Fatal collision in VIC

[Colette]

Just riding along minding his own business...what a tragic accident. I wonder if she will be charged?

http://www.theage.com.au/national/fatal ... -abyl.html

Fatal motorbike collision: off-duty policewoman behind wheel
Mex Cooper
April 20, 2009 - 10:44AM

An off-duty policewoman was behind the wheel of a car that fatally collided with a motorbike, killing the rider, northwest of Melbourne this morning.

The policewoman was doing a U-turn in thick fog in Woodend when the car collided with a motorbike on Black Forest Drive about 5.45am.

The 31-year-old motorcyclist from Woodend, who had been travelling south, died at the scene.

The police officer, aged in her 30s, was uninjured and is speaking with investigators about the fatal accident.

[Whickle]

Not Good!

Not really much info given in the media tho. She may well not be at fault due to conditions. I hear the fog was bad in Melb early this mornin.....

[Colette]

I hear the fog was bad in Melb early this mornin.....

You'd think that would be all the more reason NOT to do a U-turn when you can't see what's ahead of or behind you!

[ty]

Damn - that struck a cord with me.
In my case the driver wasn't a cop - but the overall decision was that both could be considered at fault, therefore they couldn't be bothered charging either (so as not to instigate a potential court case).

In this case (like mine) they may rule that while the driver (regardless of whether a cop or not) either shouldn't have done the u-turn or should've paid more attention, the same could be said for the rider in being more aware of a car in their path - fog or not on either side.

I don't agree with it, but that's how it went down for me.
The fact that the rider actually died (I almost did but was lucky) may result in an actual charge, but I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't.
ty

[matchan]

Always sad to hear of a rider being killed.

Unfortunately people do dumb shit like this on the road all the time and 99% of the time there is no consequence.

When Di was hit, a driver turning right across an intersection actually turned directly into her, and the drivers statement to police? "the sun was in my eyes, I couldn't see anything so I just went"

There you go, stay safe.

Cheers
Matt

[Ratmick]

That area is quite near my place, just next to where my Ex now lives. The area is in the weather shadow of Mt Macedon and is reknowned for fog, frost, snow and extreme rain (well it was, not so much now).

If the guy was a local he would have known what it was like. More the reason to be doubly vigiliant, the area is a 90km/h zone and on a long fairly steep downhill. The locals don't necessarily slow down if they can't see wtf they are going. Lots of roos too...

The only good thing about the area is that it is a remnant of the old Calder, so it's double-lane in both directions and you have a lot of bitumen to play with.

Mick

[Whickle]

I hear the fog was bad in Melb early this mornin.....

You'd think that would be all the more reason NOT to do a U-turn when you can't see what's ahead of or behind you!

I agree, i would have kept going to an intersection or somewhere safer given the conditions. Im guessing there were double white lines on the center lane??

[aardvark]

just next to where my Ex now loves.

Freudian slip Mick?

[Pistol Pete]

This is always hard to hear. Especially so for when such little details are given. It's almost as though the article is written with just enough tidbits of information to catch the readers opinions, whether it be against the rider or against the off duty policewoman.
It's disgusting the way that the media plays the hype of such an unfortunate incident, but then again, even that could be an opinion based response from reading the article.

When it comes down to it, i guess if it was an area that it was illegal to u-turn, then that would be the only thing she might be pulled up on. But again, not enough information on the incident..

[Ratmick]

Freudian slip Mick?

What she does in her own place is her own business .

...and that's what you get for touch typing when you can't touch type .

Mick

[mick_dundee]

just next to where my Ex now loves.

Freudian slip Mick?

Typing with a NZ accent

[Ratmick]

It looks to have been the son of a local shop owner.

We go in there a bit, she sells fudge and has a decent array of ice cream and gelati. Last time I was in there I noticed a bike for sale on the wall, I'm wondering if it was his.

Mick

[aardvark]

From the HS - "Police said they believe a car was trying to make a u-turn in the foggy conditions when the motorcycle ran into the car. It is believed neither driver could see each other."

I'm assuming that they couldn't see each other because the fog was was thick as pea soup. And it sounds like the motorcyclist ran into the side of the car. I guess one of the questions is - how fast was the motorcyclist going in fog that thick?

I've ridden down the highway in fog so thick youcould barely see 50 metres in front of you (see photo below). Yet cars and trucks were still travelling at over 100km/h. Ludicrous!!

[Stereo]

Fog sucks

[javaman]

Last 2 year's motoGP I rode with swabio to PI by the scenic route (gippsland). Fog was so thick that the carb froze and visibility was so limited I relied on the GPS to know where the turns are. Very bad idea in hindsight...