Is motorcycle riding for you?

Via MattarMedia - The motorcycles are back on the road and you find yourself envious of the inherent freedom that biking symbolizes. But before you seriously think about purchasing a motorcycle, is it right for you?

Take this self-assessment, courtesy of The Motorcycle Safety Foundation,  to see if you should even consider getting a bike:

1. Are you a higher risk-taker than others you know? If you tend to need a thrill while driving a car and have aggressive or risky tendencies, motorcycling may not be for you.

2. Can you ride a bicycle? This is generally a good gauge of your ability to maneuver a motorcycle. Bicycling, like motorcycling, is a physical activity that involves balance and coordination.

3. Can you drive a stick-shift car? This is not a requirement, but it may make learning to ride easier because almost all motorcycles have manual transmissions.

4. Do you see well? Riding a motorcycle requires special perceptual skills that rely on good vision. The ability to see well ahead is important for safe riding.

5. Are you safety-minded? Riders can control their situation only if safety is a high priority. Millions of motorcyclists ride millions of miles without incident, and they likely take safety seriously.

6. Can you focus? Inattention is a major cause of crashes. Safe motorcycling requires dedicated attention to the immediate task and a keen awareness of everything going on 360 degrees around you.

7. Can you react quickly in an emergency? On a motorcycle, having quick reaction skills is essential because other drivers tend not to see motorcyclists in traffic, especially around intersections.

8. Are you willing to invest some time in learning to ride the right way before hopping on a bike? Your best “first ride” is a Basic Rider Course where you can familiarize yourself with the safe operation of a motorcycle.

Riding a motorcycle can be a lot of fun, but also comes with some serious risks.  Please ride carefully. 

Why older motorcyclists should be careful

Via MattarMedia - Riding a motorcycle can be risky business. Now, a new study shows that older motorcyclists are at an even greater risk.

As reported by YNN:

Motorcycle riders across the country are growing older, and the impact of this trend is being seen in emergency rooms daily. That’s according to a recent study published in the March issue of the American Surgeon. Doctors are finding that these aging road warriors are more likely to be injured or die compared to their younger counterparts.

Despite the warnings, riders themselves say it’s worth the risk. In only ten years on her bike, Grace Rizzo has become a pro, but even the most experienced rider can run into trouble. That's just what happened to Grace two years ago during a trip through the Smokey Mountains in Georgia.

"And I slipped on some gravel and went down and the bike landed on top of me," said Rizzo. By the time help arrived, the heat from the motorcycle burned through her leg right down to the bone. "The accident was almost three years ago it took almost two years for me to be actually being walking again," Rizzo said.

According to a national study, Grace's story is all too common among older riders. "It tells us that people getting injured on motorcycles appear to be getting older. It's possibly a result of the 'Baby Boomer Generation' continuing on with their motorcycle activity," said Dr. Mark Gestring Assistant Professor of Surgery and Emergency Medicine at the University of Rochester.

Gestring co-authored the study that tracked more than 61,000 motorcyclists over a ten year period. Between 1996 and 2005, researchers found the average age of motorcyclists involved in crashes increased from approximately 34 to 39 years, and the proportion of injured riders above the age of 40 increased from around 28 percent to close to 50 percent.

For riders above the age of 40, injury severity, length of stay in the hospital or intensive care unit, and mortality were higher compared to riders below the age of 40. The risk of dying was one-and-a-half to two times more likely in riders over 40, based on the severity of the original injury. The study also found that older riders are more likely to die from less severe injuries than younger riders.

Even before her accident, Rizzo knew how dangerous riding could be. As a nurse in an intensive care unit she tells her patients to take precautions. As a lover of the open road she has a different message.

"Keep riding. Enjoy life. You never know. Just be careful," Rizzo added.

Check back this week for some safety tips and more information about motorcycling. Please remember to ride safe!

Before you get on your bike, are you prepared?

Via MattarMedia - If you have been following our series this week on bicycle safety, then you are ready for the next lesson!  Let's review.  You have the right helmet and you know how to wear it (if not, please read Tuesday's blog post).

So, what comes next?  You need to make sure your bike is ready for riding.  Here is a basic checklist to get you started.

• Is your bike adjusted to fit you properly?
• Are your wheels straight and secure?
• Do the handlebars turn easily?
• Have you tested the brakes?
• Are your tires fully inflated?
• Do you have reflectors on the front, rear, spokes and pedals?

