Trucker murders another biker on the Dragon

NO TICKET FOR TRUCKER: Triumph RAT Ike Woodard KIA by truck blocking both lanes on the Dragon (yes we drive on the right in USA). See Fatality Map and Topo Map. Note gouges in pavement where truck dragged bike from corner apex. Northbound lane of truck is fed jurisdiction, southbound lane of bike is state jurisdiction, truck crashed in both jurisdictions. Click to enlarge photo by Iva Butler on front page of Maryville Daily Times 3 Aug 2011.



UPDATE DECEMBER 2011: $14-MILLION LAWSUIT FILED IN WRONGFUL DEATH CASE ON THE DRAGON

UPDATE OCTOBER 2011: The 48-foot truck that murdered Ike Woodard was illegally on the Dragon in Tennessee, after passing illegally through North Carolina which has a ban on trucks over 30-feet long

"I have seen the accident report. Ike was in his own lane, struck the trailer axle (Axle 4), and was run over by Axle 5 as was the bike. He was charged with nothing...not speeding, not left of center, not failure to maintain....nothing. "Driver's first action: None" According to the report, charges were "pending" for the trucker as the report is dated Aug 6th, 2011. It mentions "Driver's first action: Failure to keep proper lane" and "Driver's second action: Failure to Observe Warnings or Instructions. It... is... already.... illegal..... for... through.... trucks... with.... trailers.... over.... 30'.... feet.. .. to use.... the... sections.... of.... US129.... or.... NC28 in NC..... that.... leads.... them.... to.... "the Dragon." That... also.... makes.... it... illegal... for... trucks... to... come.... INTO... NC... on... US129 or NC28. That part of the discussion is decided and over. Period. Trucks cannot use that highway legally in either direction unless southbound rigs are turning around at the state line and buying their dragon sticker in Tennessee. Period."
-Creekdevil, ETR, drivin thru the Gap in a Road truck... 27 August 2011 -- NCDOT Truck Ban on the Dragon

"Heard one cruiser rider got a ticket on the Dragon for crossing the double yellow. He wasn't passing .... just cut one of the corners. THP will ticket you for such offenses if they see it. Also heard of some nasty tactics in north Georgia. Slow van pulls out in front of bikers, lets them pass on double yellow, and then radios ahead to have officers stop and ticket. Isn't there enough crime to chase without this BS !!
-Tailofthedragon.com, August 21, 2011 [Dragonater Note: Equal Protection doctrine under TN and US Constitutions requires immediate dismissal of all biker tickets for crossing a centerline, since a trucker was given immunity for killing a biker on the Dragon]

UPDATE: As of 23 August 2011, NO criminal charges have been filed in Blount County courts against Robert "Bobby" Coleman, the truck driver who crossed the centerline and completely blocked both lanes on US129 and murdered biker Dwight "Ike" Woodard on the Dragon. The crash report is classified Top Secret by THP, with public access banned (to protect the guilty and increase insurance profits). Anyone may appear to testify to a grand jury without approval of the attorney general, and anyone may contact a grand jury foreman (usually by mail) to provide evidence outside of a grand jury hearing.

Notice of Grand Jury Meeting (T.C.A. 40-12-105)

"It is the duty of your Grand Jurors to investigate any public offense which they know or have reason to believe has been committed and which is triable or indictable in this county. Any person having knowledge or proof that such an offense has been committed may apply to testify before the grand jury subject to the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated. The foreman in this county is presently: Penny Piper."

"The grand jury will next meet on Monday, the 12th day of September, 2011, at the Blount County Justice Center in Maryville, Tennessee at 9:00 a.m. You may be prosecuted for perjury for any oral or written statement which you make under oath to the grand jury, when you know the statement to be false, and when the statement touches on a matter material to the point in question."

Tom Hatcher
Circuit Court Clerk

Note: The next Grand Jury will meet on Monday, the 3rd day of October, 2011.

Note that Blount County circuit court clerk Tom Hatcher illegally banned notice of grand jury meetings, until the Dragonater filed felony charges against him for doing so. The Dragonater had filed felony and misdemeanor charges in general sessions court against a Blount deputy caught on his own dashcam perping 6 traffic crimes in 30 seconds. The Dragonater won dismissal of that case, despite "losing" the probable cause hearing in sessions court and being bound over to the grand jury.

MARYVILLE, TENN. -- Even though the truck was completely blocking both lanes, the victim's family might only recover a verdict or settlement against the trucking company and driver if their lawyer can prove the speed limit on the Dragon is 65 mph. A TN Open Records Act Request must be filed immediately with TDOT in Strawberry Plains, for proof the mandatory Traffic Engineering Speed Audit does not exist, thus the 30 mph speed limit defaults to 65 mph as required by TN Code. Thus there is no contributory negligence by the deceased victim. Under TN law, if a victim is more than 50% at fault, there shall be no recovery of financial damages. Which is why the trucking company will try to settle very quickly for pennies on the dollar.

Rural Metro ambulance taxi service may also be legally liable, if they pulled another 4-hour "rescue". RM is so slow even Blount County deputies are loading crash victims into police cars at Deals Gap.

Actually, truckers cannot be lawfully sued/arrested/ticketed by police for crossing the centerline on the Dragon, under the legal defense of "necessity". It's 100% impossible for long trucks to not cross the centerline in 100% of 318 curves in 11 miles on the Dragon. When trucks are not banned by law from the Dragon (de facto immunity), then no other drivers/riders can be lawfully sued/arrested/ticketed for the same "crime" on the Dragon, under Equal Protection doctrine in the U.S. and TN Constitutions.

