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[M3S90]

My bud Zig was killed because of a moron. The driver was charged with improper lane change. I have cut and pasted all of the local news reports in order.

Driver charged in fatal motorcycle wreck

By Christopher Brooke, Reporter
Sunday, August 28, 2011 at 4:43 PM
 
 
HILLSVILLE — Investigators have found that an Aug. 17 Interstate 77 accident, which resulted in the death of a 53-year-old Portsmouth motorcyclist, arose from his 2009 Yamaha being in a blind spot.
Robert Terrell Hensley had been traveling north near the 2 mile marker in the center lane when a white van driven by Joe Cook moved to the right due to mechanical problems, according to a Virginia State Police report. That caused the motorcycle to strike an International tractor-trailer being operated by a Mario Garcia.
Investigating Trooper J.D. Delp said he consulted with Greg Goad, Carroll commonwealth’s attorney, and both agreed the incident resulted from the motorcycle being in the van’s blind spot.
Delp charged Cook with improper lane change.
 
 
Charges pending in I-77 motorcycle fatality
By Christopher Brooke, Reporter
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 1:29 PM
LAMBSBURG — Charges are pending in the Aug. 17 van-vs.-motorcycle crash on Interstate 77 that left a 53-year-old Portsmouth man dead.
Virginia State Police Trooper John Delp reported that victim Robert Terrell Hensely was northbound near I-77’s 1.8 mile marker in the center lane when the incident occurred. That’s when a 1998 Chrysler van, operated by Joe Cook of Woodlawn, changed lanes from the left to the center, the report said. That caused the motorcycle to strike an International tractor-trailer being operated by a Mario Garcia.
That collision resulted in Hensley’s death.
Cook later came forward to the Virginia State Police office and made a statement to the trooper. It is believed that the motorcycle was in the van’s blind spot at the time of the accident.
Delp said there was a paint mark on the van that appeared to show a collision with the motorcycle.

 
Motorcyclist dies in Interstate 77 accident
The accident occurred at about 1:30 p.m.
By Christopher Brooke, Reporter
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 2:14 PM (Updated: August 17, 7:02 PM)
Update 8:01 p.m.:  The Virginia State Police have identified a motorcyclist killed in the Wednesday accident on Interstate 77 as Robert T. Hensley, 53, of Portsmouth.

 
An investigation by Trooper John Delp found that the north bound lanes of the interstate were congested near the state line at about 1:30 p.m.
At the time, where three lanes head north bound in Lambsburg, a tractor-trailer used the right one, the motorcycle was in the middle and a white van was in the left lane, Delp said. The driver of the white van noticed there was a mechanical issue with his vehicle. The van felt like it was losing power, and that driver tried to move to the right in case of a complete breakdown, the trooper said. The van driver moved right.
The motorcycle may have been in the van's blind spot when the accident happened, Delp said. It's not clear exactly when and why Wednesday that Hensley lost control of his motorcycle. The accident may have arisen from contact between the van and the motorcycle or Hensley trying to avoid an accident. But Hensley's motorcycle went right, striking the tractor-trailer there near the front fender on its left side, the trooper said. Then the tractor-trailer ran over the motorcyclist. The trooper plans to consult with the Carroll commonwealth's attorney before placing any charges.

 

LAMBSBURG — Virginia State Police are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash north of Interstate 77's Exit 1 Wednesday.

The only information immediately available after the crash about the driver is that he was from Portsmouth, Va. His name was being withheld pending notification of family. "From what we can tell he was coming up the road and for whatever reason he lost control and hit the side of a tractor-trailer," said First Sgt. Mike Musser. Troopers will try and determine what caused the motorcycle to go out of control. The accident happened around 1:30 p.m. In the north bound lanes of the interstate.

[sadunbar]

Very sorry for the loss of your friend...  God Bless..

[dayne66]

You have my condolences......it's a reminder to not ride in blind spots AND not be 'static' in traffic.

[darth davidson]

Sorry for your loss. Improper lane change? He should be in jail, at least revoke his driving privileges. People believe we, motorcyclist are expendable cause they is no real punishment if anyone kills us on the road.

[GregKhougaz]

Condolences.   Sorry for your loss and prayers for Mr. Hensley, his family and friends. 

[Chains]

Sorry for the loss of your friend, prayers for all that knew him.

[M3S90]

Sorry for your loss. Improper lane change? He should be in jail, at least revoke his driving privileges. People believe we, motorcyclist are expendable cause they is no real punishment if anyone kills us on the road.

Improper lane change.......Kind of pissed me off also.

[erniezap]

I'm sorry for your loss

[Buy early]

Condolences to you and the family for your loss! Think about this all the time while riding, especially on multilane freeways. It just takes a second. Had a semi come charging into my lane while on vacation. He was moving over because of traffic on the shoulder but either didn't see me or didn't look. I could see his mirror so I know I wasn't invisible. Just such tragic results!

[JCZ]

You have my condolences......it's a reminder to not ride in blind spots AND not be 'static' in traffic.

X 2.

[Midnight Rider]

Very sorry to hear this...my condolences.

This kind of thing concerns me as much or more than intersections.  I've always heard that if you can't see the driver's face in the side mirror, they can't see you.  I try to stay in a position where I'm not right next to anyone, but sometimes it's unavoidable.

[Craigisdad]

Zig.   R.I.P.   Ride in peace.   So sorry.

[Twolanerider]

I try to stay in a position where I'm not right next to anyone, but sometimes it's unavoidable.

I also don't waste any time going around a truck.  Not only is the turbulence annoying but there are just too many things that can happen there.  Whether it be dropping a chain or losing a cap or the driver just not being able to see you.  Even on the highway with the cruise control on and clear air I speed up to get around a rig.  Less time there the better for him and for me.

[1sharprdkg]

Very sad news. I am sorry for your loss of your buddy. 

[North Georgia Hawg]

My condolences. Really sad to read about something like this. I got cut off in a similar fashion like this last year when an idiot in a Tahoe cut in front of me from the right lane and across my lane. I had been overtaking him coming up on the left, and was about 2-3 behind him, perhaps in his blind spot,  when he suddenly and without signaling cut right into and across my lane to make a left turn. Only my very fast instinctive   reaction from many years of riding  saved me that day... but if I had been another two feet closer to him I would have gone down hard. Things  happen SO fast out on the road. I got lucky... your friend didn't... and that is very, very sad. My heart bleeds for you, and for his loved ones...