Regardless how much bike riding you do each year, it is a good idea to take your bike into a shop each spring for a general tune-up which will address most of these problems.  A worn tire or brake-shoe pad left unattended can end in serious injury.  The staff at the bike shop are specially trained to inspect bikes and may spy a hazard that you are unaware of.

Now your bike is properly outfitted, but are you?  When dressing for a bike ride, always choose clothes that are brightly colored so that you will be easily seen by motorists.  Consider the time of day when selecting your outfit.  It may be mid-day when you leave for your excursion, but what time do you plan on returning?  If you take a long trip or make stops, it may be dark by the time you get home.  Plan for that by bringing a reflective vest and having your bike installed with the appropriate night-time gear (i.e. headlight and taillight).

Guess what?  You are almost ready to ride your bike.  Check back tomorrow to learn some good Rules of the Road.

Cop Car Flipped After Chase Involving Alleged Drugged Driver

Via MattarMedia - In Warren County, a sheriff's deputy escapes serious injury after his vehicle flips over after a chase with an alleged drugged driver. Tonight, that driver faces multiple charges including felony DWAI. Police say you should be just as concerned about drugged drivers as drunk drivers out on the road.

The windshield and headlight are smashed, the roof is dented after a Warren County Sheriff's vehicle flipped after a chase with an alleged drugged driver. Police say 38-year-old Brett Johnson had been drinking and smoking pot and led them on that chase. Police say lately, they have seen an increase in drugged drivers. Warren County Sheriff Bud York says, "we are seeing more prescription pills. A lot of people borrowing, stealing them and taking them and driving."

Another driver was allegedly under the influence of drugs and charged with DWAI in a Colonie crash just last weekend. That crash was fatal, killing another driver. Lynda Rose, the Clinical Supervisor for Outpatient Treatment at the Addiction Care Center of Albany says, "its a misfortune to the community that they are out there and that's why we are here."

At the Addiction Care Center of Albany, they're seeing a larger number of drug addicted patients. They say a drugged driver is just as dangerous as a drunk driver.
Rose says, "could be heightened awareness, lowered awareness, going into a seizure, convulsion. Depends on what they are on and how they are taking it and how often."

Johnson faces multiple charges in both Glens Falls where the chase began at a traffic stop, and with the Warren County Sheriff's Department. Those charges include Felony DWAI, resisting arrest, Reckless Endangerment, and unlawfully fleeing a police officer. Police say this isn't Johnson's first offense, but think it should be the last time he is behind the wheel.

Sheriff York says, "its a privilege to drive not a right. And if you're going to drink or do drugs and drive, you could hurt someone. You shouldn't be driving."

Toyota Prius Crash in Westchester

Via MattarMedia and MYFOXNY.COM - A woman crashed her Toyota Prius into a stone wall in Westchester County Tuesday morning, police said. Investigators said the 2005 Prius hit the heavy stone wall in Harrison that it also barreled right through.

Police said it all began when the 56-year-old woman was coming out of a winding driveway and then lost control. The driver told cops that the car suddenly accelerated and would not stop even though she slammed on the brakes. She was hurt, but luckily her injuries were not life-threatening.

Right now, there is no way to know for sure what went wrong. That will be up to federal agencies. Although this particular car was part of Toyota's floor mat recall, detectives said the floor mat had nothing to do with this case.

Toyota issued a statement about the crash: "Toyota is committed to investigating reports of sudden acceleration involving our vehicles. It's not appropriate for us to comment on specific reports whose causes are under investigation or have not been verified."

Police Say Failure to Yield Caused Crash

Via MattarMedia - Four people were taken to the hospital after a crash Sunday morning.

It happened just after 10 am at the intersection of Mt. Hope Avenue and Raleigh Street.

Rochester Police say a female driver didn't yield to traffic as she was making a left turn onto Raleigh. Her vehicle collided with another car heading northbound on Mt. Hope. There were initial reports to 911 of people trapped in the vehicles, but when rescue crews arrived they found there were no trapped victims.

Police say four people were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital as a precaution, but we are told there were no apparent injuries to anyone involved in the crash.

The female driver was ticked for failure to yield to the right-of-way traffic.

Woman thrown from SUV following rollover crash

Via MattarMedia LaFayette (WSYR-TV) – State Police say a Syracuse University student was seriously injured Tuesday morning when she rolled her SUV over and was ejected from the vehicle.

The driver, 21-year-old Rachel Pigott from Utah, got caught up in the snow along the side of the road, lost control of her SUV and rolled over several times.

The crash happened around 8:45am on Lafayette Road, near Reidy Hill Road, in the Town of LaFayette.

