Atlanta scooterist killed

amy · Post by **amy** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:17 pm

Horrid to say the least.

PLEASE look left, then right, then left again before you enter an intersection. I do that and give a 5 second count at many intersections here - especially on left hand turns.

http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/man-72 ... 59478.html

http://norcross.patch.com/articles/fata ... o-10347197

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:21 pm

There really are people out there that are trying to kill you (and me). Do everything you can to reduce their chances.

Mousenut · Post by **Mousenut** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:30 pm

I think the cop in the tan pants is my brother in law. I texted him to see if he can tell me more...

Mousenut · Post by **Mousenut** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:51 pm

Not him but my sister (also a cop) said it will most likely be either involuntary vehicular homicide or some form of manslaughter. She is at home today so doesn't know much yet.

amy · Post by **amy** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:56 pm

I hope so. I wrote to the reporter asking for a follow up article, as well as a more extensive story on 2-wheeled vehicles/car/road safety.

If you hear anything else please post

So far nobody in our Atlanta group seems to know the rider.

scudder · Post by **scudder** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:19 am

This is sad and my condolences go out to the family...The Atlanta area is horrible when it comes to unattentive drivers. I ride A bicycle and a scooter so I see first hand how most drivers simply do not care rather or not they could cause harm to you. Maybe we could do something for the family...I don't know, flowers or something.

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 3:29 am

rip

ride safe, all

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 3:39 am

RIP. Condolences to his family and friends. Terrible.

Ride safe everyone.

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 3:52 am

Sad. Condolences to the family.

phatch · Post by **phatch** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 4:52 am

Sad story. That intersection looks huge...

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 4:59 am

This is terrible. The warm winter and mild summer and high gas prices and drivers who are not used to so many two-wheel vehicles on the road has left us with too many tragedies in the last year or so. Every time I read about another one, I take a minute to feel truly grateful that I made it.

I hope that woman is charged to the fullest extent of the law, and then sued by the family. The man who hit me made a careless but honest mistake. Running a red light is like... rule number one of Driving a Car 101.

Uncle Groucho · Post by **Uncle Groucho** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 12:44 pm

I read about this yesterday and my first thought was if he was someone on the boards or a member of a local club. I'm sorry to say I didn't know him, but he was a scooterist which does make him one of us.

Is something ever so damned important that it's worth running a red light and killing someone?

Rest in peace, James Scarbrough.

amy · Post by **amy** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:33 pm

scudder wrote:This is sad and my condolences go out to the family...The Atlanta area is horrible when it comes to unattentive drivers. I ride A bicycle and a scooter so I see first hand how most drivers simply do not care rather or not they could cause harm to you. Maybe we could do something for the family...I don't know, flowers or something.

I agree, scudder. I'll see what I can do to find out more.

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:46 pm

Poor guy!

I hope she gets the max punishment. We've all been in a hurry, we've all done dumb things. Hopefully this helps override the temptation...

Be safe everyone!

Mutt the Hoople · Post by **Mutt the Hoople** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 2:33 pm

Poor man. I feel terrible for his family. Father's Day was yesterday and they had to face the rest of their lives with no dad, no grandfather because someone else was driving a car but was too distracted or in too much of a hurry to stop for a red light. I hope they throw the book at her. The sad part is that even if they do, it will be unlikely to make anyone re-think their own driving habits. Most people out there will blame the guy on the scooter or motorcycle just because of WHAT he was riding, not HOW he was riding it or now the driver in the car ran a red.

EastAtlantaScoot · Post by **EastAtlantaScoot** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 2:44 pm

Tough news to hear this am

There are parts of Atlanta as I am sure in most places where riding is more of a risk than others. I stick to riding inside the perimeter and try to use side streets as much as possible. A shame I feel the need to do so, but so many drivers here are very impatient and aggressive.

