14 Replies to "Update: Car-motorcycle collision at 16th/Holden, 2 hurt"

• Mr. Gluck September 11, 2014 (7:25 pm)

  That intersection needs a left turn light something fierce. After coming within inches of getting run down in the crosswalk by a driver on her phone turning east on Holden yesterday morning (the third time in the past week), I’m hoping that it won’t take a tragedy for a safer setup to be put in place.

• dm September 11, 2014 (8:40 pm)

  A left turn signal would be good at that intersection, but this particular accident happened at the 7-11 driveway on Holden. I didn’t see it happen, but I heard it (as I waited in my car for the light at the intersection). A bad sound. I pulled my car into the mini mart on the “other” corner as the cashier walked out and called 911. I got out of my car and looked diagonally across the intersection. Quite a few people had run over to help the motorcyclist and tried to direct traffic away from the area before the emergency vehicles arrived…The sun WAS at that blinding angle facing West. What alarmed me additionally: a number of cars driving West on Holden, past the accident, couldn’t see the accident scene because of the sun. People standing near the accident were attempting to get the drivers to slow down. The sun was in their eyes but they kept driving fast…My heart goes out to the two on the motorcycle, and the person that hit them.

• Alyxx September 11, 2014 (8:43 pm)

  I have to second that, Mr. Gluck. I’d be very happy with a Left turn light there, although I’m not sure that was the issue this particular time. (I think someone was turning right or into 7-11) – I drove past right after the emergency vehicles arrived.

  I hope the two injured are ok!!!!

• silver lining September 11, 2014 (8:55 pm)

  glad the two are ok. but if one is going to dump their bike on a beautiful evening, right in front of the SFD Engine House is a pretty fortunate location, I’d guess.

  Kind of interesting to me, tonight I was walking and saw only three motorcycles – three big bikes like that. All of them with big gray-haired guys. Maybe there was an event of graying bikers. Or no? Explain any correlations if they are obvious (and within WSB’s rules).

  • WSB September 11, 2014 (9:18 pm)

    Don’t know about the riders. Anyway, certainly Station 11 was ever so close, but the bike went down just west of the south-side 7-11 driveway, on Holden; the east-side driveway is the one across 16th from the station. (I’ll make sure the copy is clearer, was writing it on the phone while idling in the parking lot, which became a detour path for a while.) And looking at the 911 log, Engine 11 from that across-the-street station wasn’t even on the call – they had a previous dispatch over at Westwood Village. (Ladder 11 was dispatched at one point, but it’s actually based at Station 32 in The Junction, not Station 11.)

• JN September 11, 2014 (11:12 pm)

  Good tip for people driving/cycling/etc, if you cannot see for any reason whatsoever, slow down!

• Maria September 11, 2014 (11:36 pm)

  Egads, did the police actually say “it happened because the sun got in everybody’s eyes”? I know there aren’t quotes above, but I’m surprised they gave any insurance fodder. The sun doesn’t cause an accident — the vehicle operators not assessing the situation do. Just as dm says above, drivers maintain speed directly into the sun glare making the assumption that nothing is in front of them.

  • WSB September 11, 2014 (11:42 pm)

    No, not an exact quote, but that’s what they told us, in the proverbial nutshell. Not excusing anyone or anything, nor saying I could see through the eyes of anyone involved – but I have been out at that time of day, driving to something, a few times recently, and no matter how much the visor gets adjusted, it’s blinding. Even standing on a streetcorner waiting to cross was difficult. So whether you think it is an acceptable explanation as a factor or not, it certainly could be cited as a factor. I don’t know if anyone was ultimately cited. – TR

• cj September 12, 2014 (12:56 am)

  My husband and I have been out a few days this year and last where the sun’s intensity literally blinded us for a moment here and there. Good thing we were not driving. Last couple of years sun intensity on some days is quite impressive.

• clayjustsayin September 12, 2014 (8:15 am)

  A left turn light in that location would not have helped anyway. The same glare that got in the way of a safe left turn would have had the driver just sitting at the light wondering if it has greened yet. I have to admit that is still safer than moving, under the circumstances.

• enigmaethereal September 12, 2014 (8:49 am)

  The driver of the SUV was facing east, away from the sun. He pulled right into the path of the motorcycle as he was turning left into the 7-11. I’m not so sure the sun was at fault. I’d think it was more the suv guy not paying attention to what was coming his way.

• JoB September 12, 2014 (2:33 pm)

  enigmaethereal.. that’s exactly what they guy who dog sits for me said.. he was directly behind the SUV.
  .
  he told me the guy on the motorcycle.. who by the way had the sun in his eyes.. tried to evade the SUV but there was literally no place for him to go.
  .
  and yes.. he told the police he witnessed the accident and that the SUV driver was driving aggressively and not paying attention.

• Doug Vincent October 1, 2014 (2:13 pm)

  I want to thank everybody whom posted. I was the driver of the motorcycle.. we cleared the intersection and then all I saw was a flash of the right front of a vehicle. I am still here at Harborview medical. Thanks again for your postings. Doug

  • WSB October 1, 2014 (2:26 pm)

    Good luck with your recovery, Doug. Thank you for the update. – TR

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