Daughter involved in fatal accident

R

Robusta

Member
Location
upstate New York
Last night our phone rang and it was my daughter hysterical, wanting us to go watch the kids. She had just left her home on the outskirts of town but still within the 30 MPH zone. She stopped to let a car clear so she could make a left hand turn,another car was behind her. She was clear and made her turn. Halfway thru it a motorcycle passes the stopped car on the left and broadsides my daughter. Guy died on impact.
Really odd set of events. A cop on a side road several miles away saw him fly by and radiod another to watch for him. This cop was almost directly across from my daughters position and got the whole incident on her dash cam. The initial estimate is that he was doing at least 100MPH on impact.

My daughter is inconsolable, logically she knows it was not her fault,but she does not know how to handle it. We are just so thankful that the kids weren't with her. I understand that it was a horribly gory scene. We sat with the kids while her and the SIL did what was needed last night. The Missus went back today to sit and lend daughter her car so she can deal with things.

I can't imagine the turmoil in her mind, but as her father I would gladly take it on mine.
 

Horrible. She might benefit from some professional counseling to help her get over this traumatic event.
 

This cop was almost directly across from my daughters position and got the whole incident on her dash cam. The initial estimate is that he was doing at least 100MPH on impact.
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Great, at least now there's not a shadow of a doubt about your daughter's innocence. Some motorcyclists take lots of chances even though they're supposed to obey the same rules as cars. Was the rider on drugs or drunk, please update. Even though she's not guilty, that WAS a traumatic experience for your daughter. Poor thing!
 
Very sorry to hear of this. I hope your daughter can get over the experience, although I know that the process may never be truly completed. My deep sympathies in this horrible occurrence.
 
Robusta: sorry to hear of your daughters misfortune, glad she was not injured.
I am NOT a professional counselor in any way so I say this only because I have had the problem.
What you and your daughter are now enduring is PTSD. It is a mental problem brought on by the accident and needs to be addressed as such. Get counseling for her and you as well. Time will make the incident fade and become bearable but the sooner you get help the better.....
 
OMG!! I'm so sorry to hear your daughter has been traumatised by an accident where a man has been killed. She must be in horrendous shock, and I totally understand your sentiment to want to bear her pain.

I'm so sick of seeing motorcyclists driving at way over the speed limit and causing injuries and deaths not only for themselves but for other people.

R.I.P to the man who died, at least it was quick, but your daughter will have to live with the shock of this all her life.

I sincerely hope she seeks some counselling when she's ready...
 
Alittle bit off topic ..... but when my husband was a railroad engineer , alot of the engineers that were involved with hitting cars on the tracks ,were traumatized by what they saw. The feeling of helplessness will always haunt them. One engineer even had a man commit suicide by jumping in front of the train . He could never work again after that. Some people just don't realize how far reaching their actions can be.
 
I'm deeply sorry to hear this sad and troubling news. It was nice of your wife to loan your daughter her car but the car insurance company should soon offer her a free rental car or replace it with a new car if it's totaled.
 
I can only imagine how shook up she must be by this. My hope is she will put this in perspective in a short time. I wonder if they will find drugs or alcohol involved on part of that motorcycle rider. Even if not, it was not her fault. I know in California there is free counseling if you are the victim of a crime. I don't know if that is available in your area or if this would qualify.
 
So sorry for your daughter. Once she is past the initial shock, I would strongly suggest she see some grief/crisis counseling. Granted, she did not know the man, but she may still be going through some stages of grief, and as someone said PTSD. Do not let her think she does not need it. She will.
 
Robusta, your daughter was in the wrong place at the wrong time, hopefully the trauma is not long lasting and she is not hurt.
 
So basically your daughter turned left in front of the motorcyclist?
Was this a traffic light ? or a stop sign intersection?, or neither ?

What was the posted speed limit ?

Speed at impact is something that is a science at establishing , not something that is easily estimated?

Sitting still, and depending on surroundings, 70 can seem like 100 when observed .

Being part of an accident investigation team for 19 years, I can tell you there is usually more to it than initially meets the eye.
 
So sorry to hear this, Robusta. Such tragedies can happen in a flash. Hope your daughter is able to put things into perspective (as much as is possible) and begin healing.
 
So sorry to read of this tragedy Robusta. As the father you must feel so grateful that she’s still here with you. Hopefully she gets the health care she needs to heal.
 
Stay strong and stay close. You will all get through this in time.
This incident should serve as a reminder that life is fleeting, and to live each day loving each other while we can.
Thankfully the children are not directly affected but some of the trauma will be passed to them second hand, so be patient and be prepared for questions.
 
rgp said:
So basically your daughter turned left in front of the motorcyclist?
Was this a traffic light ? or a stop sign intersection?, or neither ?

W.
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From OP, it seems she saw herself as clear, and the cyclist sped into her lane. According to OP, a nearby police caught it on dash cam and determined cyclist at fault.
 
rgp said:
So basically your daughter turned left in front of the motorcyclist?
Was this a traffic light ? or a stop sign intersection?, or neither ?

What was the posted speed limit ?

Speed at impact is something that is a science at establishing , not something that is easily estimated?

Sitting still, and depending on surroundings, 70 can seem like 100 when observed .

Being part of an accident investigation team for 19 years, I can tell you there is usually more to it than initially meets the eye.
Click to expand...

No she did NOT turn left into the path of the motorcycle. She was stopped to turn left with another car behind her. She made her turn he attempted to pass her and broadsided her.
Excerpt from the news release:
"A Seneca Falls man was pronounced dead at the scene of a serious motorcycle-car accident in Seneca Falls after earlier being observed operating recklessly, at dangerously high speeds, according to police.On Tuesday at approximately 7:30 p.m. the Seneca Falls Police Department responded to a serious personal injury motor vehicle accident on Ovid St. at the intersection of Bridge St.
The investigation indicates that a motorcycle, which was traveling at a high rate of speed was northbound on Ovid St. and unlawfully passed another northbound vehicle that was making on a left turn onto Bridge St.
The motorcycle struck the turning vehicle causing the motorcycle operator to be ejected at which time the operator struck a light pole.
Both the motorcycle and car sustained extensive damage, according to police.
Prior to the collision a motorcycle fitting the same description was observed by law enforcement travelling at a recklessly high rate of speed on Rt. 89 and Rt. 414 in both the Towns of Seneca Falls and Fayette.
Due to the reckless nature of operation and the high speed law enforcement at no time pursued the motorcycle."

Speed limit at the accident site is 30.
 
People can never be too careful on two wheelers
It sometimes takes dumping one on the highway to realize that
Some even straddle a crotch rocket without a brain bucket
Being reckless is just plain suicide waiting to happen

It’s truly tough to get over when being so close to that sorta event
Thoughts to you folks and yer daughter
 

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