Modern Vespa

One of our scooter group members was killed in Las Cruces, NM today while riding on her Yamaha scooter. All the details are not available right now, but it seems that it was a classic "car turns left in front of scooter/motorcycle" type incident.

Stacey was riding south when a north bound truck turned left right in front of her. The first report stated that the driver of the truck was on his cell phone, but later reports denied that. It seems that she died of massive head injuries...she was not wearing a helmet, or any other safety gear it seems.

Stacey did not own a car, I think, so she was probably running down to the store or something. Rest In Peace, Stacey.

In my opinion, if it's too hot to wear the gear then it's too hot to ride! Please be careful when riding...it's a real zoo out there!

karlu
las cruces, nm

Oh no...and Las Cruces isn't a particularly large town either. So sorry.

Sorry to hear this and for your loss. I agree 100% with you about the gear.

So sorry to hear about your friend. Please give her friends and family our condolences from the islands. RIP.

Sorry to hear this. Condolences to the family and loved ones.

Hate to hear stories like this, but she went out doing something she enjoyed. There are far worse ways to go.

I think about this sometimes - dying or in my mind worse, getting maimed in a MC/scooter wreck. That makes me a more cautious rider (mostly), but I can't see dropping out of riding for fear, because it brings to much pleasure to my life.

RIP Stacey, may you scooter safely on in eternity.

My prayers go out to Stacey, her family and her scooter family.

Be Safe out there.

No helmet law in NM?

A sad loss of life. Seem's to be happening more often now?

Not wanting to be disrespectfull but not wearing a crash helmet is like throwing an egg at the front of a moving vehicle and expecting it not to break.

As I've already said, A Sad loss of life, RIP.

Another tragic loss of life, RIP Stacey. Condolences to her family and friends.

That's really sad. I feel for her family and friends. Maybe stories like this are good to encourage more scooter riders to wear helmets. After the Harley riders, scooter riders are the next group I see in Austin without helmets, especially since they relaxed the no helmet requirement. Now you just have to show that you have health insurance; whereas before, you had to pay a fee and get a special piece of paper proving that you could afford your medical costs, either with cash or health insurance.

So sorry to hear. While I believe in all the gear, a helmet if you don't do anything else. A headlight modulator will prevent a lot of these types of accidents. Sad story.

Here's a link to the story (with photos of accident scene): http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/24539847/detail.html

Guys, these are pretty graphic photos of the accident scene. There are three different photos. I'm hesitant to even post the link out of respect for the family and friends (if people want me to take the link down, I will). Apparently, the other vehicle was a Nissan pickup truck. Really sorry to hear about this tragedy. I hate to hear these stories. I love the greater Sante Fe area. Beautiful area. I can picture a beautiful 76 year-old woman out there in the high desert enjoying life on her scooter.

Sad to hear...

There is no helmet law in NM unfortunately and I would say a pretty large percentage of motorcyclists and scooter riders don't wear one. Certainly some accidents will kill you with a helmet on but your odds of surviving go way down without one.

All the best to her family and friends,

Desi B.

No, there are no helmet laws here in New Mexico, except that anyone under the age of 18 must wear one while riding.

And, it's true that Stacey wasn't wearing a helmet, but that doesn't make it right that the pick-up driver didn't see her for whatever reason and turned into her path.. I stopped at the main police station today to see what, if anything, they might do with the truck driver. Not that that will bring Stacey back, but my gosh, the driver should be charged with something...he did kill a person. There were no police officers there! I'll go down Monday morning again. I'm just afraid they'll "whitewash" this and never do anything.

And, as the clipping says, she was 76 years old, so she had had a life before this, and she really loved scootering, so she went doing one of the things she really liked. In one respect it's good that she did die, because if she had only been injured I'm afraid the truck driver would still be hearing some salty language from her.

I cringe everytime I see a rider going by without any more than a kerchief on their heads, whether it be a scooterist or a motorcyclist...they just don't get it.

karlu
las cruces, nm

I went back and looked at the accident photos. There's a U.S. Flag still attached upright to the back of her wire basket. I picture this proud, 76 year-old firecracker of a woman driving around Las Cruces, New Mexico with a U.S. flag trailing behind her. What a great image. If people get a chance, they should take a look at the photo. It's really quite moving. Karlu, thanks for the posting.

I'm sooo sorry for your lose & the family too. We all should take note of this accident that we all should wear helmets if it is too hot to wear one I wouldn't even temp to go out. It is soooo sad to hear how scooter accidents happen & the out come of it. By looking at the photos she could of made it if she was wearing a helmet, but it depends how fast the pick up truck was going.

Very sad. When riding/driving I have absolutely no trust in any other vehicle then my own scooter or truck.

First post, tommylittlescooter!

Greetings

No helmet probably means no manslaughter charge for the driver. It's our responsibility to our family and friends (and the fools that run us over) to wear our helmets.

