Hello, fellow riders--
Well, two of our ABATE members from Northeast Oklahoma were killed yesterday in a head-on wreck caused by a negligent motorist. Please remember the families of Mike Austin, Shawna Turner, and the other unnamed motorcyclist in your thoughts and prayers. I'm completely outraged by this incident and the subsequent coverage, and all Oklahoma motorcyclists need to bombard the media and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol with demands for a responsible accounting of events.
I appreciate the well-reasoned response of our Rogers County Chapter President portrayed below after the Associated Press article, in the face of such irresponsible reporting. The Double Fatality wreck was caused by the car driver, and yet, while Oklahoma State Law calls for seatbelt wear but allows Freedom Of Choice regarding helmet usage, the OHP and the media stated the riders weren't wearing helmets, but mentioned absolutely NOTHING about the car driver's seatbelts! Besides, the motorcyclists were victimized by a car driver on the wrong side of the road, and helmet wear has NOTHING to do with it!
Concerned motorcyclists in Oklahoma and everywhere need to contact KOTV Channel Six in Tulsa, Oklahoma and hold them to account. Their mailing address is: KOTV-6, P.O. Box 6, Tulsa OK 74101, and their general phone number is: 918-732-6000--ask for the News Director. Their website is located at:
www.kotv.com We need to voice our anger, and demand clarification of bias, inaccuracy and misinformation that is occurring with increasing frequency, thanks to agencies bound and determined to advance their political agenda by manipulating the facts. Thanks for listening, and for your continued defense of Riding Freedom and the honor of our Motorcycling Community in Oklahoma. Ride Safely and Aware--we know the face of the Enemy!
In Liberty,
Tiger Mike Revere
State Coordinator,
ABATE of Oklahoma, Inc.
405-672-1008 (Home/FAX)
405-596-1072 (Cell)
Two Killed In Motorcycle Crash
AP - 3/18/2007 10:34 PM - Updated 3/18/2007 10:36 PM
ADAIR, Okla. (AP) -- Two motorcyclists were killed Sunday in a head-on collision that caused state Highway 28 to be closed for nearly three hours near Adair in northeastern Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says 50-year-old Mike Austin of Claremore was driving west when a 2002 Ford Mustang pulled into the westbound lane to pass another vehicle and hit Austin's Harley Davidson and another motorcycle.
The highway patrol says Austin and passenger Shawna Turner were both thrown from the motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene. The patrol says neither one was wearing a helmet.Turner was 37 years old and from Inola.
The driver of the second motorcycle was hospitalized in critical condition.
The Mustang's driver and a passenger were also taken to a hospital, but were in good condition.
I sent the following email to channel six's News Manager today about their coverage of the bike fatality near Adair.
Your station aired a piece on a motorcycle accident this morning and has the following on the stations website.
Two Killed In Motorcycle Crash
AP - 3/18/2007 10:34 PM - Updated 3/18/2007 10:36 PM
ADAIR, Okla. (AP) -- Two motorcyclists were killed Sunday in a head-on collision that caused state Highway 28 to be closed for nearly three hours near Adair in northeastern Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says 50-year-old Mike Austin of Claremore was driving west when a 2002 Ford Mustang pulled into the westbound lane to pass another vehicle and hit Austin's Harley Davidson and another motorcycle.
The highway patrol says Austin and passenger Shawna Turner were both thrown from the motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene. The patrol says neither one was wearing a helmet.Turner was 37 years old and from Inola.
The driver of the second motorcycle was hospitalized in critical condition.
The Mustang's driver and a passenger were also taken to a hospital, but were in good condition.
In a head-on collision with a automobile of any type whether or not the motorcycle riders were wearing helmets has little bearing. They are going to lose in that type of accident. A helmet will only protect a rider in a 12 to 13 mile an hour fall. To always state whether or not someone was wearing a helmet is doing a disservice since it is legal in this state when over 18 years of age to go helmetless. The focus of the report should be more on the motorists disregarding the right of way of the motorcyclist and endangering them.
Please have your reporters do a follow up story on what charges the auto driver will be charged with for the death of the motorcyclist and his rider. It very important that auto drivers be educated on the rules of the road and what penalties they may receive if they cause this type of accident.
Thank you taking the time to read my comments,
Perry Brown
President Roger County ABATE CH #11
Perry Brown
Rogers County ABATE Ch. #11
(918)284-7176(cell)
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