Man dies after motorcycle crashes during helmet protest ride

9wsyr.com ^ | July 2, 2011 | WSYR-TV

[Berlin_Freeper]

LAFAYETTE, NY (WSYR-TV) – New York State Troopers say one man is dead after a motorcycle crash near McClary Road and Route 11 in LaFayette on Saturday.

New York State Police say 55-year-old Philip Contos of Parish was part of a protest against motorcycle helmets.

Police say several motorists from the group ABATE (American Bikers Aimed for Education) of Onondaga County had come together to make a point that they didn't need their helmets.

The group was driving south on Route 11 in Lafayette around 1:30 p.m., headed toward Lake Como, just south of the Finger Lakes.

Police say Contos suddenly hit the brakes and lost control of the motorcycle.

According to troopers, Contos was thrown over his handlebars and hit the pavement as his 1993 Harley Davidson motorcycle skidded toward the guardrail.

Contos was still alive when crews arrived at the scene and was transported to Upstate University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to police, Contos was not wearing his helmet, as required by law. Witnesses say this decision was part of the protest.

Police say that based on evidence at the scene and from doctors, Contos would have survived if he had been wearing a DOT-Approved helmet.

[Outlaw Woman]

Whenever a government body mandates something it is about control just by that very action. I'm not a rider but if I were I would wear a helmet but that decision should be the individual's.

Sanitation? First time I've ever heard that argument. I'm sure if I ask a rider about why they must wear a helmet, they will answer right away with "because of sanitation". hmmmmm

[xp38]

Hmm...I wonder what this poster ad is trying to say? If you view the trailer it shows them wearing helmets in the movie...not sure if the issue comes up or not in the movie itself.

[cripplecreek]

Dismounting at speed is the best option a fair amount of time.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

Is Ted in the House. (For non-Bostonians: This is a reference to the Howie Carr Show. You can listen to that show on line at WRKO’s or WCRN’s websites.)

[He Rides A White Horse]

He still disagrees with helmet laws but these days he says helmet laws only protect the stupid, the smart guys are wearing helmets and don’t need to be protected.

I'm sorry he had to learn the hard way, but as another poster pointed out, one may experience a glancing blow. A helmet in such a case could mean the difference between life or death.

[donhunt]

I wonder, overall, how the protest went.

[Freedom4US]

I think everyone in automobiles and trucks should be required to wear helmets as well. Why not?

[martin_fierro]

	FReeper Motorcycle Hooligans >> PING <<
Visit the FMH Swag Store & support FR!
Send FReepmail if you want on/off FMH list
The List of Ping Lists

[cripplecreek]

I wear a helmet even in states where it is not mandatory.

I was the same way when I used to ride and I'm the same way with seat belts. These days I feel like I'm going to fall out of the car if I'm not wearing a belt.

[Allegra]

File this one under “Irony.”

[rlmorel]

I don’t ride a motorcycle, but I do ride a bike and drive a car.

When in those vehicles, I always, constantly drive as if the other people on the road simply do not see me. I just assume they do not see me. If I am driving down the road and a car is waiting to pull into traffic, my foot hovers an inch above my brake, my hand is engaged to honk (it is near there anyway) and my mind has a couple of directional options in mind.

It sounds hard, but I have been doing it so long it is natural for me now.

For survival, on a bike, I think you MUST drive that way.

[muawiyah]

See, you people just don't think about the burden your dead, bloated carcass can become to the rest of us.

BTW, these are PUBLIC ROADS ~ the "control" has already been exercised. You don't like it get PRIVATE ROADS!

[PowderMonkey]

"A friend of mine owns a Harley. He has said that he would lay the bike down (sacrificing the bike if he had to) to avoid a direct impact."

Never "abandon ship." Throwing the bike down is absolutely the worst thing to do. it increases your speed at impact, and the bike becomes a meat grinder.

[Jonty30]

About the only unavoidable accident, for the motorcyclist, is the car turning into their lane. Every other accident with another vehicle should not happen.

[Junior_G]

Isn’t the thrilling knowledge that you might die out on the road pretty much the whole point of riding a motorcycle?

[citizen]

“Acronym FAIL.” lol I thought the same thing, they are cognitively challenged.

55 yrs old, not a dumb kid but a dumb adult, a free adult, now a dead adult. Hopefully he had a nice life insurance policy. Which might not pay if he was willfully ignoring the helmet law.

[Tax-chick]

They’ll pay unless it was a recent purchase. If it was within 2 years (in most states) they can call it a suicide.

[muawiyah]

Take it from me launching through the windshield of a Studebaker cut me up bad.

Just a small accident through. Car lived through it.

[cripplecreek]

I don’t even like to follow cycles on the road when I drive. I guess it comes from my days of riding when I saw how many people fail to see riders.

[VTenigma]

I must respectfully disagree,if you can prove that you indemnify the public from your bad choices and risk taking, then by all means ride with no helmet. If you can’t do that then the empirical evidence suggests helmets protect not only your mellon but society from having to be burdened by the real possibility of expensive head trauma care and resulting lifetime care.