Trike Crash on 129 below Deals Gap Today

[skuuter]

I definetly hope it isn't a Member here, but two of my Buddies that live at The Dragon (almost literally) have called me reporting that a Trike crashed into the rock wall at the sharp curve after "Fugitive" Dam below the Gap Store, almost in front of the Tapoco Lodge today. No definite word yet on injury severity, but said it didn't look good by any means.....

 

[ThirdWheel]

Member or not, I hate hearing of any bike/trike crash. Hope the best for the injured.

 

[skuuter]

Member or not, I hate hearing of any bike/trike crash. Hope the best for the injured.

Yep, never good....the Cherohala has had two deaths and several severe injuries in the past coupla' weeks also.....

 

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

We had a friend of ours crash her GW trike into a rock wall a few years ago.
Her husband was leading on his 2 wheeler GW when they rounded a curve and she hit some gravel which spun her around hitting the wall backwards.
Spent 2 months in local hospital with back and other injuries.
Air transport home after that for 3 month bed rest.
Was one lucky lady to be alive.

 

[skuuter]

We had a friend of ours crash her GW trike into a rock wall a few years ago.
Her husband was leading on his 2 wheeler GW when they rounded a curve and she hit some gravel which spun her around hitting the wall backwards.
Spent 2 months in local hospital with back and other injuries.
Air transport home after that for 3 month bed rest.
Was one lucky lady to be alive.

Yeah, I always hate these stories...."sobbering" though....

 

[skuuter]

.....what I've heard today doesn't sound good, but not gonna' report until I can get some better validation.....

 

[Nana]

I saw this news story..... I assume this is the report of the accident you are referring to:

http://www.thedailytimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070714/NEWS/70714003

 

[skuuter]

I saw this news story..... I assume this is the report of the accident you are referring to:

Two die on Dragon

Yep.....that's it...........WAAAAAAY too many deaths this year on The Dragon, and The Cherohala Skyway......gettin' to be really "iffy" lately about goin' there.....several head-ons with Bikes this year with deaths and severe injuries.....

 

[katfish16]

So So Sad

 

[Charlie D]

Amen UltraBoy Amen couldn't be said better our prayers are with them...Charlie D.

 

[Gorilla]

Very sad.

 

[triwinggirl]

I learned about not braking to hard in corners on my first run to laughlin on this trike. I didn't have the easy steer yet. i was going down hill into a curve a little fast the trike didn't want to turn. so i braked like i would have on a bike. The trike started to tip. i straightened out and braked hard. I barely made the turn. I ride slower now in corners.

It is very sobering. It happens very fast

 

[tfdeputydawg]

Speed was a factor in the accident

 

[Monkei]

I still, for the life of me, don't see the allure of going to a road with a ton of people, mostly all driving too fast, just to say I rode it ... there are plenty of other roads in the area with a lot less people and a lot less pressure to go "faster" coming up behind you and towards you.

Terrible stories ... the Dragon is full of them.

 

[Ironhorsepilot]

That is a terrible thing that happened and I am so sorry for the family.

I have no desire to ride the dragon, mainly because of all the other traffic. Anytime people are pulling trailers over very twisty roads, there is the big chance a portion of the vehicle will cross the center line. I know the article said it was speed, as it probably was, but target fixation could have been a culprit too....just saying....

I am confused though, as the article says 2007. Maybe it is not the same story.

 

[BeHereNow]

Speed was a factor in the accident

Well, according to some of my LEO friends, speed is always a factor in every accident. No exceptions.
So is weather, time of day, condition of vehicle, etc.

Now sometime excessive speed is a factor.
And sometimes the speed was excessive only because of road conditions (shale/gravel), or rider skill level.
I didn't see that anyone was cited for excessive speed or careless driving, although I may have missed that.

Be careful, know the limitiation of your machine and skill level.
Did I mention 'be careful'?

 

[Charlie D]

REMEMBER THIS AT ALL TIMES "never ride FASTER than your guardian angel can FLY" . We all sometimes forget and get ourselves in trouble....ride safely and be careful..

 

[Papa Zook]

Anyone remember that last year the exact same thing happened on the Dragon. A trike hit a boat. Thats a bad combination because its very easy for both vehicles to stray over the line on such a tight, twisty road as this.

 

[Southern Man]

I may have read that news report wrong but I think the link posted was for a crash that happened in 2007.

 

[3WHELAR]

The best policy here in OZ is don't ride beyond your skill level and always expect the unexpected, "God" rest there soul's, they passed doing what they loved ,Very Tragic, thoughts go out to the families effected.

 

[Jimsjinx]

That pic is from 2007. I remember seeing it right after buying ours. Look at the date on the pic! Can't be the one you are referring to. Sorry. jimsjinx:blush:

 

[spiritdream]

Yes, the article is from July 2007. Both incidents are sad though, and my thoughts are with the families....

 

[bounder04]

Here is a link as to why we do'nt do the Gap any more.... I witnessed a similar incident a couple of years ago, only I was going on the oposit direction when a couple of idiots tried to pass a car towing a bike and we barely miss head-on.
Video (NSFW) – Motorcycle Crash At Tail of the Dragon – Analysis | Smoky Mountain Rider

 

[danbgt]

I saw this news story..... I assume this is the report of the accident you are referring to:

http://www.thedailytimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070714/NEWS/70714003

This crash was in 2007.

-Dan

 

[dford]

That is a terrible thing that happened and I am so sorry for the family.

I have no desire to ride the dragon, mainly because of all the other traffic. Anytime people are pulling trailers over very twisty roads, there is the big chance a portion of the vehicle will cross the center line. I know the article said it was speed, as it probably was, but target fixation could have been a culprit too....just saying....

I am confused though, as the article says 2007. Maybe it is not the same story.

I rode the dragon a few years ago and a semi tractor trailer was coming the other way taking both lanes. Pretty scary to say the least. There was about fifty bikes lined up behind it. So was the sherriff!

 

[skuuter]

OK, we were up there this past weekend....the Wreck I first posted here only involved one lone Trike, and one Rider. I was informed that He is gonna' eventually be OK, and is due to go Home this week. His Trike did hit the rock wall below the Dam close to Tapoco Lodge.....

 

[Nana]

Happy to hear he made it and will be ok!!!!!

 

[Papa Zook]

I thought that other trike wreck reminded me of one I had seen last year or before. Very glad to know the guy is going to be ok. Thanks for the update skuuter.