In addition to the long sweeping curve, the highway at the point of impact, just after the curve, seems to be a slight high point, making it difficult to see on coming traffic at a distance from either direction. See image above.
Posted on 06/21/2019 10:58:03 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Seven motorcyclists were killed and three others injured when they collided with a pickup truck going the opposite direction in New Hampshire, police said.
Authorities received a call around 6:30 p.m. Friday about a motor vehicle crash on Route 2 in Randolph, New Hampshire State Police Capt. Chris Vetter said.
The pickup truck, a 2016 Dodge 2500, was traveling west on Route 2 while the motorcyclists were traveling east, police said.
State police collision analysis and reconstruction teams are investigating the crash, and will continue overnight in conjunction with local police and the Coos County Attorney's Office.
"Route 2 is closed for the foreseeable future. The scene is pretty large and there's a lot of work to be done," Vetter said. "I don't know that I have ever seen a crash with this much loss of life. It was a pretty significant accident."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Better look again, in the top pic at #60 the road clearly has a long sweeping curve with the apex of the curve almost at the point of impact.
In addition to the long sweeping curve, the highway at the point of impact, just after the curve, seems to be a slight high point, making it difficult to see on coming traffic at a distance from either direction. See image above.
Also at #62 follow the telephone poles that line the highway ahead. They clearly depict and follow the curve in the highway curve just ahead.
By the way, It’s probably a safe bet at least one of these guys had a helmet cam operating at the time. Also a slight possibility the truck did as well.
For NH, that’s pretty wide open, even with the crest of the hill.
There’s a reason it’s a no passing zone.
Should be interesting in the next few days to see what the cause of the crash was.
Helmet? What's a helmet?
MOST motorcyclists in NH don't wear them.
Not required.
Bandana's are not much protection in accidents like this, which is what I see most of the guys riding wearing.
I have no idea if anyone involved was passing or simply drifted over the line in that sweeping curve. Nor does anyone else not involved in the investigation, except for maybe witnesses.
For all I know a motorcycle blew a tire sending it across the center line into the truck causing the truck to veer across the center line into the rest of the MC's, or vice versa. Could have been anything which caused this. Like a deer.
And I'm not talking about NH. I'm talking about this specific collision venue based on the pics. Look at the pics, they don't lie.
What I do know is there was a sweeping curve just before the point of impact and the POI area is a high spot in the highway, in addition the trucks point of rest is on the wrong side of the highway, as well as some of the MC's. And I'm not basing any of this on speculation, but the scene images.
And BTW, I have no idea of any of them was wearing a helmet or how many might have been wearing a helmet. And ya don’t need a helmet to be running an on-board camera. They can mount to the handlebars, front forks, body cams etc.
Wonder if the pickup driver saw a motorcyclist in his lane at the top of the rise, swerved to avoid him/her, then slammed into the group right behind the leader...
To to be sure, whatever the cause, it very likely resulted in one of the parties crossing that center line.
Very possible.
Per local news there: Update by authorities there at 4 PM local time....any minute now.
If the cyclists were lane splitting, IIRC, that’s illegal in NH.
Ping me if they reveal the cause. But I would doubt they would this early due to big league liability, multiple fatalities etc. But ya never know.
NTSB will be there soon, if it isn’t already, conducting its own investigation. Not sure what’s up with that.
Note the person wearing the helmet at left/center.
Yes, one person with a helmet.
While I don’t live there yet, we’ve spent a lot of time in NH and the vast majority of motorcyclists I see on the road don’t wear them. They are not required.
Every time I see one, I just shake my head. I cannot fathom why they take the risk, but a lot of them do.
That was a weird presser. Started with the usual thanks to everyone (that always bugs me), pleas to stay away from the vics’ families and friends, warning that it’s going to be a verrrry long investigation. They’ve ID’d the pickup driver. 23 YO male named Vladimir Something-or-other, employed by a local biz. No more info on him. Names of the vics may be released tomorrow. Guy from the NTSB spoke. I’m still not sure why Fedzilla is there. Authorities are asking for anyone who has pics and/or vid of the pickup before the accident took place to get a hold if authorities.
Those pictures are amazingly grim; obviously taken prior to emergency response. I see scattered bikes, but no riders, or injured people, or uninjured people trying to help injured people. I’ve seen many accident scenes and understand the inexplicable nature of some physical encounters, but the images depicted seem so unexpectedly final. So very sad.
______________________
the emts are in blue working on someone, there is an emergency guy out in deep grass looking for bodies
Around here if there is a vehicle accident and the dead person(s) are still in the vehicle, they tarp the vehicle and load it onto a flatbed and take it to the coroners office. Body and all.
Many years ago we stopped for a crash, A car had gone into the wooods sideways. There were five vehicles parked in front of us stopped to help. People who had stopped were walking out of the woods, one vomitting. We just continued. Nothing to be done.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.