Fatality at comp, Thanksgiving weekend 11-24-12

[sanddunesaddict]

What happened to the car...It was nowhere around when I was there which was just as the medics were loading him up.

[EXTREMEPOWDERCOATING]

Its always sad to hear news like this..

Maybe its time to seperate the quads and buggys durring night time on the hill. I have a buggy and also have done the quad thing up comp and there has been to many close calls, Just hard to see the quads if you are in a car at night.

[Svengoolie]

Very sad.

Some tough times for the family of Craig. RIP

Also tough times for the driver of the buggy, I didn't know them, but they were camped near us and the whole circle packed up.

I hope the Rangers and Deputies are OK too. It's not an easy job.

Things like this can affect so many people. I hope everyone affected can eventually find peace.

[Sincity_blondie]

My thoughts and prayers go out to Craigs family and friends, life will never be the same. Craig is the person who got me into duning back in 2004 and im not sure it will ever be the same. I honestly at this point am not sure I can ever go back to Dumont. Really having a tough time with this tragedy.

[ynot]

Stacey, I cannot even guess what your going through much less tell you what to do. I can only suggest that you let some time go by and then let your heart tell you what to do. I would imagine that he would want you to come back out. If he loved the dunes enough to bring other people in to the sport he would want you to continue to do what you love, for your sake and in his memory. I would not want anyone to quit going out if the situation was the same for me. I would want you to come out enjoy the sport I had a hand in getting you to also fall in love with and drink a beer with me in my memory. I can only tell you that the loss never goes away it just eases a little bit over time. There's the good days and the bad but as time goes on the water under the bridge does soothe you somewhat. You have to follow your heart and look at it from the angle of what would he want me to do or what would he do if the tables were turned.

I am truly sorry for the pain your going through it's never easy and it's always a painful loss in your life. But this to will pass and you will continue to live, enjoy and be the person you are. Unfortunately you just have an extra burden to carry. Time seems to lighten the load just a wee bit as it marches on.

Terry

[Adam @ GTP Off Road]

I don't think it's fair to anyone to make this a blame game. I am sure the buggy driver didn't plan on hitting the rider. Unless the buggy driver was drunk, or the rider for that matter.

there is no direct right of way out there and it's up to all of us to be aware and and diligent as possible. These are accidents, and while that doesn't make anyone directly feel better, it is an accident and we can't go into the blame game as it makes all parties suffer that much more. Even the witnesses, I can't imaging having a photo of the accident, or sitting next to it as it happened.

[FE135]

What happened to the car...It was nowhere around when I was there which was just as the medics were loading him up.

They let them drive it away. Had front end damage.

[FE135]

i was also out at comp when this accident occured. i did not see what you guys seen "quad got hit by rail". i seen the opposite the guy was cutting accross seems to me trying to beat rail across but did not and hit the side of rail. sorry if my eyes didnt see the same but up above it was posted that accident was before 11 am which is about right and you stated that your picture stampd with time that says oppiste of what i seen is off by over an hour.

I feel for your loss and thoughs and prayers go out to the familys loss

I haven't reset the time in camera in awhile. could be still on daylight savings for all I know. Big deal, it was before noon.

[Sincity_blondie]

Stacey, I cannot even guess what your going through much less tell you what to do. I can only suggest that you let some time go by and then let your heart tell you what to do. I would imagine that he would want you to come back out. If he loved the dunes enough to bring other people in to the sport he would want you to continue to do what you love, for your sake and in his memory. I would not want anyone to quit going out if the situation was the same for me. I would want you to come out enjoy the sport I had a hand in getting you to also fall in love with and drink a beer with me in my memory. I can only tell you that the loss never goes away it just eases a little bit over time. There's the good days and the bad but as time goes on the water under the bridge does soothe you somewhat. You have to follow your heart and look at it from the angle of what would he want me to do or what would he do if the tables were turned.

I am truly sorry for the pain your going through it's never easy and it's always a painful loss in your life. But this to will pass and you will continue to live, enjoy and be the person you are. Unfortunately you just have an extra burden to carry. Time seems to lighten the load just a wee bit as it marches on.

Terry

Thank you so much for your kind words Terry (and everyone). I do know your right, he wouldnt want me to give up something I love and he loved. Really really hard right now with it so recent. I do hope to someday go back to dumont and toast Craig and celebrate his life. We all know on busy weekends its very dangerous. Im not blaming anyone here, just was looking for the facts in my recent posts. I dont think anyone intentionally did this. And Im sure whoever the driver was will have to live with this the rest of their life and that wont be easy either knowing they took someones life. I pray for strength and some kind of peace for Craigs family and friends affected by this.

[sand chick]

Very sorry to hear about your loss Stacey, I know how much he meant to you.