RIP James

Stormswift · Post by **Stormswift** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 3:32 pm

One of the problems is that we have both warning yellow and red light on the same device. Cost saving it may be but certainly not life saving. If we had double lights, yellow first and enough distance away from red light people will know that by the time they reach intersection it will be red and there is no use trying to make it across on on yellow. In some States to make money on tickets DMV cut down on time between yellow changing to red. In other words you run a higher chance of getting rear ended now than before. Bad enough if you are in a cage. Much worse if you are on two wheels. I doubt they were thinking of riders when they thought they can make more money by issuing tickets.

Mutt the Hoople · Post by **Mutt the Hoople** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 3:54 pm

Stormswift wrote:One of the problems is that we have both warning yellow and red light on the same device. Cost saving it may be but certainly not life saving. If we had double lights, yellow first and enough distance away from red light people will know that by the time they reach intersection it will be red and there is no use trying to make it across on on yellow. In some States to make money on tickets DMV cut down on time between yellow changing to red. In other words you run a higher chance of getting rear ended now than before. Bad enough if you are in a cage. Much worse if you are on two wheels. I doubt they were thinking of riders when they thought they can make more money by issuing tickets.

True. In Saint Louis City they installed red light cameras (which have now been declared unconstitutional... Just in the city, the county red light. Eras have this far not been ruled against) and on the intersections that have the cameras, the length of time the yellow lights have been set at we're significantly shorter. Meaning the city made more money at the expence of public safety. On top of that. recently. Instead of having a green left hand turn arrow giving the right of way, and a plain green light, meaning you can turn left only if there is no oncoming traffic ... Drivers wanting to turn left have to yield; now they have added a flashing yellow arrow which means the same as a plain green... If you are turning left you have to yield to oncoming traffic. It had not been publicized much. The only reason I know is because I moved from another state and had to take the written test to change my license. However, most people just renew their license as they were already residents. Another problem is Illinois drivers... They don't have stupid flashing arrows there yet (good thing). But I know so many people who have had close calls because they see the flashing yellow arrow and assume they need to do their left hand turn before the arrow goes off or goes red. There are signs that say flashing yellow arrow means to give right of way to oncoming traffic... But you have time to read it if you are stopped. Not if you have known the intersection for years and always had an ordinary green arrow. Most people who see the flashing arrow assume that it means it will change... Not that it means you no longer have the right away. Yes... You SHOULD read the signs but it is a poorly designed idea in my opinion, and will likely cause more accidents. Just what we need.

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 5:07 pm

What a horrible, horrible thing to happen. Life is way too short as it is...and then to have something like THIS happen...

Mousenut · Post by **Mousenut** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 5:25 pm

Article was updated to reflect the accident recreation from this morning.

uklemond · Post by **uklemond** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 5:30 pm

In my short time on the scoot in Boston, i have seen an abundance of idiots that run red lights, stop signs and even fail to yield to me at yield signs.

Thankfully i always expect them to cut me up so am always defensively at a safe distance so that i can hit the brakes or swerve safely. Either way it is amazing how INVISIBLE we are out there, and even worse how some drivers think that they own the roads and can just ignore all of the road signs and laws.

RIP to the poor fella, and condolences to his family. Hopefully the driver gets maximum sentence, there is just no excuse for this to happen that can be justified.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 5:51 pm

The Norcross Patch article seems to be more interested in the traffic disturbance. That's sad.

Edwub · Post by **Edwub** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 5:56 pm

Syd wrote:The Norcross Patch article seems to be more interested in the traffic disturbance. That's sad.

It's a Patch. It's associated with AOL and Huffington Post, they do "hyperlocal journalism." Most Patches (a lot of cities have them) have a single editor and then "freelance" journalist/contributors. They tend to be pretty factual, in terms of what's easiest to write down and "publish" and gain page views. I dislike them. My former city has one, and it tended to do similar (rehash police reports on crimes, rather than any real journalism or questioning). Traffic patterns are easy to document.

Regardless of source, what a tragic story.

