!?!?!
But after looking at bike pics iv realized my mate has a Honda CB250 so thats a relief.

Still unfortuante and I hope the rider recovers ok.

[mini_hooks_]

thats a bit on the ruff side!!!!!
three cars onto one bike, thats crazy.....
some people just dont know how to drive!!!!!

[Krayy]

It looks like a Suzi GN125 or 250 from the back with the plate 23WGS. Looks like its brand new with no scuffing on rear and chrome all polished with no visible dirt. Even the pipe doesnt have any carbon build up.

That plate would put the purchase time at around late November last year I think as I got 23WLF at that time too, so the rider might have been very new to the bike too. What a darn Xmas present eh?

[Rainbow Wizard]

decided a long time ago that it wasn't worth filtering up to the front of the lights as there are too many red-light runners through these intersections.

Thanks for this comment, hadn't considered it being risky beforehand. Might save me in the future.
Cheers

[jrandom]

It looks like a Suzi GN125 or 250 from the back with the plate 23WGS.

Aw, damn, I hate this. Yes, it was a new GN250, and the rider had a rather unusual surname... a quick Google reveals that he was only one degree of separation removed from me via the NZ ADSL mailing list. Never actually corresponded with him, but it's a small world, innit.

My thoughts go out to his wife. Hope he's OK.

[Slim]

From Crime Scene in the Herald today:

Police want to hear from anyone who witnessed an accident on the corner of Karangahape Road and Symonds Street about 3:30pm on Tuesday of last week. Motorcyclist Mark Tan-Wanklyn (unfortunate name!!!), 41, has since died of his injuries at the crash. The cars involved were a Toyota Camry and Ford XR6. Information to Constable Graham Morton on (09) 359-3114.

[jrandom]

Mark Tan-Wanklyn (unfortunate name!!!)

Told yez so...

...has since died of his injuries at the crash.

Another one bites the dust. Requiem aeternam.

[Hitcher]

There's usually something pretentiously dodgy about people with hyphenated surnames...

[jrandom]

There's usually something pretentiously dodgy about people with hyphenated surnames...

Unfortunately, this one didn't have quite *enough* dodge.

[Hitcher]

Unfortunately, this one didn't have quite *enough* dodge.

Obviously a case of hyphen-induced indecision.

[avgas]

Some people just really don't know the finer rules / or methods of driving..

Have to agree here, why do all instructors teach that you should hit the brakes in any situation.
I actually took my G/F to an empty car park, taught her to 'race' her car round the car park. This taught her good skills like : cornering, swerving, decelleration, driving in tight spaces and 'look where you want to go'.
The lessons she got from AA were bullshit, they just jumped in the car with her and said "Lets drive around the block a few times".
It scares me to know that 1/2 the drivers out there, in an emergency sit. are gonna slam on the brakes/horn - rather than avoid the situation.

Oh yeh as for the comment about not riding after seeing the drivers, thats to someone who was late to the office in the morning i have a pin in the leg. I dont like taking any risks round town anymore.......anyone can kill you - not just the boy racers.