Tragedy, I bet she was a character.

Condolences to the family and loved ones.

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. My thoughts go out to you.

Condolences to Family and Friends...make sure an through investigation is done regarding cell phone use. Get an attorney or investigator involved to pull the cell usage data...they might be able to ascertain use at time of accident.

I know going the legal route won't bring Stacey back...but if the driver is attempting to get out of being accountable that's an entirely separate issue that needs to addressed...as difficult as it will be when going thru this tramatic incident.

Really makes me sad that so many have left us recently...

+1

How awful...
I know helmet discussions can be touchy in the USA, but it is hard for many outside the US to understand why in the face of incidents like this.

Condolences to the family.

Timbit, great observation. Unbridled freedom from anything and everything runs pretty deep in the American Experience. That coupled with a fundamental and legitimate distrust of government. Force us to wear helmets, what will it be next? I HATED helmet laws when first passed here in California (1992). I just couldn't believe the government could force us to wear helmets. But then I began hearing stories from doctor/nurse friends working in ERs. Those are really not nice stories. Indeed, I was pretty shocked when I first heard them.

Nowadays, the no-helmet crusade really has little to do with riding and everything to do with personal freedoms, and specifically, fighting against Big Brother. I'm all for Easy Rider. But now I happily wear a helmet.

I'm a huge proponent of personal freedoms and a lifelong hater & distruster of Big Brother (a passionate supporter of gun rights, for example), but thumbing one's nose at the government at the expense of one's personal safety is the height of self-destructive stupidity.

Toreador Pants!!!! If everyone did the intelligent thing with regard to riding safety gear, what difference would it make whether the government mandated it or not? Who cares what the law is? Do the smart thing anyway!

Ken

Could everyone remember that someone has DIED. Respect please.

You wouldn't go to a funeral and lecture on this, then please, take care of yourself and those you love. Doubtless this woman has people who cared for her and they don't deserve this.

The next person that says Toreador Pants in this thread gets thrown out on their ear. I'm sick of it. Someone died and you all are using it as an opportunity to preach.

Take it somewhere else.

My condolences to her friends and family for this tragic situation.

A similar accident happened in Millford, Michigan yesterday, this time with a motorcycle (riding two-up) and a truck with a 16 year old driving. The truck driver allegedly turned left directly into the path of the mcycle. The man driving the cycle was killed, his wife is in critical condition. Left turners seem to be the most dangerous thing we encounter on two wheels. Maintain high visibility and triple check both your escape route and any sign of movement from the cager.

http://detnews.com/article/20100808/METRO/8080311/1409/rss36

+ 1,000,000,000

I remember the freedom in the '60's of no helmet law in California. But I started wearing a helmet before the law went into effect and over the years, have not regretted it.

I went down today as well. At fraction of the speed you friend was probably doing, but went down right on my visor of my full face. Over the years, down four times now. Only once can I blame it on someone else.

I know it's hot, but wear the gear. At least some of it. My armored jacket probably saved me from a broken shoulder today. Hate to say, but my footgear today was a set of Van' deck toppers.

More condolences from the pacific. RIP.

My thoughts go out to the friends and loved ones of, from what's been said, a wonderful fun woman who at 76 was still doing what most her age would have given up years ago.

my condolences to Stacey's family, friends and her scooter community. It is a tragic accident, but to be 76 and riding with gusto, she is an inspiration to me.

+1 That's the thing that struck me in the article. I hope I"m still riding my scooter at age 76 as well and I hope she didn't suffer too long.

I didn't mean to add to the noise. I truly feel for the family and her friends.

I'm 60 and still riding. And hope to for at least 20 more years. But, I can think of worse ways to leave than doing what makes you happy.

Still, those of us that are still here should maximize our safety.

As I said, I remember the freedom of the 60's and it was wonderful. Wind in the hair, no concerns. I will live forever. That was then. I know better now. We all do.

Again, my condolences to the family, and all of her friends.

RIP and condolences to friends and family. When one of our community goes down it is a loss for all of us.

My biggest fear is someone making a left turn in front of me. I ride the highways on scoot and motorcycle but it is the byways that give me the willys.

Eyes open and keep safe to all.

Curious why you would make this supposition. An illegal turn or failure to yield is the fault of the driver (if true) regardless of whether the rider was wearing no helmet and had on a thong and tube top, or if they were in full riding gear.

RIP to the fallen.

A good habit I've gotten into in the city is 1: always be alert and assume EVERYONE will turn in front of you. Period. Also when approaching intersections I flip my headlight between hi and lo numerous times when approaching intersections at speed. Slowing down to a crawl can result in being plowed from behind. All you can do is be attentive, make eye contact, see who is in the intersection and make yourself visible - I think that the flipping between hi and lo is the best thing that can be done.

RIP

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