Motorcyclist killed in crash with box truck in Whatcom Co.
DEMING, Wash. - A 65-year-old motorcyclist was killed Thursday when he drove into the rear of a stopped box truck on Highway 542 in Whatcom County, the Washington State Patrol reported.
State troopers responded to the scene, Highway 542 at Marshall Hill Road, 17 miles east of Deming, at about 2:15 p.m. Friday.
The motorcyclist was found dead at the scene.
A preliminary investigation found that a passenger car and a box truck were stopped in the westbound lane of Highway 542. The passenger car, in front of the box truck, was waiting for oncoming traffic in order to make a left turn onto Marshall Hill Road.
A 65-year-old Maple Falls man riding a 2003 Honda VTX motorcycle hit the right rear of the stopped box truck, and was killed.
The box truck was driven by a 34-year-old Mount Vernon man. He was not injured.
At this time, it is unknown why the rider failed to see the stopped box truck ahead of him, state troopers said.
A witness to the collision who was following the motorcycle said it appeared the rider was doing everything right and riding normally. The witness also described the speed of the motorcycle at the time of the collision to be approximately 40 to 45 mph, which is the speed limit in that stretch of roadway.
Alcohol and drugs do not appear to be a factor, the Washington State Patrol reported.
The name of the motorcyclist was not released pending the notification of his next of kin.
State troopers responded to the scene, Highway 542 at Marshall Hill Road, 17 miles east of Deming, at about 2:15 p.m. Friday.
The motorcyclist was found dead at the scene.
A preliminary investigation found that a passenger car and a box truck were stopped in the westbound lane of Highway 542. The passenger car, in front of the box truck, was waiting for oncoming traffic in order to make a left turn onto Marshall Hill Road.
A 65-year-old Maple Falls man riding a 2003 Honda VTX motorcycle hit the right rear of the stopped box truck, and was killed.
The box truck was driven by a 34-year-old Mount Vernon man. He was not injured.
At this time, it is unknown why the rider failed to see the stopped box truck ahead of him, state troopers said.
A witness to the collision who was following the motorcycle said it appeared the rider was doing everything right and riding normally. The witness also described the speed of the motorcycle at the time of the collision to be approximately 40 to 45 mph, which is the speed limit in that stretch of roadway.
Alcohol and drugs do not appear to be a factor, the Washington State Patrol reported.
The name of the motorcyclist was not released pending the notification of his next of kin.
Very sad to hear of a fellow rider being killed. He rides the same kind of bike I do. I have practiced some emergency stops but I admit I could use more practice.Â
Condolences to family and friends.
Another statistic that proves the majority of motorcycle accidents are the motorcyclists fault and not other vehicle's drivers.
 @Tooby Roosday While the motorcyclist clearly was at fault in this case, you are full of shiite if you think that is the norm. Research conducted by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) n 2003, found that in all accidents occurring between motorcyclists and cars, the motorcyclist was either NOT at fault or LESS at fault than the car driver 80 percent of the time. I'll repeat, *80* percent of the time the car driver is more responsible for the accident.
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While there certainly are some yaa hoos who do crazy stuff and give all motorcyclists a bad name, it is still the inattentive dumbass car drivers who cause the problems.
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I've been riding street motorcycles for over 30 years and over 200,000 miles. I have had my share of close calls and every single time was because someone in a car wasn't paying attention.  Turning left in front, pulling out from a side street, changing lanes without looking, etc. People don't see motorcycles only because people don't look.
 @CommonSense That was in 2003, CommonSense. The WSP recently sent out a news release and even redesigned the testing program because of motorcyclists being at-fault more often. It was a bit juvenile for Tooby to say that in such a pretentious tone, but it is true that motorcyclists are at fault much more often now than in the past.Â
 @CommonSense http://www.wsp.wa.gov/information/releases/2012_archive/mr082412.htm This release says 40 percent of motorcycle fatalities involve unendorsed riders.
 @Tooby Roosday Please produce your facts.
@Tooby Roosday Fairly ignorant of you to say. Get informed.
 @Tooby Roosday I'd say you got that wrong or hate motorcyclist for some reason.  The riders biggest problem is being unseen by non cyclists.  Looks like this guy was definitely caught napping though.
"State troopers responded to the scene ... at about 2:15 p.m. Friday" -- so this happened last week? Friday this week hasn't gotten here yet.
My sympathies to the man's friends & family.
My sympathies to the editors of this piece.
 @DualLeads Sadly, the editors need our sympathies regularly.
A lot of riders just don't have the ability to use the brakes properly. Its something you have to practice at to be safe on the road. That and you see motorcycle riders driving the bikes like they would a car. Following too closely, not paying attention. Riding a motorcycle is all about driving defensively.
Face shields or scratched wind shields are a problem sometimes. Should'nt try to look thru both. I about rear ended a older car with dim tail lites looking thru both. Don't know if that was the case here but just sayin!
@Bdub  And westbound at 2:15pm at this time of year, the sun on the shields could have been a factor.
 @achoo2 Entirely possible. I think they meant to say Marshall Hill Road is 17 (+/-) miles east of Bellingham, as said road begins at the far east end of Deming and intersects SR 542 in two other places. If it were the easternmost intersection I could definitely see the possibility of sun glare as SR 542 runs uphill westbound there.
Oh man that is not good at all. As rider myself, I am well aware of paying attention. RIP
@Tolly371 Me too, have had some close calls in the past.