Investigators say Pigott was driving too fast for the conditions. She was listed in serious condition at University Hospital.

State Police say she was very lucky since she did not hit her head on the pavement when she was thrown from the SUV.

Police did not immediately issue any tickets.

Man Airlifted After Snowmobile Accident

Via MattarMedia - A Wayne County man was airlifted to the hospital after he lost control of his snowmobile Sunday evening.

The accident happened near Ridge Road in the town of Williamson. Sheriff's deputies say 20-year old Mason Wilson of Ontario was on a trail when he lost control and hit the handlebars.

He was taken by Mercy Flight to Strong Hospital for treatment. There was no word on the severity of his injuries.

Female Driver Seriously Injured in Three-Car Crash

Via MattarMedia - A female driver suffered serious head and internal injuries Wednesday morning after a three-car crash on Scottsville Road.

The collision happened around 7:30 a.m. Sheriff's deputies said Janelle Varin, 23, was traveling northbound, when witnesses said she entered the southbound lane colliding with a box truck.

The impact forced her vehicle into the opposite lane, where she was then hit by an SUV. The driver of the box truck left the scene; police are searching for that vehicle.

Varin is being treated at Strong Hospital, where she is listed in guarded condition.

The driver of the blue SUV was also taken to the hospital to be evaluated. A third driver also involved in the crash was not injured.

Scottsville Road was shut down for some time while sheriff's investigators reconstructed the accident.

Utica man in serious condition after snowmobile-truck accident

Via MattarMedia MARCY, N.Y. - A Utica man is in serious condition after police say his snowmobile crossed into the lane of an oncoming truck on Barnes Avenue late Friday night.

New York State Police say that 21-year-old Shane Young was traveling south in the northbound lane of Barnes Avenue in the Town of Marcy.

According to authorities, Young was unable to make a turn and crossed in front of a truck being driven by 21-year-old Jonathon Hare.

Young's snowmobile was hit by the truck. Young was sent to St. Elizabeth Medical Center after sustaining injuries to his back, neck and leg injuries.

A spokesperson for the hospital says Young is listed in serious condition.

An investigation into the accident is continuing.

Ontario County accident sends 2 women to hospital

Via MattarMedia - Ontario County Sheriffs are saying speeding and snowy roads may have caused a two-car accident that has sent two women to the hospital. It happened around 11:15 p.m. on Monday.

Sophia Lutzen, of Clifton Springs, lost control of her car on Route 96 in Phelps. She spun into the left lane and hit a car driven by Betty Steele of Waterloo.

Lutzen was taken to Strong Memorial hospital and is listed in stable condition. Steel was taken to Clifton Springs Hospital with broken ankle.

Serious accident in East Bloomfield

Via MattarMedia - A serious accident on Route 5 and 20 in East Bloomfield has left one man in the hospital.

Richard Testa of East Bloomfield is in guarded condition tonight at Strong Hospital.

Ontario County Sheriff's Officials say he rear-ended a car that was stopped to make a left-hand turn.

The teens in that car are ok.

Testa was taken by mercy flight to strong with a broken sternum.

Bus Rollover On NYS Thruway

Via MattarMedia Clarence, NY (WKBW) - Several people are hurt, some seriously, after a bus flips on its side on the New York State Thruway.

This rollover accident happened on the 90 West near Clarence, NY. 15 people were on the "Mega Bus" when it flipped. It is not clear where the bus was headed or coming from at this time.

The Eyewitness News photographer on the scene saw at least one person taken by stretcher to an ambulance. Others were taken to firetrucks that arrived on the scene to be checked out and kept out of the cold.

A triage was set up with the County coordinator on the scene. Eyewitness News will be following this story throughout the morning.

2 taken to hospital after serious car crash in Penfield

Via MattarMedia - Monroe County Sheriff's deputies are investigating a serious car crash in Penfield.

Crews responded Sunday morning to Empire Boulevard near the southern tip of Irondequoit Bay.

Investigators say Nicholas Kerbs was driving the car and t-boned a pickup truck pulling out of a business. There are reports Kerbs was speeding.

Kerbs was not wearing his seatbelt and is listed in guarded condition at Rochester General Hospital. The driver of the pickup truck was also taken to RGH. We're still waiting on his name and condition.

Lee accident sends 2 to hospital

Via MattarMedia - LEE, N.Y. (WKTV) - Two drivers are sent to the hospital after a crash in the town of Lee.

Authorities say Patrick Tebo was driving on Route 69 Wednesday night and went to make a left turn into a store parking lot. They say he was hit from behind by Edward Snow.

