AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST January 2020

Ups + Downs

Up

To the Colorado Department of Transportation for working with liquor establishments and motorcycle event organizers to urge motorcyclists to wear proper safety equipment while riding. The effort involves distributing information about the benefits of helmets, gloves and other gear. The phrases appear on more than 1,500 drink coasters and posters at bars and other venues around the state.

 

Down

To the Minnesota tractor driver whose cattle trailer came loose and rolled into oncoming traffic, including a group of vacationing South Dakota motorcyclists. Two people on the lead cycle, later identified as 60-year-old Marvin Fandrich and his wife 61-year-old Kathy Fandrich, were struck and killed. The tractor driver, 60-year-old Curtis Marc Petzel, was charged with two counts of manslaughter, two counts of criminal vehicular homicide, and both reckless and careless driving. Authorities determined his trailer hitch was too small and he failed to attach the safety chains. The new charges come just two years after Petzel was convicted of careless driving in an incident where another motorcyclist was killed.

 

Up

To the 30 motorcyclists who showed up to buy lemonade from a Kokomo, Ind., 8-year-old after her mother, a nurse, helped treat them after a crash. The mother, Daryn Sturch, came upon the crash along State Road 19 in September 2018 and stopped to comfort the five injured riders until paramedics arrived. A year later, Sturch—who had kept in touch with the riders—shared a photo on social media of her daughter, Bryanne, at her lemonade stand, prompting the riders and other members of their club, Milwaukee Iron Motorcycle Club, to show up for refreshments.