How do you REALLY solve the killer truck problem at Deals Gap? You BAN them under penalty of arrest, as the Dragonator told TDOT during its Dragon Safety Survey (that only banned bikers businesses from the Dragon).

Yes, tractor trailers have killed at least 2 and decapitated at least 1 biker on the Dragon. Ike is not the first biker killed by a tractor trailer on the Dragon. The parts manager of Honda of Alcoa was riding with his cousin who hit a truck blocking his lane on US129 at Deals Gap, underride style, killing him instantly. This was before TOTD made their Death Map.

Isn't Ike the 3rd biker killed on the Dragon in 2011, despite the Police State and 4-hour ambulance taxi service? BTW cops never carry first responder gear and never provide first aid to crash victims. They just stand around and try to arrest people, or shoot them to death.

RIP Ike Woodard

SIGN THE PETITION for Ike's Law: Restrict use of US Highway 129 to Non-Commercial Vehicles - Commercial trucks are already banned from federal jurisdiction in National Parks on Foothills Parkway in Blount County and US441 in Sevier County. Foothills has no 180-degree switchback hairpins, 441 has hairpins and tunnels but is still a much faster road than the Dragon.

"As most of you probably heard, we lost a good one last week...Dewight "Ike" Woodard. He was a regular from Nashville with a wife and two young daughters. The incident was the result of impact with a semi, and the wheels are finally in motion to get something done about this problem...for now there is a petition up here that you can sign if you haven't already. May not do much, so don't let it lull you into thinking "I've done my part.", there may be more work needed soon, but this is a start. And I want to take a moment to say thank you for not making it a distraction in an already tricky turn…probably one of the trickiest. (Lori got hit there head-on by a biker who lost it and blew out into the other lane.) You can't really see the memorial from the road, and I think that's a safer way of doing it."
-Killboy Weekly Update - August 10, 2011

"I run a trucking company in Virginia and I will tell you that what you are saying is far from what would happen. I don't know a single trucking owner or manager who would want their trucks on 129, not even once, much less would they fight for them to be on 129. The more likely scenario is that if the driver were caught over the line on 129 once he would be counselled, caught twice he would fired. A 48 or 53 ft tractor trailer cannot be on 129 without breaking the law by crossing the yellow line and crossing it often. From the look on the drivers faces who I have guided through there, they will not be trying it again. Trucking companies would not fight to keep 129 open to trucks. They would probably want to kick their driver's butt for being on 129 at all."
-Gap News

"Maybe so, but our local usual ConWay driver kind of braggs about having run the Hill, spouts a "no harm, no foul" line. I tend to think running over motorcyclists, running folks off the road, and generally causing chaos represents a foul, but he didn't agree. I suppose there's a divergence of opinion. The last time I had an issue I'd have been willing to torch the rig on the spot. Couldn't get out of my truck - the trailer tire was about 10" outside my window. And I didn't have any lane or shoulder left. I'm surprised there's not serious violence over this nonsense."
-Gap News

"Each State establishes the operating rules that determine which vehicles are allowed on the Interstate highways under their jurisdiction. Most States do not allow bicyclists on the Interstate shoulders, but bicycle use is permitted in some States, particularly in the west where there is less traffic and where good alternative routes may not exist for bicycles. Determining if bicycle access should be permitted is done only after careful study and consideration of how bicyclists and motor vehicle traffic can safely negotiate on- and off-ramps. The safety of all roadway users must be considered. In addition, some Interstate highways, mainly in urban areas, have been built with bicycle paths."
-US Dept. of Transportation, Federal Highway Adminstration, FAQ

TOTD Trucks Gone Wild on the Dragon - "OKAY ...... IT IS TIME TO BAN 18 WHEELERS ON THE DRAGON. Ike Woodard died on the Dragon when a flat bed big rig completely entered his lane in a curve. We have been fighting for years telling officials this was going to happen. The best we got were a couple of signs that truckers pay no attention to. These big rigs should be required to have front and rear escorts if they do have to cross US 129 and they should be limited to early morning or late afternoon. Want to see what we've been posting? Also look at the bottom of this front page ..... FLAT BEDS IN THE ONCOMING LANE. It's time for Tennessee and North Carolina to act !!!!"

Death at Deal's Gap - TriumphRAT.net

Was target fixation and failure to countersteer part of the problem?


The Dragonater under arrest for allegedly crossing the centerline on Foothills Parkway in Blount County, where commercial trucks are banned. Park ranger Keith Gad admittedly perped the crime of crossing the centerline at high speed without the mandatory emergency lights and siren on as required for immunity under TN Code, then Gad destroyed his video and audio evidence, none of which showed any crime by the Dragonater.

If trucks want immunity to cross the centerline on the Dragon, they should be required to hire their own warning vehicle to precede them with flashing lights and orange flags. I'm currently appealing a 4-year-old bike ticket for allegedly crossing the centerline on Foothills, this week I file my appeal with the US Supreme Court. The lower court alleged cops can always cross the centerline and break every other law known to man, then destroy all video/audio evidence and ignore rules of court. The feds claim feds and truckers never have to obey traffic laws.


This is how bikers get decapitated at Deals Gap

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"Yes, it was one of them. Dwight "Ike" Woodard. Always smiling and in love with riding. He and his group were down to memorialize the passing of their buddy at the Gap last year. Dwight was killed a year and a day after his friend. He and his lady rode two up quite a bit. Fortunately they weren't this particular morning. The rig ran over him. His buddies at the scene said he was conscious and alert albeit in a lot of pain. They were clearly in shock and had no idea how badly he was injured. The helicopter diverted from UT to Blount Memorial in the air. Sad day on the Hill."
-Gap News

"If he would of come back to the camper after his first run, I would of been on the back of that bike. God I miss that man so much. He was my everything."
-Twincult, Gap News

"This is Lacy, Ike's wife although never married we looked at each other as being gods children and as we lived together we shared the same respect for each other as those should do when they are married. Ike was the love of my life. I was there laying with him after the crash and held onto his hand talking to him telling him I loved him repeatedly. His spirit lives on in most of us and he will live on in me till the day I die. One day I will be back to that road, but until then he will be riding that road in the clouds above passing everyone up and laughing while doing it. Not many could pass us up on that road but when they did we both enjoyed trying to safely keep up. Thanks everyone for the time of our lives on that road."
-A memorial for fallen rider Ike Woodard

"Kristy and I passed through the accident scene several times. I was trying to use all the reference points painted on the road to imagine if, given the same circumstances, I could have avoided Ike's fate. At 37MPH on the Futura two-up, hard braking from where the surveyors said Ike gained a sight line on the truck, it was impossible to avoid the spot in the road the investigation said the trailer tires were. I likely set up for that decreasing radius turn a little differently than Ike did, but still, I would have been under that trailer, too. If I would have been cooking it on the Gixxer, it would have been even worse. So, let me ask you (all). Which is the bigger danger, a truck in the wrong corner at 37MPH or a cop in the wrong corner at 37MPH? And go ahead and tell me I was speeding."
-Gap News

"Just got back from chilhowee dam fishing. first a bcso went flying by, then about 10 to 15 minutes later here came the ambulance. another 15 to 20 minutes and i hear and see lifestar coming in on it's circular path to make it's landing. hopefully it was no-one from here. he was alive when they put him in the bird. got some video of lifestar lifting off from the phone as well. The man that went down was a guy from Indiana just passing through with his two brothers. He lost control and crossed into the oncoming lane and was hit head on by a dodge RAM pickup. It was the same turn where Ike was killed. Sti_guy and I were one of the first ones on the scene. Not that I needed another reminder, but it took about an hour and a half between the time the guy crashed and the ambulance was leaving not to mention the drive to the chopper and the flight. 20 leo on foothilis."
-Gap News

Friends of Ike on the Dragon

Crash on ‘Dragon’ claims biker after motorcycle collides with tractor-trailer

By Iva Butler
ivab@thedailytimes.com
Maryville Daily Times
2011-08-03

A motorcyclist died of injuries he suffered Wednesday morning when his bike collided with a flatbed tractor-trailer on a section of U.S. 129 known as “The Dragon.”

The accident was reported at 9:42 a.m. near Mile Marker 3 on “The Dragon,” which runs from Tab Cat Creek Bridge to the North Carolina line. Lifestar was called to fly the severely-injured motorcyclist to University of Tennessee Medical Center, but he did not survive the injuries, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol dispatcher.

The name of the victim was being withheld Wednesday pending notification of family.

Motorcyclist Glenn Shilenberg, of Amburn, Pa., told a reporter he witnessed the crash, saying, “The trailer tires were on the other side of the white line.”

The motorcycle, which was traveling south, came around a curve three miles from the North Carolina line and encountered the northbound tractor-trailer. The back wheels of the trailer were over the white line on the motorcyclist’s side of the roadway, Shilenberg said.

“The poor guy didn’t stand a chance,” he said.

Motorcyclists who were riding with the man said he was from Tennessee, but did not know what city.

A logo on the driver’s side door identified the tractor as belonging to Thom’s Transport Co. in Blackbear, Ga.

On Wednesday afternoon a Tennessee Highway Patrol dispatcher confirmed troopers were investigating a fatality on The Dragon.

THP officers were still conducting the investigation Wednesday and could not be reached.

Also responding to the scene Wednesday morning were Blount County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Rural/Metro Ambulance Service.

99 Comments (Dragonater comment censored by Daily Times owned and edited by Knoxville News Sentinel (a member of Bohemian Grove homosexual nudist compound performing snuff kiddie porn to Satan)

This sucks. They really NEED to ban tractor trailers from that stretch of road. The picture shows everything you need to know. Why is it ok for the truck to take up THAT MUCH OF THE ROAD in an area where there are so many blind corners? And for those that don't know the area, it's very clearly marked that trucks should consider other routes, but they need to ban them entirely.

The problem for truckers not familiar with the Dragon is the maps don't show all the turns and once they get into it, there is nowhere to turn around. NC and TN need to post signs banning anything larger that a box truck from the Dragon.

Yes, this needs to be a wakeup call to ban tractor trailers off this road. It is much too dangerous as you can read many stories like this.

Tractor trailer trucks should not be allowed on that road.

The damn tractor trailer has no business being on that road! Throw the book at him, as he was over the white line! They do need to ban the jerks with tractor trailers that try to do the Dragon! It's just stupidity!

I rode the Dragon a couple years ago. It is virtually impossible to drive a tractor-trailer through there. And, they have signs at both ends telling trucks not to enter. don't see how anything larger than a pickup truck could navigate that road.

I know, I rode it in '04. It is impossible, but they still think they're cool and do it! Cause no one has barred them yet. On killboy.com, there's a blue tractor...with trailer that jacknifed on there. Not sure what year, wanna say '06-'07???

As a truck driver, I agree. Trucks should be prohibited from the Dragon.
My condolences to his friends and family.

I've done the Dragon 4 times on different bikes but have almost always come around a curve with a truck or a pickup pulling a trailer on my side of the double yellow line. Therefor I ride on the inside line next to the curve. You can't go as fast but you are safe.

Rip ike. U were such a joy 2 b around& a great friend 2 us all.

See also:

Crash on 'The Dragon' kills motorcyclist - Let the biker bashing begin at Knoxville News Sentinel Police State Lovefest, where Free Speech and the Dragonater are banned forever. No mention that the truck was blocking both lanes, no crash photo of course, despite KNS owning the Maryville Daily Times. Typical lies that trucks cannot be banned from US highways, when trucks are already banned from federal jurisdiction in Blount County on Foothills Parkway and on US441 in Sevier County.

I'm Dwight's daughter, and he was a motorcyclist with 30+ years of experience. There should have never been a tractor trailer on The Dragon. It was definitely the truck's fault, it crossed into the other lane. This happened while his club took its annual trip to Deal's Gap. He was alone when the wreck happened.

So my post that included Youtube videos of tractor trailers crossing the center median on 129 was removed by the site staff (I'm assuming because they had a link to another website). That being said, you can go on the internet and find several videos of people driving tractor trailers on the dragon and crossing the center line. These trucks should not be allowed on this road. It is not physically possible for them to negotiate the turns without crossing over into oncoming traffic.

Technically, if he crossed over the center line and hit the rider...he committed vehicluar homicide. Vehicular homicide (also known as vehicular manslaughter) involves death that results from the negligent operation of a vehicle, or more so a result from driving while committing an unlawful act that does not amount to a felony. Crossing double yellow lines is an unlawful act that is not a felony.

I enjoy visiting & photographing the dragon whenever I’m home for vacations. Most bikers I witness are cautious and not driving recklessly. . I have experienced far more rude and reckless truckers than motorcyclist. The highway is clearly posted with signs warning trucks to use alternate route. But since most 18 wheelers believe they “own” the road, and can do anything they want, they ignore it. I hope the truck driver is charged with manslaughter for killing this biker.

Traveling at less than 10mph I doubt this tractor-trailer suddenly lurched across the highway immediately in front of the rider. The Last Clear Chance doctrine may apply here. Fortunately for the rider's family; the accident occurred in Tennessee rather than North Carolina. (a Contributory Negligence state) If in NC, there would likely be enough evidence already deny a liability claim and lawsuit triumph. In Tennessee, the family will have more of a chance to collect.

I wrote a research paper on motorcycle deaths and it was the older than 45 group who died at a ratio of 3.7/1 over the younger riders. Even scarier is the fact that the accident related deaths were single vehicle deaths with no other vehicles involved. You would think it was kids on crotch rockets dying but it is the people riding touring bikes that are dying at a much higher rate. These numbers are over all and not related to the Dragon's Tail. Here is a webiste I found on deaths on the Dragon. Even between sport bikes and touring bikes.

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Trucks on the Dragon August 2011


Trucks on the Dragon August 2011


Trucks on the Dragon August 2011

Motorcycle driver dies on way to hospital after crash along "The Dragon"

WBIR TV
Aug 3, 2011

The driver of a motorcycle died on the way to the hospital after his motorcycle hit a truck while driving along "The Dragon."

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a tractor trailer was traveling along the highway at mile marker 5 when part of the truck crossed over a center line in a curve.

The motorcycle, driven by 45-year-old Dwight Woodard, was traveling southbound and hit the truck driven by 47-year-old Bobby Coleman. The motorcycle and Woodard went under the truck and was run over by its wheels.

Officials transported Woodard to Blount Memorial. While he was alive and talking at the scene, he died on his way to the hospital.

According to officials, the accident happened close to 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning three miles from the North Carolina state line.

Charges for the incident are pending.

Previous story

Blount County dispatchers confirm a motorcyclist and a tractor trailer were involved in an accident on Highway 129, also known as "The Dragon," near the North Carolina state line around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The Blount County Sheriff's Office, Rural Metro, and THP were called to the scene.

Details are not being released on the extent of any injuries.

4-HOUR AMBULANCE SERVICE ON THE DRAGON







TRUCKS GONE WILD ON THE DRAGON

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Crashes are big bucks for Butler's Police State WreckING Service Chop Shop at Deals Gap...lure em in and make em crash

Yes, trucks and truckers are essential to the survival of every person in USA. But most trucks on the Dragon are there by accident, since most maps show it as a straight road, and trucking companies won't warn their new drivers. Warning signs at each end of the Dragon warn truckers to turn around to avoid switchbacks.

There are many who PREFER the crash rate increase on the Dragon...and towtruckers run the cartheft rackets with police.

The Wreckers: A Story of Killing Seas and Plundered Shipwrecks, from the 18th-Century to the Present Day

Though Daphne Du Maurier made Cornwall Britain's most notorious region for wrecking, many other coastal communities regarded the "sea's bounty" as an impromptu way of providing themselves with everything from grapefruits to grand pianos. Some plunderers were held to be so skilled that they could strip a ship from stem to stern before the Coast Guard had even left port, some were rumored to lure ships onto the rocks with false lights, and some simply waited for winter gales to do their work.

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WRECKING

Wrecking is the practice of taking valuables from a shipwreck which has foundered near or close to shore. Often an unregulated activity of opportunity in coastal communities, wrecking has been subjected to increasing regulation and evolved into what is now known as marine salvage. Wrecking is no longer economically significant; however, as recently as the 19th century in some parts of the world, it was the mainstay of otherwise economically marginal coastal communities.

There are legends that some ships were deliberately lured into danger by a display of false lights. John Viele, retired U. S. Navy officer and author of a history of wrecking in the Florida Keys, states that such tricks simply would not work. He points out that mariners interpret a light as indicating land, and so avoid them if they cannot identify them. Moreover, oil lanterns cannot be seen very far over water at night, unless they are large, fitted with mirrors or lenses, and mounted at a great height (i.e., in a lighthouse). In hundreds of admiralty court cases heard in Key West, Florida, no captain of a wrecked ship ever charged that he had been led astray by a false light.[1] A Bahamian wrecker, when asked if he and his crewmates made beacons on shore or showed their lights to warn ships away from the land at night, is reported to have said, "No, no [laughing]; we always put them out for a better chance by night".[2]

Legend maintains that the town of Nags Head, North Carolina takes its name from wreckers deploying false lights. The Nags Head legend states that in the 18th century, wreckers would hang lanterns from the necks of mules (colloquially called "nags" at the time) and walk the animals very slowly up and down the beach. The alleged intent was to fool mariners into believing that the slow-moving lights were ships drifting at rest or at anchor, prompting the ships to change course and subsequently run aground. However, despite the prevalence of the legend and the local assertion of its truth, no concrete evidence exists to substantiate the claim.

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False Lights

If you can see a lighthouse, you know to avoid that piece of the sea, as someone has gone to a lot of trouble to build a tower with a light on it. However, if there are no lighthouses, then which direction is safe open water and which direction is dangerous coast? You don't know. However, suppose you happen to spot a ship in the distance, with its lights gleaming far away, there's a good chance that there's water inbetween it and you. Therefore, that is a pretty good guess as a direction to steer. If that is a real ship, with real lights, it's a good bet. But this is where "false lights" come into meaning...

At night, at sea, it's far from obvious that the distance is land or sea or sky. A ship in the far distance moves about in a particular way, and the lights move relative to the surface of the sea, which is itself moving. What ship-wreckers are alleged to do is to move hand-held lanterns about in such a way that they mimick far away ships. The wreckers' lamps are held on land and high up (sometimes on cliffs) so they appear to be higher-up in the picture, and in a false perspective, there is an impression that they are much further away, and on the sea.

Another thing which makes the idea of "false lights" have some credibility is the type of story where the wreckers would parade along the sea-front very slowly with a donkey and the lantern hanging from the donkey's neck. If it's all a made-up story, then why invent an idea that someone would go to the trouble of having an animal to carry a lamp? Also, why is it supposed to be going "slowly"? I would speculate that the nodding motion of the donkey walking along slowly would have a motion which to a distant observer would appear like a ship in the far distance.

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Wreckers were some of the wealthier citizens in the Florida Keys during the Pirate heydays!

Wreckers refers to the people who would go out and salvage the crew, ship and cargo of ships that had ran aground on the reefs of the Florida keys. Some of this happened out of heroism and some out of piracy. A reward or payment was expected.

It’s believed that the Bahamians turned wrecking into an industry. They organized it so that a claim could be filed in Nassau or Havana . The claim could also be settled between the owner of the shipwreck and the salvagers. Many records exist showing that the whole ship, cargo, crew and passengers were saved from many ships.

After all was taken from the wreck, the ship would be set on fire. The wreckers didn’t want anything left that would warn other ships of the dangerous reef below the water. They would also move lights around or snuff them completely out to trick the ships into running onto the shallow reefs.

The Upper Keys had especially dangerous waters for the large overloaded ships. Many wreckers would hang out near Carysfort Reef and Tavernier while waiting on a wreck to happen.

In 1822 the West Indies Anti-Piracy Squadron was sent to get rid of the pirates in the Florida Keys Waters. The problem was that there were no written legal statutes concerning piracy.

The Federal Government didn’t concern themselves with this. The Territory of Florida set it’s own wrecking acts in 1823. The last law concerned the making or holding of false lights, devices, or anything “with the intent to mislead, bewilder or decoy the mariners of any vessel on the high seas, whereby such vessel may be cast ashore, or get aground...” “If convicted,... be deemed guilty of felon, and shall suffer death.”

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Jamaica Inn is a novel by the English writer Daphne du Maurier, first published in 1936. It was later made into a film, also called Jamaica Inn, by Alfred Hitchcock. It is an eerie period piece set in Cornwall in 1820; the real Jamaica Inn still exists and is a pub in the middle of Bodmin Moor.[1] The plot follows a group of murderous wreckers who run ships aground, kill the sailors and steal the loot.

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TriumphRAT.net Censored Posts on Crash Reconstruction and Survival Riding Tips - Most photos censored

QUOTE=HAP;1987370

Earlier in this thread I got pms beating me to a pulp for inferring that riders had adopted the Dragon for their private race track. That truckers have the same rights to use a US highway as any other vehicle. That Tenn. controls the road and there were little towns along the way needing services.

It is very satisfying that after 4-5 days of reading posts that the need for you tube fame, adrenaline causing speed limit breaking adventure, close call peg scraping, knee dragging, near death corner mis haps and the chance to be have your photo taken by Dragon shooters and maybe even have the bragging rites to a piece of your bike hung on the tree of shame proves my original contention. This entire thread turned from a safety argument about trucks being to big for the road to getting any truck off the road for the squids to be able to play their death cheating racer game on it.

The quoting of track day instructors directions was also a dead give a way that people paid their money on a track to learn how to drag a knee at the Dragon. A DEATH MAP? Give me a break.

As I said before, I had been riding that stretch of road before the general bike public knew it was there, I even have my stupid squid photos from several years of knee, peg dragging. But when the wanna be racer squids came I left. You want hair raising fun in the corners then stay on a track or go find a much less traveled road. Quit crying about bikers going to fast, missing the corner and finding some unexpected obstruction in the way. Yes, very sad for the family but it happens to riders going to work, coming home from a run every day and they try to be prepared for it. If we keep going this way maybe we will uncover a real conspericy.

Every road has a Death Map, but nobody cares except on the Dragon. Govt changes the name to Fatality Map.

If you want to learn how to ride safely on the street, you have no choice but to go to school on a race track, because learning how to ride safely is a CRIME on the street. BTW you can drag a knee at 20 mph in a parking lot, or at least I can. Cops and Gold Wing riders pride themselves in dragging pegs in parking lots and the Dragon. Dragging knees and pegs is mandatory in emergency situations as the only way to change direction quickly to avoid impact.

Riding safely is a crime on the street. Every driver and every rider commits dozens of crimes every day, subject to years in jail for each day driving (except in a few states that define the highway code as civil not criminal). Tennessee Code requires 30 days in jail for every driver exceeding the speed limit by 1 mph. Does that sound right to you?

Ignorance is bliss to the sheeple, but that don't change this fact of law.

There's an opportunity this fatality will result in a ban on tractor trailers on the Dragon, which benefits truck drivers by preventing expensive single-vehicle truck crashes costing up to $100,000 each. Most rookie truckers have no idea that road is so impassible by looking at their maps.

That's why the Dragon is special, because it's the only road I know of where riders actually pride themselves on riding skill, not by how much beer they can drink. But that's changing with the Police State crackdown at the Gap, with up to 36 cops per 22 mile lap, resulting in boycott by skilled riders, who are replaced with unskilled novice riders and unskilled cruisers making beer and dope runs (pirates who fall down in parking lots and hit other bikes head-on).

THIS POST WAS BANNED AND THREAD CLOSED BY TRIUMPHRAT.NET

Effort to Choke Tax-Payer Funding to Planned Parenthood - Each year, the abortion industry receives millions of our tax dollars to advance its destructive agenda. And, each year, more and more Americans demand that their hard-earned paychecks not fund the killing of preborn children, the wounding of their mothers, and the advancement of a culture of death in America. Last year alone Planned Parenthood Federation of America collected $363 million in taxpayer dollars. In January, Students for Life of America released a new study showing that 44.3% of college-and university-sponsored health care plans cover elective abortions. And, in those schools, 38 or 44% of abortion health care plans are automatically placed on students’ tuition bills. Not only are pro-life students paying for their peers’ abortions, but taxpayers’ dollars have also been contributed to student abortions through federal education grants - in direct violation of the Hyde Amendment. The Hyde Amendment strictly prohibits all federal funding of abortions and is placed in the Appropriations Act which covers the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Department of Education. A poll conducted last November found that 61% of Americans oppose paying for abortion with their hard-earned tax dollars. Women, particularly, have opposed it, with 70% rejecting the notion in a poll at this time last year.

Planned Parenthood Struggles to Retain Taxpayer Funding in Indiana - The state of Indiana recently passed a bill barring state Medicaid funding from going to abortion providers. As the largest abortion chain in Indiana, Planned Parenthood would no longer receive reimbursements from the government for seeing Medicaid patients. Planned Parenthood has filed a federal lawsuit against Indiana in an attempt to force Indiana to restore their government funding. They are claiming that the Indiana law violates a federal statute. The Obama administration is supporting funding Planned Parenthood and is threatening to remove $4.2 billion in federal Medicaid funding from Indiana if they do not start funding Planned Parenthood again.

Governor of Tennessee, owners of Knoxville News Sentinel and Maryville Daily Times, US presidents, members of Congress and US Supreme Court judges in Roe v Wade performing annual human sacrifice and snuff kiddie porn to Molech in Monte Rio, California, under protection by Secret Service, FBI and Sonoma County Sheriff Office

"Why shouldn't fact be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, HAS to make sense."
-Mark Twain, aka Sam Clemens, member of the Bohemian Club at Bohemian Grove homosexual nudist presidential retreat

No, Big Brother not only does not love you, He wants to murder you and your children to worship Satan! So why the Hell would Big Brother care about saving bikers on the Dragon?

Final post by admin before THREAD CLOSED:

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Get the truck outta here

SlayerHater.com

A fan forwarded these emails to Slayer Hater asking us to post without contact information. It would appear that North Carolina is ahead of the curve in banning trucks on Deals Gap. Soon signs will be posted on the NC side telling of existing truck restrictions. NCDOT also plans to ask Tennessee to enact similar ordinances or in the very least post signage warning of NC's restrictions. This may be the beginning of some real progress on the truck problem:

From: Mark H
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 9:40 AM
To: Deitz, Sandy K
Subject: Signage reflecting recent truck restrictions on US129 and NC28


Sandy,

Who would I contact regarding signage along NC28 and US129 reflecting the current restrictions to through trucks with trailers over 30'? As you may know, a motorcyclist was killed by a north bound truck pulling a 48' spread axle flatbed trailer on US129 at the 5MM in Tennessee on August 3rd, 2011. Being that the truck was northbound, it violated NC law to get to the accident scene in Tennessee. Lack of signage may have contributed to this tragedy.

