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Nipomo man killed in motorcycle crash on Highway 101

September 29, 2016

ambulance 4A 29-year-old Nipomo man died after crashing his motorcycle on Highway 101 in Carpinteria Wednesday morning. David Jacob Franks crashed his bike while trying to ride between lanes of traffic. [KCOY]

Around 7:40 a.m., Franks was riding a 2003 Suzuki northbound on the highway near the Santa Monica exit. Franks drove in between a Honda Civic in the fast lane and a Chevy Blazer in the number two lane.

For an unknown reason, Franks drove his motorcycle into the side of the Blazer. He then veered in to the number 1 lane and slammed into the back of the Civic.

The collision with the Civic threw Franks off his motorcycle and onto the right shoulder. Medical responders declared him dead at the scene of the crash.

Neither of the other two drivers involved in the accident suffered injuries. The crash caused a heavy back-up during rush hour.

Last month, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law authorizing the CHP to develop safety guidelines for lane splitting motorcylists.  As of Jan. 1, California will be the only state with a law confirming the legality of lane splitting.


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I’m sorry but that just doesn’t add up. Corvettes, Porsches, Mercedes, Mustangs, Camaros, Ferraris, Lamborghinis and so on also accelerate extremely fast. The difference is that people don’t look out for motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians. In those accidents/injuries/deaths the car driver usually at fault. You said your friend turned left in front of a motorcycle and had to pay for (insurance) the damages/injuries. Again, I repeat; motorcycles DO NOT COME IN “FROM NOWHERE”. The car driver didn’t look for a motorcycle (or bicycles). The car driver is almost always at fault. I know because I’ve been riding motorcycles for over 40 years without a hitch. I was also a licensed driver instructor (licensed by the California DMV).

Again: people need to keep their eyes open for vehicles besides other cars. Put away your cell phones, computers, GPSs, headphones etc.. How many people have been injured and or killed because they were “texting” while driving?


0

The governor can use the money from the San Bernardino responders to split every californian highway heck dont forget to add a lane for protesters to block and protest on in the same road system seems like big shots have their own rallies over believes


0

Sorry Old Salt

Motorcycles DO NOT come out of “NOWHERE”. Unlike helicopters, motorcycles usually stay on the ground. If someone has been in

an accident, it can take minutes, hours, or even days says to manifest the pain/injury. It sounds like your friend wasn’t looking or paying attention. Turn off those iPhones, gadgets, or whatever and put them away. START PAYING ATTENTION! Watch out for PEDESTIANS, BICYCLES, and MOTORCYCLES!


0

I disagree with you completely…


In my lifetime I’ve seen those TYPE motorcyclist’s go from 0 to 60 in less than 2.9 seconds in a 45 mph zone. They are careless and reckless…and they DO cause many accidents…

SPEED KILLS…


1

Frankly I’m surprised more riders who engage in this behavior aren’t killed.


1

I had a friend, a women in her 20’s, who was stopped at an intersection.

She looked both ways and by the time she got out and made her left turn

she was struck by a motorcycle that came from out of nowhere. He got up

and walked around saying he wasn’t hurt and didn’t want an ambulance.

A few weeks went by and that young woman’s insurance was sued for 250 thousand dollars

for injuries, pain and suffering.

He brought the accident on himself in my opinion but she had to pay…!


By 0–60 mph, 3.5 seconds or less

Make and model Year (model) Time (seconds) [note]

Suzuki B-King 2008 2.86

Yamaha YZF-R1 2010 2.88

Ducati 1199 Panigale S 2013 2.89

Yamaha YZF-R1 2016 2.9


0

I drive a total of 2 hours a day and see all kinds of bad driving maneuvers. When I see a motorcyclist lane splitting going down the 101 I think, “they must have A LOT of faith that other drivers will not drift within their own lane.” I personally do not have that much faith in other drivers. It seems that everyone is for themselves these days on the road and elsewhere. I see people go over the line all the time from being distracted by phones and other things. I was rear ended a couple of months ago on the 46 west off ramp while I was waiting at a red light. The driver was checking the time on his phone because he was late for work. I say everyone should drive defensively, and realize that the 2 minutes that they may save doing something dangerous is not worth their life.


0

It is called lane sharing. It is supposed to be done at a reasonable speed. The reason is so that motorcycles don’t have to sit in a traffic forever and some air cooled (older motorcycles) could overheat. The main problem is people opening their doors or cut off motorcycles because car drivers don’t look. The majority of motorcycle/car accidents are caused because drivers don’t look for motorcycles or bicycles (for example: turning left in front of motorcycles).


-1

I don’t know about anyone else, but how many times have I been on a freeway going 70 mph and out of know where a cycle going much faster than me appears and is weaving in between cars and lanes like there is no one else on the road and if there is, they own the road. Your excuse regarding overheating goes for cars as well, go to LA and you see them along side the road. People do not open their doors on the freeway unless traffic is stopped and you want to step out of the vehicle. There is a reason 49 states have outlawed lane sharing. We all know that California makes the best decisions for its citizens on all levels. So I say, if you are a cyclist please be careful, hold down the speed and don;t blame me for your actions and speed,


1

Nobody was going 70 mph on the northbound 101 thru Carpinteria at 7:40 am on a weekday. 40 maybe on a good day.


0

This law allowing cyclists to straddle lanes is stupid and dangerous.


1