It is always hard to hear about these accidents. Thoughts go out to all who are affected by the loss.

[1320]

I don't think it's fair to anyone to make this a blame game. I am sure the buggy driver didn't plan on hitting the rider. Unless the buggy driver was drunk, or the rider for that matter.

there is no direct right of way out there and it's up to all of us to be aware and and diligent as possible. These are accidents, and while that doesn't make anyone directly feel better, it is an accident and we can't go into the blame game as it makes all parties suffer that much more. Even the witnesses, I can't imaging having a photo of the accident, or sitting next to it as it happened.

I agree, but isn't it our responsibility to look at "IF" anything could have changed the outcome. Unfortunatey that takes looking at the injuries sustained. That is how safety equipment comes to exist. I d like to know if he was wearing a cheap helmet (or a name brand helmet) esspecially if it was head injury related, or if he had a chest protector on if it was chest trauma.

I know people make fun of my sammy....with an extensive cage.....but it wasnt to survive a roll over.....it is to survive a collision with a 4000 lb sand car landing on it. I just bought a chest protector for my 7 year old boy......and he wore it every time he rode, because he is a typical boy....but I see now I will be buying one for everyone because the danger out there isnt ussually ourselves, its the unknown. Surviving sometimes is not going to happen, but imagine if surviving was as simple as a helmet, a chest protector, the right seat belts, a neck collar?

Prayers to the friends and family, perhaps this incident will save the life of someone else by motivation or preparation.

edit: I lost a cousin in a motorcross accident. He was good.....very good and was jumping. He made a mistake,crashed and his neck came down on the handlebar cross bar. It crushed his trachia. He stood up, grasping his throat......then passed out and suffocated. I was not there, but I learned from the the tragedy. Almost any simple sharp object or tube may have saved his life. A pocket knife, a small tube etc.

Edited November 26, 2012 by 1320

[aseman]

Definitely condolences go out to the family! I saw the damaged rail being driven back to their camp. I hope he's being charged with manslaughter or worse if he was drunk! What a stupid act for a rail driver!!! Coming down comp hill and launching a wheelie off the bottom lip??! Did he think that it was the middle of summer out there???! IDIOT! Sure there's no right of way out there, but there are people everywhere! I'm sure we can all agree that somethings are just common sense not to do.

I jump dunes all the time and go over crests straight over, but common sense is that there are other people out there so I have a spotter.

Sure the blame game doesn't really help, understandably that's what our legal system is for; it comes down to who's responsible Bottom Line!!

[scott24]

What happened to the car...It was nowhere around when I was there which was just as the medics were loading him up.

The rail driver was escorted by the sheriffs to the sheriffs compound. As of sat night (just before dark) the car was still in the compound.

Edited November 26, 2012 by scott24

[sandawg]

I don't think it's fair to anyone to make this a blame game. I am sure the buggy driver didn't plan on hitting the rider. Unless the buggy driver was drunk, or the rider for that matter.

there is no direct right of way out there and it's up to all of us to be aware and and diligent as possible. These are accidents, and while that doesn't make anyone directly feel better, it is an accident and we can't go into the blame game as it makes all parties suffer that much more. Even the witnesses, I can't imaging having a photo of the accident, or sitting next to it as it happened.

"These are accidents." What the defination of an accident?

They vary but one is;

an unfortunate event resulting especially from carelessness or ignorance. So we shall call this an accident until the CHP report comes out.

"I don't think it's fair to anyone to make this a blame game." Maybe it's just an opinion.

"it's up to all of us to be aware and and diligent as possible." this should apply in this instance!

"I am sure the buggy driver didn't plan on hitting the rider." Understatement! Could it have been avoided?

"Unless the buggy driver was drunk, or the rider for that matter." I don't see this as being the case since they let the rail driver go.? And did the quad cause this wreck?????

Bottom line is that CHP will do the investigation and we will never reallly know what the outcome will be unless the family of the victim share that info with the forum.

I'm done reconstruction Raps post now.

[scott24]

i was also out at comp when this accident occured. i did not see what you guys seen "quad got hit by rail". i seen the opposite the guy was cutting accross seems to me trying to beat rail across but did not and hit the side of rail. sorry if my eyes didnt see the same but up above it was posted that accident was before 11 am which is about right and you stated that your picture stampd with time that says oppiste of what i seen is off by over an hour.

I feel for your loss and thoughs and prayers go out to the familys loss

The impact was the right front of the quad to the left front of the rail. The quad spun down the side of the rail then under the left rear flipping the rail into a barrelroll.

They let them drive it away. Had front end damage.

Yes he drove away but he had a law enforcement escort. And there was no alcohol on the rail drivers breath. And the driver had no liability insurance. As cheap as it is I don't understand it.