Any information on a contact about this matter would be appreciated. I am just a motorcyclist seeking to help stop trucks from wandering into that area as they are unable to safely negotiate that region and increased motorcycle traffic means a dangerous traffic mix. Laws that are already in place could reduce their numbers and prevent some future tragedies. My friend was run over by a truck that shouldn't even have been there.

Thanks very much for any help you can offer,

Mark H.
__________________________________________________


From: Deitz, Sandy K
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 11:19 AM
To: Mark H
Cc: Moore, Reuben E; Cook, Scott E
Subject: RE: Signage reflecting recent truck restrictions on US129 and NC28


Mark I am coping this request to Rueben Moore, Division Operation Manager and Scott Cook, Traffic Services Engineer. Both of these engineers can be reached at xxx-xxx-xxxxI think they
Will be able to answer your questions.
Sandy Deitz

________________________________

From: Moore, Reuben
To:Mark H

CC:
Subject: RE: Signage reflecting recent truck restrictions on US129 and NC28
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:48:43 +0000

We will review the current signing and trucks restrictions and report back to you.


Reuben E. Moore, PE
Division Operations Engineer
NCDOT - Div. 14 - Sylva
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XXX_XXX_XXXX

______________________________


From: Mark H
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2011 7:03 AM
To: Moore, Reuben E
Subject: RE: Signage reflecting recent truck restrictions on US129 and NC28


Thanks very much, Reuben.


Mark H



______________________________________________



-----Original Message-----
From: Moore Reuben
Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:37:49
To: Mark H
Cc:
Subject: RE: Signage reflecting recent truck restrictions on US129 and NC28

The present signing only gives "warnings" to truckers of winding road conditions, but there are ordinances in place that apply to "thru" trucks only. DOT is not obligated to post signs of these restrictions, but truckers are responsible for knowing about them by accessing an online database. The current restriction would not apply to "local" truck trips, which is defined as a trip origin or destination within the restricted section of highway.

The traffic engineers that report to the State Traffic Engineer, in consultation with Division 14 engineers, have decided to recommend changing this ordinance to "No Trailers over 30 feet", and that this ordinance will have signs posted. Further, it will apply to all vehicles, regardless of whether the trip is local or through.

It is likely to take two to three months for the ordinance to be approved and for safety money to be appropriated for the fabrication and placement of the required signs.

If you would provide me with a postal mailing address, we can keep you further advised with an official response.

Thank you for sharing your highway safety concerns with us.



Reuben E. Moore, PE
Division Operations Engineer
NCDOT - Div. 14 - Sylva
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___________________________________


-----Original Message-----
From: Mark H
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 3:14 PM
To: Moore, Reuben E
Subject: Re: Signage reflecting recent truck restrictions on US129 and NC28

Reuben,

Thank you for the reply and for the assistance.

If NC DOT isn't responsible for signs reflecting the current truck restrictions, who may I contact about their placement? There are signs reflecting similar restrictions to thru trucks on NC209 in Hot Springs which is Madison County. I understand there is no obligation to place signs warning truckers of restrictions, but it seems to me that such signs telling of restricted routes would be much more beneficial to the motoring public than the signs that are currently in place gently warning truckers of the mess they are getting into.

You are the experts, but changing the ordinance seems unnecessary as opposed to just indicating and enforcing the one already in place. Also, the existing thru truck restrictions include US129 from Topton, NC to the Swain County line. Are you proposing changing that ordinance to "nothing over 30' " as well? If so, Robinsville would be cut off from delivery which is not the objective.

The list of truck restrictions I am looking at may me wrong or you may have more up to date info so correct me if I'm wrong.

Again, thanks very much for taking this on. I do appreciate it.

Mark H



_________________________________



From:Moore, Reuben
To: Mark H.
CC:
Subject: RE: Signage reflecting recent truck restrictions on US129 and NC28
Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2011 13:29:17 +0000

Division 14 staff are in discussion with the State Traffic Engineering office to both review some of the ordinances that are in effect and to determine what, if any, should be the level of signing to place for truck restricted routes. The thinking has been that truckers are professionals who know they have a responsibility to know the rules under which they operate, and that signing that only applies to a minority of traffic should not be needed. This practice has been questioned on several truck restricted routes, and current discussion revolves around what conditions would justify the expense and need for signing for none, some, or all truck restricted routes.

I am not sure where you are talking about "US 129 from Topton, NC to the Swain County line." The only restriction I see on US 129 is in Swain County from the Cheoah Dam to the Tennessee State Line. Robbinsville can receive truck deliveries on US 129 via Topton and on NC 143/NC 28 via Stecoah/Almond.

Reuben E. Moore, PE
Division Operations Engineer
NCDOT - Div. 14 - Sylva
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(_)/ (_)


From: Mark H
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 12:09 PM
To: Moore, Reuben E
Cc: Cook, Scott E; Galloway, David D; Lacy, Kevin; Setzer, Joel B
Subject: RE: Signage reflecting recent truck restrictions on US129 and NC28


Reuben,

Thank you for your continuing attention to this matter. The family of the fallen rider and I do appreciate the effort.

