Football + Motorcycle = CRASH???? - Ducati.ms

MikeM · Mar 16th, 2007, 5:29 pm

TACOMA, Wash. - A motorcyclist is suing the Tacoma School District, saying an off-the-mark football being tossed around at a high school car wash caused him to crash.

Ronald Adjutant, of University Place, was riding his Harley Davidson down a street in Tacoma on April 3, 2004, when a football bounced in front of his bike. The football, he said, came from the direction of a car wash being held by Wilson High School cheerleaders and football players.

"I tried to avoid the football, but it bounced and hit my front tire, causing my motorcycle to crash to the pavement," said Adjutant, a single father in his mid-30s.

Adjutant contends the district and the Wilson Rams Booster Club failed to properly supervise the group, according to his lawsuit filed last week in Pierce County Superior Court.

The lawsuit seeks undisclosed damages for "injuries both physical and mental" stemming from the crash, in addition to $4,000 for damages to Adjutant's motorcycle.

School officials would not comment on the lawsuit.

Adjutant suffered head and neck injuries that require ongoing care, said his attorney, John Moceri.

"He hit the ground awfully hard," said Moceri, adding that Adjutant was wearing a helmet and leathers.

A claim Adjutant filed in May 2004 didn't mention his injuries. It went unanswered, and negotiations between Adjutant and the school district broke down, prompting the lawsuit, Moceri said.

tigertim955 · Mar 16th, 2007, 9:26 pm

I've avoided flying 2x4's falling off a truck, a load of LARGE ducting falling off a truck, golf balls,snow balls,moose,deer and all sorts of stuff flying around and have managed to avoid crashing because of it. A FOOTBALL !?! Come on dude,watch what you're doing !

88sporty · Mar 17th, 2007, 1:45 am

I was riding S on Pacific Ave (Tacoma, WA) next to Sprinker Golf course, when about 5 feet in front of me this golf ball hits the road and bounces across the other 2 lanes into a parking lot

I guess I didnt hear the FORE!!!!

Bill_Anderson · Mar 17th, 2007, 1:54 am

I do ride through Tacoma on occassion. I am going to have to watch out for these non-vehicular hazards.

Lync · Mar 17th, 2007, 3:26 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigertim955

I've avoided flying 2x4's falling off a truck, a load of LARGE ducting falling off a truck, golf balls,snow balls,moose,deer and all sorts of stuff flying around and have managed to avoid crashing because of it. A FOOTBALL !?! Come on dude,watch what you're doing !

Hey remember He was on a Harley, What do you exspect. A Harley just doesn't handle like a Duc.

Lync · Mar 17th, 2007, 3:29 am

After the crash he should have picked up his bike and road up to the students. Maybe he could have got a free bike wash.

JasperST4 · Mar 17th, 2007, 9:06 am

Last summer I rode over a muffler at about. I saw it up ahead and everyone was straddling it. Everyone except the moron in front of me that swerved several times and kicked it over in my line. It goes with the turf. You gotta handle your machine. I think Harley dude should have his license pulled if a football caused him to wreck. The mental distress part of the suit is the best part for me. I wonder how much his ego was worth?

MikeM · Mar 17th, 2007, 9:26 am

900lb Harley vs. 9oz football. No contest.

Bill_Anderson · Mar 17th, 2007, 11:13 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasperST4

Last summer I rode over a muffler at about. I saw it up ahead and everyone was straddling it. Everyone except the moron in front of me that swerved several times and kicked it over in my line. It goes with the turf. You gotta handle your machine. I think Harley dude should have his license pulled if a football caused him to wreck. The mental distress part of the suit is the best part for me. I wonder how much his ego was worth?

Yet another good reason not to follow cages too closely. You never know what is on the road ahead that they can straddle but you can't. Once while driving through Tacoma on I-5, I saw some rather large pieces of steel which had fallen off a truck. I later passed the truck. The load had shifted and the driver was clueless that some of it had fallen off.

ST4R · Mar 17th, 2007, 11:30 am

I'm willing to bet that football not only hit his front wheel, it got caught between a spoke and the caliper, locked the front wheel - and down he went.

Similar thing happened to me a long time ago only with a tennis ball and I didn't crash. The tennis ball locked the front wheel for a fraction of a second before being sheared in half.

I remember thinking "if that tennis ball had been any tougher I would have gone down".

A football? You're history...