Mousenut · Post by **Mousenut** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 6:55 pm

Family-Placed Death Notice

SCARBROUGH, James "Jim" James "Jim" H. Scarbrough, 72, of Norcross, GA passed away June 16, 2012. The funeral service will be held Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Crowell Brothers Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Peachtree Memorial Park, Norcross, GA. The family will receive friends Monday, June 18, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Mr. Scarbrough was a Retired Lt Colonel from the Tennessee Air National Guard. He served 30 years' with the EPA. He was also a Certified Conditioned Air Contractor. Mr. Scarbrough worked 15 years with the Gwinnett County Water Resources. He taught Sunday school at Norcross First Baptist for many years. He was a longtime resident and active member of the City of Norcross Planning and Zoning Appeals Board and Sustainable Norcross Commission. He is survived by his loving wife, Martha Scarbrough of Norcross, GA. sons and daughter in law; Jim Scarbrough of Asheville, NC, Mike and Nancy Scarbrough of Suwanee, GA, and Jeb Scarbrough of Atlanta, GA; 6 wonderful grandchildren; sisters; Rosemary Martin and Sue Adams. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund in his honor www.fallenheroesfund.org. Express online condolences at www.crowellbrothers.com. Crowell Brothers Funeral Home, Norcross, GA (770)448-5757 .

Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on June 18, 2012

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/atlant ... &fhid=5305

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 7:46 pm

"No man is an iland, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee...."

-John Donne, 1624

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 9:20 pm

Mousenut wrote:Family-Placed Death Notice

SCARBROUGH, James "Jim" James "Jim" H. Scarbrough, 72, of Norcross, GA passed away June 16, 2012. The funeral service will be held Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Crowell Brothers Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Peachtree Memorial Park, Norcross, GA. The family will receive friends Monday, June 18, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Mr. Scarbrough was a Retired Lt Colonel from the Tennessee Air National Guard. He served 30 years' with the EPA. He was also a Certified Conditioned Air Contractor. Mr. Scarbrough worked 15 years with the Gwinnett County Water Resources. He taught Sunday school at Norcross First Baptist for many years. He was a longtime resident and active member of the City of Norcross Planning and Zoning Appeals Board and Sustainable Norcross Commission. He is survived by his loving wife, Martha Scarbrough of Norcross, GA. sons and daughter in law; Jim Scarbrough of Asheville, NC, Mike and Nancy Scarbrough of Suwanee, GA, and Jeb Scarbrough of Atlanta, GA; 6 wonderful grandchildren; sisters; Rosemary Martin and Sue Adams. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund in his honor www.fallenheroesfund.org. Express online condolences at www.crowellbrothers.com. Crowell Brothers Funeral Home, Norcross, GA (770)448-5757 .

Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on June 18, 2012

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/atlant ... &fhid=5305

If I were in Atlanta and had a scooter and two working legs, I'd show up just so the scoot and I could pay respects.

Markfaz · Post by **Markfaz** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 12:26 am

"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God."

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941

From one Air Force family to another, thank you for your service...let your silver wings take you to new heights, where you may always have the wind under your wings, and peace off the nose of your craft...RIP

black sunshine · Post by **black sunshine** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 12:37 am

LunaP wrote:If I were in Atlanta and had a scooter and two working legs, I'd show up just so the scoot and I could pay respects.

I'm thinking about it . . . 40 minute ride from my work. If I can get off early I just might do it.

Stinkdyr · Post by **Stinkdyr** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 6:39 pm

uklemond wrote:In my short time on the scoot in Boston, i have seen an abundance of idiots that run red lights, stop signs and even fail to yield to me at yield signs.

Thankfully i always expect them to cut me up so am always defensively at a safe distance so that i can hit the brakes or swerve safely. Either way it is amazing how INVISIBLE we are out there, and even worse how some drivers think that they own the roads and can just ignore all of the road signs and laws.......

So true. I have to commute through Chinatown .... so I get my refresher course everyday.