I ride in western Swain and Graham counties almost weekly through the summer months. NC28 and US129 are roads I am quite familiar with. I was also an over the road truck driver for nine years. I stopped driving commercial vehicles in 2000. Since then, there have been many changes in the trucking industry. The most relevant change in the industry is the fact that companies are hiring many non-English speaking drivers. For the majority of truck drivers I have helped across US129, English is not their first language. Most of the others were led there by their GPS or the road looks to be passable in a trucker's atlas. I put my four-way flashers on and drive in front of the trucks to try and keep anyone from getting under one. I wasn't there early enough on the day of Ike's incident and I can't be there everyday.

Local drivers that know the region or seasoned mountain drivers aren't the issue. It's lost or mislead truckers who are likely inexperienced that pose a serious threat to the motoring public in general. Motorcyclists aren't the only affected road users in the area versus commercial vehicles. The presence of trucks is dangerous for everyone, including the trucker. I have attached a few photos of trucks on the worst part of US129. I have tons more and there are certainly many more past what I have.

One anecdote I feel illustrates this issue:
I was at the Deals Gap store the afternoon after Dwight "Ike" Woodard was killed and saw a THP stop a conventional tractor and 48' box van. This was on the NC side, mind you. Trooper Larry Skeen read the driver the riot act as he was the officer on the scene of Ike's accident. Trooper Skeen asked the driver why he came that way and if he'd seen the warning signs. In broken English, the trucker said, "Sign no say 'no.'" Trooper Skeen replied, "Well, you got me there." No one ended up under that particular truck.

The restriction on US129 from US74 to the Swain county line in Graham county prohibiting through trailers longer than 30' is outlined on page 5 of the NCDOT's list of statewide truck restrictions. It reads:
US129 | Graham County | No through truck tractors with trailers longer than 30 feet between US74(Topton, NC) and the Swain County line.

In addition:
US129 | Swain County | No through truck tractors with trailers longer than 30 feet, and no truck tractors with trailers longer than 48 feet, north of the Cheoah Dam between the Graham County line and the Tennessee state line.

The existing restrictions allow for deliveries locally, but if they were to be modified to include an all out truck ban, Robbinsville would have been affected as stated in your earlier email. I may have misunderstood you. If so, I apologize.

I don't really know how much signs cost, but I am certain I could raise the funds for any signs that are approved to go up. That is not an empty promise. That is a guarantee. If the state and/or Division 14 approved the signs, they'd be paid for. Just let me know. I could set up a memorial fund in "Ike's" name and that money would be there overnight. No BS, no question. Just give me a dollar amount.


Mark H



________________________________________________



From: Moore, Reuben
To: Mark H
CC:
Subject: RE: Signage reflecting recent truck restrictions on US129 and NC28
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:50:04 +0000

Thank you for the pictures and other additional information. Your perspective, interests, and background give us a better understanding of the situation.


We are continuing to develop a project to place signs advising of the truck restrictions in Graham and Swain Counties on US 129. The sign copy will include the word “NO”, and will include the color red which indicates a prohibition, as well as black wording on white background to indicate that the message is a restriction, not just a warning.


I believe you have correctly quoted the existing truck restrictions, and I think I can explain them to you. “No through trucks” means that “local” trucks are not bound by the restriction. It means that a truck of the restricted description, in this case a tractor pulling a trailer over 30 feet can be on the restricted route, if its origin or destination is along the restricted route. However, “No trucks” means that even local trucks are not allowed on this route, in this case if they are pulling a trailer that is longer than 48 feet. This restriction was intended to make it illegal to drive STAA-dimensioned trucks (53’ trailers) north of the Cheoah Dam on US 129. None of this makes it illegal to drive a STAA truck from Topton to or through Robbinsville all the way to the Cheoah Dam; however, if it passed the Dam it would be illegal. It is not our intention to make this illegal, but we are considering making it illegal for trucks pulling trailers longer than 30 feet to travel beyond the Cheoah Dam on in to Tennessee.


Again, thank you for your information, and we will continue to keep you advised of our progress in having truck restriction signs placed.


Reuben E. Moore, PE
Division Operations Engineer
NCDOT - Div. 14 - Sylva
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From: Mark H
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 12:30 PM
To: Moore, Reuben E
Subject: RE: Signage reflecting recent truck restrictions on US129 and NC28


Reuben,

I know you said you would update me regarding the sign project and its progress, but I just wanted to touch base with you and ask if there might be any progress you can share. We are still seeing many trucks in that area and I had occasion to speak with one of the drivers before he made his way across. He was completely unaware it was a restricted route and said he'd followed his GPS designed for use in a passenger car. He spoke with a heavy accent, but his English wasn't terrible. I videoed our conversation. A local motorcyclist offered to take him through and I helped him slide his axles all the way forward.

The driver does curse his GPS in the video so it may not be "safe for work," but it does illustrate a point. He ended up pressing on into Tennessee with the helpful motorcyclist in front of him. Without an escort, who knows what would happen.

Thanks again for your help in the matter.

Mark H


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7snFfu5Cn20



_____________________________


Some progress. We have a funded project to post regulatory signs, and the ordinance has been changed to restrict any trucks pulling trailers 30 feet or longer from being on US 129 between the Cheoah Dam and the Tennessee State Line.

We still need to design the signs, determine where signs need to be placed, and place the signs. We also need to coordinate with TennDOT to let them know what we are doing and ask if they would reciprocate or at least post signs advising of our restriction. I have been advised that the ordinance has been changed on the website and is therefore already in effect.


Thank you for the video. I’m guessing Russian or Armenian.


Reuben E. Moore, PE
Division Operations Engineer
NCDOT - Div. 14 - Sylva
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(_)/ (_)