Man dead after motorcycle accident

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Man dead after motorcycle accident

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Story Created: Jul 1, 2008 at 10:40 PM EST

Story Updated: Jul 2, 2008 at 8:20 AM EST

A Madison County man is dead after he was thrown from his motorcycle.
    
According to the Madison County Sheriffs Department, 29 year old Richard Neely was thrown from his bike after hitting the broad side of a truck on East Road Tuesday night.
    
Police say the driver of the truck, 46 year-old Harold Petrus, was pulling into his driveway when the accident happened.
    
Petrus was ticketed for failure to yield the right away while making a left hand turn. Petrus is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

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Wednesday, Jul 30 at 8:49 PM The Sister wrote ...

I am the sister of Richard. He was a safe driver, just ask the companies he worked for (he received numerous safe driver awards), LSR and Champion fire department. He always wore a DOT helmet and my 13y/o even has one cause he would go for rides with his uncle, I would have never let him go if Richard wasn't safe. He rode a Honda Shadow and it didn't have real loud pipes but they weren't quiet either. It was a freak accident, he was coming down a hill and the sun was in the truck drivers eyes.

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Thursday, Jul 3 at 10:20 PM Think about it! wrote ...

I as an avid motorcycle rider can understand how easy it is to not see motorcyclists.I also understand that in most fatal accidents between cars and bikes that the motorcyclist was wearing a D.O.T certified helmet and was riding a quiet running bike! I've added some extra lights to try and be more visible and can be heard as well as seen and feel a small amount safer. Maybe people don't see the bike until its too late but maybe if they could hear it the odds would improve for the bike.

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Thursday, Jul 3 at 1:38 PM In reponse to in response wrote ...

Was the bike speeding? I don't know and neither do you. We weren't there. Nor do any of the others on here that are so quick to jump on the driver or the biker.

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Thursday, Jul 3 at 1:16 PM chris wrote ...

just stop being in a hurry....to die. The motorcycle and vehicles. Smell the flowers before its to late.

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Thursday, Jul 3 at 9:28 AM In reponse to Charlie wrote ...

It says the driver of the truck TURNED IN FRONT of the motorcyclist and was killed and you don't know who is at fault!?!? Get real!!

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Thursday, Jul 3 at 8:22 AM Rider wrote ...

I don't think the DMV stresses the existence of motorcycles on the roadways to new drivers. With cell phones and so much going on around today's drivers, the attention is not being paid to driving like it should be. Remember folks, when you get behind the wheel, you are in a potentially deadly weapon to bikers, pedestrians and other drivers alike.

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Thursday, Jul 3 at 6:07 AM Charlie wrote ...

They set up a road block to write loud pipe tickets (to the best of my knowledge loud pipes never killed anyone) and tickets for non DOT approved helmets (which are only going to kill the person wearing it) while for the past 3 years sport bikes have been going past my house at 140mph plus, sometimes on 1 wheel sometimes on 2. And not a thing is done about it. I guess helmet and pipe tickets are eaiser money? But it's all about safety?

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Thursday, Jul 3 at 5:52 AM Charlie wrote ...

I wasn't there so there is no way I can say who was at fault. All I know is there are a lot of sport bike riders that seem to have a death wish. And a lot of drivers in cars and trucks that don't have a clue whats going on around them. Let's see if channel 2 prints this, or if they're becoming like the OD!

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Thursday, Jul 3 at 12:42 AM Cruiser wrote ...

I feel we have the most unqualified drivers I have ever seen, in/on any vehicle. A license is too easy to get and the qualifications are too low to be safe. Drivers do not take their responsibilities serious enough. People seem to refuse to recognize the dangers faced on our streets.

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Thursday, Jul 3 at 12:03 AM For Amy wrote ...

Kiss your husband and tell him you love him every time he rides out the driveway ... because you must know, the odds are against him. It doesn't even have to be a car, it could be a dog, a deer. Bikes are just too scary, and I'm sure glad my husband doesn't ride one. I want him around for a long time.

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 11:59 PM been there again wrote ...

Motorcycles are by their nature far less crashworthy than closed vehicles. They are also LESS VISIBLE to other drivers and pedestrians and less stable than four-wheel vehicles. Those are just the facts from the Dept of Transportation. Yes, we all need to be more alert on the road – but that man would be alive if he had been in a car. My heart goes out to the families.

