Lightning strike kills motorcyclist on highway

[redline]

Lightning strike kills motorcyclist on highway<H1>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13471386/

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[mphillip]

Now how often do you hear something the irronic happening. I wouldn't have ever thought of that.....:no:

[Free Spirit]

I think it's interseting that they make a special point of mentioning (on a seperate line from anyhing else, "The man was wearing a helmet. " As if that's going to make a shits worth of difference in this situation! All that does is make sure the melon doesn't expode and make an additional mess. However, you know this one will find it's way into the statistics regarding rider fatalities and whether or not they were wearing a hemet.

:lol:

[Its_on_ now]

I had read about this a few years ago in Cycleworld. They were on a ride in the mountains in California and one rider fell back. Rains came up quick with a lot of thunder and lightening. The group stopped to wait out the rain and the lone rider was trying to catch up. He never made it to the stop as he was struck by lightening cresting a hill.

So many things can happen to us out there. Situational awareness is a buzz word in the military, but holds true in the real world too. Stay aware of your surroundings and think about how it affects you . Better to arrive late, but alive, than not at all.

BTW - I am the motorcycle safety rep for my squadron (unit, whatever).

[jrod1970]

now , i am not an expert,(dont start tiny and pegs!, you too airport!) i my self have never heard of this unfortunate thing that has happend, but, if he was on the road, with rubber on the ground, and a bolt hit him, wouldnt his tank explode??:huh: just wondering.........

[Free Spirit]

First, a lightening strike is electricity seaking a place to go to ground. The fact that he was insulated from the ground by his tires should have prevented a direct strike. Also, in the article it mentions a "crater" in the pavement caused by the strike. More than likely what really happened was that the strike hit very close to him and he flinched, losing control and running into the median wall. In "journalistic terms" he would have been "killed by" the strike, even though it didn't hit him directly. After all which sounds more intersesting, "Rider killed by lightening strike" or "Rider shits his pants and wrecks due to lightening strike"?

[jrod1970]

"Rider killed by lightening strike" or "Rider shits his pants and wrecks due to lightening strike"?


that sounds more like it!!:grin:

[redline]

Just a "what if ?" If the ground is wet and the tires, bike and rider are wet wouldn't that be grounded?

[RestlessSpirit]

I've seen some wild shit in Iraq which left me with the theory...When it's your time, it's your time and there isn't much you can do about it. I just hope the rider didn't suffer.

[jrod1970]

no kidding restlesspirit, its true that when its time to punch out, its time to go, i hope his family is ok, i know that is always a concern for me when i ride in foul weather:sad:

[RestlessSpirit]

Lighting stikes with enough voltage to jump ten feet to find ground. 3 inches of rubber isn't going help much. It doesn't even have to strike a person directly to get them. If a person is within 15 feet off a strike it can still get them...through the ground. Now that would suck!

[jrod1970]

ZZZZAAAAPPPPP!!!!! OWCHY!!:dizzy: