My son came upon the scene minutes after it happened, heading home. Sled crossing M in a group of 4/5, and one was hit broad side by a car. Car and sled tore up. Ambulance on route to scene. Operator laying on ground, not moving. If anyone has details, please post. This probably happened about 2:00-2:15 PM today. Prayers...
Serious accident - Car hit sled Hwy M at 51
- Thread starter Cirrus
- Start date
Yes - Vilas, just past the turnoff from HWY 51. I believe that trail is the Arbor Vitae system. I see people just FLYING around that turn from 51 onto M, all the time.
You can take that turn at 45-50, but the trail has to be at least a 1/4 from the turn, so I don't get it. I suspect there were visibility issues with the cold weather, maybe had a helmet fogging up.
Kid said it looked like a head on, but I can't picture how that could happen, unless crossing road at an angle.
You can take that turn at 45-50, but the trail has to be at least a 1/4 from the turn, so I don't get it. I suspect there were visibility issues with the cold weather, maybe had a helmet fogging up.
Kid said it looked like a head on, but I can't picture how that could happen, unless crossing road at an angle.
goofy600
Well-known member
We drove through just as ambulance pulled up, the truck had a lot of damage didn’t see sled but people were tending to rider. The trails crosses the road at about a 90 so it had to be a broadside because front end of truck damaged. So yes prayers to all involved hope for the best.
My prayers to the ones immediatly involved. Judgement day is gonna suck for the ARROGANT FEW
I have been riding with kids a lot this past 2 years (teenagers) and go over the basics of riding all the time. Usually I lead. When we come to an intersection, I NEVER wave someone through. They need to stop and look for themselves. If I see a car approaching, and it will be close at all, I keep the whole group back. If the vehicle is a ways off and believe we can all safely make it, I will point to where the oncoming vehicle is while I cross to ensure they are aware of the potential risk.
Waving through, never understood that gesture.
favoritos
Well-known member
sjb, I like your approach.
I see a lot of sleds in groups that take road crossings way too casually. Honestly, I rarely see the front rider "wave" the group across.
I do see a lot of group riders that just simply go behind the leader without turning their heads to look.
I usually lead as well and I consider it a big responsibility to keep the group safe. We have had a couple of new riders lately which really adds to the task. I have found that new riders seem to have the natural instinct to "watch" the leader and assume it's safe. We spend time as a group watching the new riders to break them of that instinct at crossings. It's not always fun, or easy, to do a "pull over" talk with the new riders. But, it is surprising how often they didn't even realize that they crossed without a good look for traffic. I feel like I'm preaching at times with the new riders and it's not much fun. I also know the rider's odds when it goes wrong.
I see a lot of sleds in groups that take road crossings way too casually. Honestly, I rarely see the front rider "wave" the group across.
I do see a lot of group riders that just simply go behind the leader without turning their heads to look.
I usually lead as well and I consider it a big responsibility to keep the group safe. We have had a couple of new riders lately which really adds to the task. I have found that new riders seem to have the natural instinct to "watch" the leader and assume it's safe. We spend time as a group watching the new riders to break them of that instinct at crossings. It's not always fun, or easy, to do a "pull over" talk with the new riders. But, it is surprising how often they didn't even realize that they crossed without a good look for traffic. I feel like I'm preaching at times with the new riders and it's not much fun. I also know the rider's odds when it goes wrong.
When my son was 12, and just started on his own, we were in a small town. I saw a car coming about 8 blocks away. The side streets were very slippery and snow covered. When we came to the stop sign, we both stopped. I proceeded forward as the car was going about 15 mph. My son never looked, but spun his track and took a minute to move forward. By then, the car was right there and he pulled in front of it. I saw it all happening in slow motion and was watching a potential crash with my son. I ran out and the car either saw me or saw him, but stopped in time. He was whaling his horn and appropriately so. My son got a serious talking to and we turned the sled around and went home, which he got another talk on safety. We put on 6 miles that day.
Good for you to teach your son a lesson, and I am sure he learned from it. In most of todays world, it would be the cars fault, and the parent would be yelling at the driver of the car! So glad that he wasn't hit, and how refreshing to hear your story. I watch it all the time of parents letting their little monsters do anything they want with no discipline. Drives me nuts.
He is 16 now and still talks about that day. As I tell him, I am not is friend to make him feel good. I am his father, with a roll to show him from right from wrong. There will be times he will be very pissed at me. This was one of those times, and my wife and I said we were very glad he was here to be pissed. Things could have gone very wrong is a situation like this.
Agree! Somewhat puzzling, eh?