Brandon Howard was sentenced to three years in prison from a vehicular homicide conviction in April.
Howard killed Charles Coggin, 47, of Colorado Springs, and Jacqueline Hansen, 47, of Arvada, who were on a motorcycle.
The accident took place in December of 2008 on S. Academy in between I-25 and Highway 85.
At the time of the accident, Howard was also charged with participating in a speed contest, or road race.
Stanislav Garnov crashed his motorcycle on Dam Road in Cherry Creek on early Wednesday morning.
According to 9NEWS.com:
"Garnov was wearing a helmet and investigators say alcohol or drugs are suspected as contributing factors."
I really had no intentions of keeping up with motorcycle accidents when I started this blog up a few months ago, but the more I hear about them on the news the more aware I become when I'm riding.
Nate Taylor, a Crime and Courts Reporter at the Coloradoan.com, wrote an interesting article in relation to the noticeable increase in motorcycle deaths in Fort Collins this year.
I'm not sure if Taylor rides himself, if he has noticed the increase in deaths this year, or if he was prompted by the recent tragic Friday we had a few weeks ago, but I hope other riders in the community are paying attention too.
I've noticed in almost all the deaths (with the exception of Elizabeth Majors who was hit by a drunk driver) the rider is either not wearing a helmet or alcohol/drugs are suspected as contributing factors.
I'm not going to get on my soapbox for either one of these, we are free to make our own decisions.
I ask that everyone pay attention while driving and watch out for each other. I especially urge riders to assume the worst at intersections and traffic lights (check your mirrors for the car stopping behind you).
I'm not trying to take the fun out of it by being paranoid, I think a much better word is alert. I ride for many reasons and I'm happy even when I'm riding in the rain, but I'm constantly evaluating what I'm approaching, whether it be the condition of the road, the car that just pulled up to the stop sign ahead of me, or the truck behind me.
I feel like some riders just hop on their bikes and space out during the enjoyment.
It's time to wake up.
All three bodies from two motorcycle accidents on Friday have been identified by the Larimer County Coroner's Office.
The man who collided with a van at the intersection of Harmony Road and Snow Mesa Drive was identified as Douglas DeRaadt, 53, of Fort Collins.
According to The.Coloradoan.com,
"Police say DeRaadt was going through the intersection as the light changed and collided with the minivan, which was driven by 83-year-old Fort Collins resident Robert Wakefield."
The two bodies discovered Friday afternoon near Hughes Stadium were identified earlier this week as Sara Smith, 28, and Matthew Northrup, 25, both of Fort Collins.
All three were pronounced dead at the scene, and all three were determined to have a death from multiple blunt force trauma injuries.
Fort Collins Police were called to the scene of a fatal motorcycle accident at 1:20 p.m. Friday.
A van being driven by a Fort Collins resident made a left turn in front of a motorcyclist at the intersection of Harmony Road and Snow Mesa Drive. The speed limit on that part of Harmony is 55 m.p.h., but witnesses say the motorcyclist was traveling closer to 75 m.p.h.
It is not known whether the van had a green arrow and the right of way, or if they just simply did not see the motorcyclist and made the turn.
Larimer County Sheriff's Deputy Shane Clymer discovered a wrecked motorcycle and the bodies of a male and a female on Larimer County Road 42C at 2:15 p.m. on Friday.
Larimer County Road 42C is located right next to Hughes Stadium and then makes a sharp curve up near Horsetooth Reservoir.
The bodies and wreckage were found near the side of the road where it makes the sharp curve.
The accident is believed to have happened late Thursday night or early Friday morning.
According to The Coloradoan,
"Colorado State Patrol troopers and paramedics also responded to a third crash involving a motorcycle Friday afternoon, CSP spokesman Gilbert Mares said.
He said that the crash happened on Colorado Highway 14 in the Poudre Canyon just west of Rustic and that the motorcyclist suffered moderate injuries.
According to scanner traffic, paramedics reported the motorcyclist in the Highway 14 crash was conscious but unable to move his legs."
No names have been released for any of the crashes.
NYPUM Photo Provided by Marie Villescas
(Click image for larger view)
National Youth Project Using Minibikes is a volunteer program that uses minibikes as an incentive for teens in need of some sort of mentor program.
Some of this post is a bit of a repeat from a previous NYPUM post. I just wanted to bump it to the top because they have an upcoming charity event.
I randomly parked next to Marie Villescas, the local Program Coordinator, at the Realities for Children Poker Run and she and Jeff Hoover of Tri-City Cycles approached me to promote the Wild One's Poker Run.
As Marie described NYPUM to me, I was amazed by the uniqueness of the program and how fun it sounds.
A general description of NYPUM, found on their pamphlet:
"NYPUM is an experiential therapy program for youth ages 10 to 16. The youth are taught to ride dirt bikes by staff that have been fully trained and certified by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Once the youth have completed the structured riding lessons, the family develops three concrete goals for the youth to work on each week in order to earn riding time.
NYPUM works to promote good citizenship through community service projects. These volunteer service projects provide additional value for participants by reinforcing the importance of environmental sensitivity and stewardship, which is a core component of the NYPUM experience."
NYPUM Photo Provided by Marie Villescas
(Click image for larger view)
Due to state budget cuts from the economic recession, NYPUM is trying to find ways to make up for lost money. They need funds to go towards basic bike maintenance, gas and equipment (riders are given helmets and protective gear).
In order to raise funds, NYPUM will host the first annual Wild One's Poker Run on Saturday, July 11.
The poker run has sponsors from Tri-City Cycles, Realities for Children and The Hideout Patio Bar & Grill.
NYPUM Photo Provided by Marie Villescas
(Click image for larger view)
The best hand from the poker run wins $400 cash and the second best hand wins $300 cash and a $500 credit towards a purchase of a Tri-City motorcycle.
There is a suggested donation of $15 to participate in the poker run, which is very affordable.
Registration for the poker run opens at 9 a.m. at Tri-City Cycles in Loveland and the prizes, raffles, and auctions take place at the Hideout at 4 p.m.
To find out more information about NYPUM, contact Marie Villescas at 970-980-2254.
To make a referral for NYPUM, call The Hub at 970-498-6990.
NYPUM Photo Provided by Marie Villescas
(Click image for larger view)
From a previous post, listen to an interview with Marie Villescas.
The Colorado Motomarathon has concluded its four day ride. The winner of the marathon is Paul DiMarchi of Boulder, one of the organizers.
DiMarchi made all 13 checkpoints in 51 hours on his BMW RT.
The routes set out for the riders on a daily basis were not easy. The average was 400 miles per day, but these aren't highway miles, they are over passes and on tough twisties. The rides are tiring on the body and the mind.
The results of the motomarathon can be found on the Motomarathon Association Website.
Also, for some really good coverage of the event, Ken Bingenheimer (Passes and Canyons Blog) did a great job on the Examiner.com
Donald E. Harms, 45, of Parker, died today after being thrown from his motorcycle. According to TheDenverPost.com:
"Harms died at Littleton Hospital. He was not wearing a helmet when he collided with the passenger's side of a white Chevy Malibu driven by Robert E. Spaulding, 75, of Plainview, Texas."
The accident happened on South Chambers Road and East Ontero Avenue.
According to Trooper David Hall of the Colorado State Patrol, Spaulding was charged with careless driving causing death
1998 Honda ST1100. The same motorcycle ridden by Harms.
There has been a lot of motorcycle related deaths in Colorado over the last week. Perhaps it can be used as an eye-opener for riders to touch up on their motorcycle safety.
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