Helmets When a helmet would not have saved

Joined
Dec 9, 2004
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Location
illinois
this "event" recently published in peoria journal star...too many just wrong decisions in this fellows personal choices...i have been on leisurely weekend circuits on st & been passed by the "packs" who are hell bent on passing everything on roads, even blind uphills just to get to that little tavern in small town & to "pose" in the "pack" group: "take a picture of us" mode...before going into dark recesses past tavern door to imbibe quantities...hey, i like dark recesses past tavern doors, too!,...just not while driving or riding...i guess another data point for darwin & selecting the gene pool...:03biker: :pint
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Coroner's jury: Alcohol contributed in biker's death

MACOMB - A Bushnell man killed during a May motorcycle accident was likely traveling more than 100 mph and had a blood-alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit, officials said Wednesday.

A McDonough county coroner's jury ruled Wednesday night that the May 13 death of Jeremiah Johnson, 28, was accidental with alcohol as a contributing factor.

His blood-alcohol level was .209 percent. The legal limit for driving in Illinois is .08 percent.

Johnson was pronounced dead at 1:44 a.m. by McDonough County Coroner Larry Jameson. He was driving his motorcycle home from an Avon tavern on Illinois Route 41 near McDonough County Road 2000 North when he missed a curve in the roadway.

According to inquest testimony, Johnson had been drinking and playing pool at Rick's Place in Avon before the accident.

McDonough County Sheriff's Sgt. Steve Holt said Johnson's body was discovered in a cornfield by his wife and two other women.

Holt said Johnson's motorcycle struck a telephone pole connected to a billboard. His body was found about 330 feet from the pole.

Jameson said Johnson suffered numerous fractures. He was not wearing a helmet.
 
Very sorry that someone had to die but to be honest.. ATGATT doesn't cure stupid.

My real dad nearly killed a family driving back roads in south texas because his license was revoked from DUIs. He suffered brain damage but the family was okay, minor injuries... this happened when I was still in jr high. He died a couple years later as he had some other health issues.

So, as you can see, my 'view' on drunk drivers whether in cars or on bikes or whatever, hits home in a way I wish it hadn't.. it's probably the only real lesson my real father ever taught me, but it's a good one. I will drink, but I won't drive anything afterwards, I don't even have a beer with dinner unless I know I'm going to be there for a couple hours, at least.

My mom remarried since and neither of them drink at all.
 
not sure how much sympathy i have for the ol' boy. i'm with joe... ATGATT doesn't cure stupid.
 
Joe, I know what you mean about your dad. My dad was a drinker and luckily he never hit anyone else or got seriously injured while drinking and driving. He totaled a few cars while I was growing up and taught me a valuable life lesson.

Regardless of your feelings about drinking and driving, every time someone injures or kills an innocent victim, both families suffer. This guy probably had a family who will miss him tremendously.
 
I have a sister thats been in a nursing home 23+ years cause she was t-boned by a repeat DUI (convicted 3 times) in Florida. He's probably still driving. Her nursing career was cut short and her quality of live is nill.

I don't drink and drive, nor condone it. I wish they were more strick.

Later
 
+1 On Dennis' comment that he had family that are left to pay for his poor judgment. My prayers go out to them. I am thankful that it was a single vehicle accident and his poor choice did not impact on some innocent driver.

I also agree that ATGATT is not a suit of armor or proof against crash injury. Let's face it, the damage mostly avoided by wearing the safety gear is initial contact with the road and abrasion injury. ATGATT will not save you from high impact damage or crushing force. That is the price we pay for the freedom we derive from our chosen form of transportation.
 
Hmm... I feel bad for the people that man left behind, but that was no accident. An accident is an unforeseen and unplanned event. The likely result of riding a motorcycle with that much alcohol in your system is pretty obvious.
 
It's a shame the guy didn't have anymore thought for his family, as it was not a accident, he made a choice to drink and then DIE ! How many beers are ok to have and still drive home ? If you only have one instead of 6 after a long tiring ride is it ok ? It was a accident is to easily used as a excuse for irresponsible behavior, as in drinking and driving at all, talking on the phone and causing a accident, among many other things we do by choice and when it goes bad we call it a accident. I wonder how the dead or injured feel and there familys feel after my choices do harm ! Stupid is something we all do everyday when we make bad choices and decisions, luckily most don't cause harm or damage to ourselves or others . I guess you know how I feel about drinking and driving.
I really feel for his wife and the other women who found him.
 
To be at .209 and still be functioning this person had a loooooooooong history of alcohol abuse. It would seem that this guy left his judgement at home years ago and was in complete denial about what was happening to himself.

A few years ago an old couple flipped an RV off an overpass onto a busy freeway below. Luckily, no innocent people on the freeway were killed, but the couple in the RV died. The coroner found a blood alcohol level of over .27in the driver. The police bascially said that the driver would have to have had years and years of daily alcohol abuse to get his body support that high a level.
 
Motorcycles and bars/taverns just don't mix. Unfortunately, the biker culture and alcohol have always been inter-twined. We see it all the time. Bike nights are usually sponsored by a bar/tavern on ladies night or something along those lines. We all know the outcome when alcohol is involved...
Personally, I ride to eat!
 
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At least he killed himself. Most drunk drivers end up killing someone husband, wife, or mother.

It's a tragedy all around.
 
The picture says it all...

(Taken in 2002 outside a coffee shop on 4th Avenue in Seattle, across from the site where the new library was being built.)

--Mark
 

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I'd like to know why the idiots that were probably with him said nothing when he jumped on his bike :rolleyes: I know I've PO'ed a few friends in the past who had a few to many and I wouldn't let them go home, or I drove them home... rather have a PO'ed alive friend than one that isn't PO'ed and alive :(
 
While it was probably just a matter of time for this guy, what flashed through my mind was the same question Rob asked. Where were this guy's friends? Or even the bartender. He's lucky he's not getting his tush sued!!

John
 
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