Motorcycle Rallies and Events

Separate wrecks claim two NC bikers lives

March 27th, 2007

Today the Eden Daily News in Eden, NC reported on the deaths of two bikers, both from the local area, due to separate motorcycle wrecks.

On Sunday, 3/25, Samuel Benton Fulcher, 41, of Mayodan, wrecked on Va. Route 8 about four miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. He had been riding with a small group when a large bird flew out in front of him. As he tried to evade the bird, he lost control, swirved, hit a road sign, and his Harley Davidson motorcycle fell 70 feet to the bottom of the ridge.

On Monday, 3/26, Herman Junior McClary, 62, of Stoneville died Monday when a car pulled in front of him on N.C. 770. The driver of the car was a 72 year old lady, Dorothy Caudill Hand. When she failed to yield for a stop sign, Mr. McClary attempted to miss her, but was thrown from his Harley Davidson into the path of Ms. Hand, and the Hand Buick struck Mr. McClary.

The freedom we as bikers feel (the wind in our faces, open to the elements, just the general pleasure we get from riding) has a price. We are not surrounded with the protective metal frame provided by automobiles. Truly, that is one of the biggest pleasures I get from riding motorcycle. But the protection provided by your motorcycle is sadly lacking. A bird flying out in front of you can be quite painful if it hits you (Trust me, I have had it happen several times), but evading the blow, such as Mr. Fulcher tried to do, can have even worse consequences. I can only recommend that proper attire, such as a leather jacket, be worn to help spare some of the pain if you are Kamikazied by some forlorn bird. Any evasive maneuvers should remain under your control. Keeping both wheels on the ground, even at the cost of a bruise on your chest, will help ensure you can enjoy the freedom in the days to come.

Discussion of Mr. McClary’s tragic wreck is a little more personal. I already posted on my Brother-in-law’s motorcycle wreck for other reasons. But it is a hard fact that cagers do not typically pay attention to, nor yield right of way to bikers. I always treat each oncoming cager, each cager that is at a stop sign, each cager that is in the lane next to me, as someone who will try their darndest to run me over or off the road, and as such I always try to envision escape routes. Then, if the worst does start to happen, hopefully my instincts will take over and use one of the preconceived escape routes, thereby at least minimizing my potential injuries. And escape route may not mean completely avoid the wreck. It may mean a ‘controlled’ laydown of my motorcycle, so I can use the motorcycle to somewhat cushion the impact, and also to avoid being tossed over or under the oncoming cager.

My heart goes out to the two bikers who just lost their lives doing what they loved to do, as well as their families. My thoughts continue to be with you, my readers, and I hope you continue to ride safely! Keep the rubber side to the pavement, and watch out for those who cannot see…

Entry Filed under: Motorcycle Safety