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 9:17 PM HARLEY wrote ...

the raod block was meant to be a joke. the state police set one up just for bikes on route 12 during thunder in the forge weekend and said the road block was to promote bike safety. I dont see how setting up road blocks for bikes promote safety when its the cars and trucks that kill the bikers.

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 4:55 PM AMY wrote ...

My husband rides a bike to work alot. I was behind him one day going down the road with another car in front of him. Some guy in a truck just pulled out in front of him didn't even look. Drivers just do not pay attention. My husband had to swerve to keep from being hit and I had to slam on my breaks to keep from hitting him or the truck and I was in a car. If I was in front of my husband I would of had to swerve because he wouldn't of even seen me. Everyone needs to pay attention.

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 3:56 PM jim wrote ...

ok thats my last time you have to edit remarks that people make but its just like the politcs we are very careful what we print

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 3:54 PM no way wrote ...

Im not sure that having a road block will solve this its a drivers responsability to watch for other traffic so if anything they should take there driving course over again

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 3:39 PM Zim Bob wrote ...

There are a lot of bad drivers out there, and when a car/truck and motorcycle tangle the bike is usually on the losing end.. a friend had a county dump truck (up north) turn in front of him, he put the bike down but still impacted on the plow attachment frame.. that said, the bikes that most people notice and remember are the ones doing 90 plus on the roads and wheelies and wheel stands.. even though that is just a small percentage of the riders people get their impressions of riders from them..

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 3:33 PM jim wrote ...

im surprised at the closedmindedness of some of the comments about bikers seniors are now riding, it has always been a problem at intersections and driveways maybe we should start checking seniors to see if they should have a license to drive a car, oh now we get indignant they say ive been driving for 40 years ya maybe your eyesight or reflexes are really that good, oh i only drive downtown, yeah thats where most of the fenderbenders happen, with a motorcycle rhat can be bad pay attention

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 2:53 PM sick of this wrote ...

Because a motorcycle is not a car doesn't mean that it's any less important. You need to PAY ATTENTION and watch for them, since they are entitled to be on the road just like you are. If this was a kid who got hit becasue of this driver's NEGLIGENCE everyone would be up in arms over the poor kid's family...I'm sure this poor guy will have people that will miss him too. Lay off the motorcyclists and remember that it your resposibility as a driver to watch for ALL things using the road.

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 2:08 PM Biker Chick wrote ...

Please do not judge all bikers by the reckless actions of a few! Yes, I have encountered these "mavericks" on the road as well and they need to count their blessings. This seems to be an error on the part of the vehicle driver. A mistake that shouldn't have happened, so pray for the soul of the boker as well as the driver who must live with this the rest of his life. I am sure he did not intend to hurt someone or take their life! A tragedy on both sides!

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 1:19 PM harley wrote ...

Whats weaving in and out of traffic have to do with having no sympathy for a young man who was killed do to the irresponsibility of the driver who turned in front of him? Get real if you look and pay attention you should not miss a bike riding down the road.

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 12:32 PM Dave wrote ...

People need to be more careful and look before turning, yes bikes are hard to see but drivers just dont look properly, they need to turn and look not just use there mirrors or glance once

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 12:18 PM Anonymous wrote ...

if you drive a motorcyle drive it. accidents happen except when your on a motorcycle your chances of walking away are slim. enjoy the pavement.

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 12:01 PM Almost daily wrote ...

I see motorcycles weaving in between cars in traffic, i have no sympathy for those cyclists

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 10:53 AM been there wrote ...

I feel sad for the man who was killed, but I have to confess that I have had more than one close call involving motorcycles. They are just HARD TO SEE coming, and many times seem to be in front of you before you know it.

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 8:50 AM Mike wrote ...

People need to stop and wait for the oncoming traffic to pass.

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 8:20 AM Biker wrote ...

Another tragic death due to driver negligence! LOOK OUT for the other guy..especially motorcycles! Our lives depend on it!

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Wednesday, Jul 2 at 7:19 AM Harley wrote ...

Maybe the state police should set up a raod block for motorcycles to promote "safty" im sure that will prevent cars and trucks from turning infront of us bikers.

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