Edited November 26, 2012 by scott24

[White Rhino]

This is always horrible news. I'm deeply saddened to know that a friend knew this person, it makes it more personal.

Everybody keeps saying that's why I stay away from holiday weekends etc. this happened before noon it had NOTHING to do with the holiday weekend. This can happen obviously at ANY time and anywhere u mix big sand cars and motorcycles and or quads.

SO on or OFF weekend watch out not just for you but for what the other guys doing. EXPECT the unexpected!!!

[Adam @ GTP Off Road]

thanks for straightening me out Pat... I just didn't want to see a big battle start here on the forum from different sides with people getting to blaming. stating what everyone saw i think is important. I have learned a great lesson about what to watch for whenever riding in that area. Not the way i want to learn but....

To me the rail driver has the most responsiblity, with traffic out around comp and the general flow there. No one is expecting a rail to come wheelie accross the flats, and the rail driver should know it's just not a safe place to do such a thing. i have a vision of the rail going like 60-80mph flying across.

just so people know i take drinking and driving and stupid acts seriously so if we are camped together and people start doing stupid sh*t, don't be surprised if I leave. I don't want to be in a camp where someone gets killed, or kills someone. If have to be the d*ck and say what the fk are you doing then so be it. if you don't like me after, that's fine, especially if you are alive the next day to be pissed off about it.

I am interested to see what the rules/ laws are with this. it's like driving a car on the street a little i guess??

if tracy reads this... I am really sorry i was infront of you on that dune ride we did...

[sanddunesaddict]

why is the rail driver more resposible....they share it equally.there are no driving rules or right of way.....

was it a stupid decision??Yes very much so

too many people do not pay attention to their surroundings. This is a very dangerous sport/hobby and people need to look around at all times and not have tunnel vision.

Edited November 27, 2012 by sanddunesaddict

[sandawg]

I am not qualified or entitled to "straighten" anybody out. Wasn't my intention. Could have analized your post for my own reasons without even posting it but I get bored and just start to type. I'm retired and have too much time on my hands. I tend to do weird things to entertain myself.

Bottom line, there will be a lot of opinions on this sad event.

The rail driver had no libility insurance?? Oh BoY! How critical is the CHP report now for his financial future?

Edited November 27, 2012 by sandawg

[Tmoney]

Look... We don't need to segregate buggies and quads, all you need to do is just watch out...

[Adam @ GTP Off Road]

I say the rail, in this case, holds more responsiblity because they have the speed and power to kill someone. This is based on i think the rail driver made a stupid desicsion, in this case. I am a believer though that people will tend to blame the rail driver as they tend to live the bike rider does not. I am no means saying it's always the rail's fault.

I do think it would be kinda hard to miss (see and/or hear) a sand rail hauling a$$ toward me, but tunnel vision happens to all of us.

[CharlesUFarley]

I feel terrible for all parties involved, including the driver of the raiI.

I drive a rail and came EXTREMELY close to hitting a teenage girl on a quad at the bottom of Olds in Glamis. It was an off weekend in March and there were maybe 20 people as far as the eye could see. I was coming down the hill and jumping up onto the flats...with spotters. The spotters are the ONLY thing that saved this girl's life. I can't even describe the feeling in those two seconds. I was about 80 percent sure I was going to kill this person in front of me and it was the worst feeling I have ever had.

This is a video of my near miss. It doesnt really do justice to just how close this was, but you can just see my buggy spin 180 degrees at the end and then the quad riders go by. They got sprayed with sand from the 180. I don't intend any sort of hijack here, just to show how instantly things can go from fun to disaster.

[turbo_bruce]

how is it not the sand rails fault the rail came down a hill at high speed and wheeled into a area that is used as parking and the, coming and going for the pep that come to comp . the driver had the birds eye of his surroundings he made a choice to put him self and other pep in danger by his actions. i have had rails and quads so its not a quad sand rail thing it about being stupid . so sad that some one had to die over a vary bad decision.

Edited November 27, 2012 by turbo_bruce

[Sincity_blondie]

Let me just say there was no damn tunnel vision. Craig was in a line of quads. One second earlier it would of been his best friend Chris, one second later it would of been a 13 yr old kid. Craig had been riding for a very long time and was a responsible rider. Im not saying this was intentional, but it was STUPID on the rail drivers part and Craig lost his life because of it. And the comments made by the female passenger about sh*t HAPPENS, are you freaking kidding me???? Im just getting mad at this point and I do believe the driver should be held responsible. He got to go home to his family after this stupidity and Craigs family and friends have to find a way to move on without him.

[vegas style]

i think this thread should be closed shortly it s getting away from the original topic of giving information on a tragic accident and more into right wrong and blame. good chance (unless the parties involved share) that we will not know the final outcome. lets all learn life is often too short and that the decisions you make effect many.