Novice rider falls over low wall and dies

[HipGnosis]

http://blog.chron.com/newswatch/2012/06/noivce-motorcyclist-dies-in-fall-from-parking-garage/

Novice motorcyclist dies in fall from parking garage
A novice motorcyclist died when he plunged from the fifth floor of a parking garage near downtown after his motorcycle hit a low wall and he was thrown over it.

The death happened at 2929 Allen Parkway near Waugh about 5:50 p.m. Friday, according to the Houston Police Department.

Police said the 27-year-old man, whose name has not been released, died at the scene.

No other injuries were reported.

Police said the man was on the fifth floor of the parking structure learning to ride a motorcycle. His friend was walking alongside the man as he rode the motorcycle and teaching him how to operate it. At some point, the friend told the man to put on the brakes, but the man apparently accidentally hit the accelerator. The motorcycle slammed into a nearby wall and he was thrown over the wall and out of the parking garage.

[Dan K]

 

Glad he was learning in a parking lot, but on the fifth floor?!?!?  Another one lost to stupidity. RIP.

[bassjones]

Can you imagine being the idiot friend who was trying to teach him?

[DrD]

"accidently hit the accelerator?"  Huh?  Was this on a scooter?

[mxvet57]

 but the man apparently accidentally hit the accelerator.

Another missinformed reporter.


RIP rider

[cbolling]

Can you imagine being the idiot friend who was trying to teach him?

What was the friend thinking in the seconds after he went over?

[bassjones]

Anybody want to bet it was an SS?  

[sagerat]

Was he wearing a Snell helmet or a DOT helmet?

OK, cheap reference to another thread, but damn, learning to ride on the fifth floor, I mean what could possibly go wrong?

I mean why not take an MSF course or at least go find a surface lot.  

Still, I feel for the dead guy; I remember my fledgling years and I made my share of noob errors, but survived unscathed.  I try to remember those moments when I read this stuff because it could have been me.  Well, not flying off the fifth floor of a parking garage, but I had my moments of dumbness and/or inexperience.

[SVTNate]

Well he wasn't riding a Harley, because the "accelerator" would have just made noise and not moved the motorcycle.

He wasn't riding an FJR, because it would have gone through the wall, rather than stopped.

He wasn't riding an FJR, because the technology does not exist to build an upper level of a parking garage that would support the weight of an FJR.

AMIRITE?

He wasn't riding a Gootsie, because it is impossible to crash a Gootise.  The riders are too skilled, and physics can't tame a Gootsie.

[HipGnosis]

What was the friend thinking in the seconds after he went over?

Sadly, he was most probably thinking:  "MY BIKE!!! YOU DROPPED MY *&%#$# BIKE!!!"

[Rincewind]

"accidently hit the accelerator?"  Huh?  Was this on a scooter?

Well, the pedals are so close together.  

RIP.  

[Mac]

Maybe he was teaching him to countersteer.    He hit/pushed the accelerator/throttle, turned right and hit the wall.

[Giaka]

Bummer, what a shitty day for all involved.

[R Doug]

That's horrible!  The poor guy was trying to learn in the wrong place.  

[scottzilla]

Pro tip: always aim for the high wall.

[TBone]

That's horrible!  The poor guy was trying to learn in the wrong place.  

+1. Nothing funny about it.

[Kraz]

I guess I can't join all the facepalmers here.  The impending tragedy is never as obvious as it seems at the time, and I can't say it would have even crossed my mind that someone would get thrown over a wall.  In downtown Houston, I could see the appeal of the garage.  Open space, quiet, shaded...

Too bad - could have had another fellow rider enjoying the sport.

[greidel]

I had less than 4K miles under my belt when I got my Versys. The tallness, and the fact that I had just bought it new, made me nervous on it. On 2 separate occasions I got into trouble, grabbed for the brakes, and rev'd the throttle. I didn't know how to release the throttle without releasing the brake, and I couldn't release the brake. One time was in traffic, and I was dropping the bike at the same time... luckily I had  the presence of mind to also pull the clutch so the bike wasn't fighting me. I was just making a lot of noise while struggling to hold the bike up. I got it sorted and felt like an idiot. But if I had been approaching a 5-story drop? I would not have need that extra fear.

Yeah, wrong place, wrong time for that guy.

[JonS]

That's horrible!  The poor guy was trying to learn in the wrong place.  

My thoughts too. Rookies need wide open space.

[mesmotized]

I guess I can't join all the facepalmers here.  The impending tragedy is never as obvious as it seems at the time, and I can't say it would have even crossed my mind that someone would get thrown over a wall.  In downtown Houston, I could see the appeal of the garage.  Open space, quiet, shaded...

Too bad - could have had another fellow rider enjoying the sport.

+1

well said!