Emergency crews rushed both to area hospitals with minor injuries. Firefighters had to close the road for two hours to clean up the scene.

The investigation into the accident is continuing.

Canastota woman seriously injured in Kirkland accident

Via MattarMedia KIRKLAND - One woman was seriously injured and another received minor injuries Monday after a four-car accident at the intersection of Route 12B and Roberts Road, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office said.

19-year-old Elizabeth Quell of Canastota suffered multiple life-threatening injuries after her vehicle was struck by two others during the accident, deputies said.

State police and sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene at about 5:30 p.m. and found Quell trapped inside her vehicle, which had come to rest in a ditch along the west side of the road.

The other vehicles involved in the accident included a Subaru and an SUV, which remained in the roadway after 6 p.m.

Broken glass and other debris from the accident filled the roadway around them.

Quell remained trapped for more than 40 minutes while emergency personnel from the Clinton Fire Department used hydraulic equipment to extricate her. She later was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica and then to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, deputies said.

Another driver involved in the accident, 33-year-old Angela Eastman of Deansboro, also was taken to St. Elizabeth with non-life threatening injuries. Passengers in the other vehicles were not injured, deputies said.

Deputies said the accident occurred when Quell’s vehicle was struck from behind by a second vehicle drive by 34-year-old James Brubaker of Waterville.

Quell had been stopped in the northbound lane of Route 12B at the time, but the force of the collision pushed Quell’s vehicle into the oncoming lane where it was struck broadside by Eastman’s vehicle. That vehicle then was struck from behind by a fourth vehicle driven by 38-year-old Timothy Jordan of West Edmeston, deputies said.

The accident remains under investigation, but Brubaker was issued a summons for following to closely, deputies said.

Members of the Sheriff’s Office’s criminal investigation, forensic and accident reconstruction units assisted at the scene, as did the state Department of Transportation.

Officers used spotlights from a Clinton Fire Department vehicle to illuminate the scene as the sun set at about 6:30 p.m. Deputies could be seen inspecting the vehicles with flashlights and photographing the scene. Two men who appeared to have been involved in the crash were talking to officers nearby.

Route 12B was closed in both directions for several hours as a result of the accident.

5 injured in crash; car then strikes building

Via MattarMedia UTICA - Five people were injured in a collision late Thursday night at the intersection of Eagle Street and Conkling Avenue, Utica police at the scene said.

Police said a vehicle with four people in it was headed west on Eagle Street at about 10:30 p.m. when it drove past a red light and struck a southbound vehicle on Conkling Avenue driven by a elderly man.

None of their identities was immediately available, nor was the extent of their injuries.

The car traveling on Eagle Street ended up crashing into a building at the southwest corner of the intersection. One person from that vehicle had to be extricated by Utica firefighters.

Utica Fire Department ambulances were assisted by Kunkel and Edwards.

Most of the victims were transported to St. Elizabeth Medical Center; at least one was taken to St. Luke's Healthcare, St. Luke's campus.

Accident involving school bus in Gates

Via MattarMedia - Three people are injured in accident, involving a school bus.

Three people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, after their car hit a school bus on Spencerport Road at Rita Drive in Gates. It happened around 3:30 p.m. this afternoon.

There were no kids on board the bus. Police say the car tried to avoid another stopped car by swerving, right into the path of the Spencerport school bus.

The bus swerved but couldn't avoid hitting the car.

Man dragged by bus sues CTA

Via MattarMedia - A man is suing the CTA after his right leg was caught in a bus door and he was dragged down the street.

According to the complaint, on December 16, 2008, Paul Doucette was trying to catch the number 1030 bus on Madison and Wacker when he placed his right leg on the bus and the doors then closed. The complaint states that "Plaintiff's right leg was on the bus, and the rest of plaintiff's body, including his entire left leg, was outside the bus."

Despite Doucette's shouting and banging on the door, the bus moved forward and Doucette was forced to hop with his left leg until he lost his balance and was dragged for several feet. The complaint further states that Doucette feared for his life as the bus approached the Madison Avenue bridge where he would have been crushed and killed.

Four teens hurt in Lysander crash; one in critical condition

Via MattarMedia Lysander (WSYR-TV) – Firefighters at the scene of a Wednesday afternoon rollover car crash in Lysander say all four people inside the car were teenagers.

The crash took place shortly after 4:00 p.m. along River Road between Route 31 and Melvin Drive South. One passenger had to be cut out of the car and was taken to University Hospital in critical condition.

The driver and two others were taken to Crouse Hospital with minor injuries.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.