Friday, July 3, 2009

Motorcycle Matters

Hello, This might be going to an unknown place. bob james

Robert “Bobby” James
1917 Ridgewood Lane
Pueblo, CO 81005-2520
AMA # 031352
AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST ASSOCIATION
13515 YARMOUTH DR.
PICKERINGTON OH 43147-9913
March 4, 2004
Dear Motorcyclists Matter:

After all of these years of reading about motorcyclist getting killed, I finally want to get more involved. Every since my brother, Frank James was killed on his 1940 Harley-Davidson 74 Flat Head at Tacoma, WA on the night of July 18, 1942. Private 1st Class Frank James was in the U. S. Army and he followed a double line around a curve that ended up at non-flashing amber light on a dividing concrete street bulkhead. There had been accidents at this location before and some after Frank’s accident. After the Army escorted Frank’s body and shipped his badly wrecked motorcycle back to us, I made a vow to God that I would prove that motorcycles were just as safe as automobiles.
Over the 62 years, I feel that I have failed. My brother, Raleigh James has ridden many more miles on a motorcycle than I have. Raleigh & Frank started riding at the same time in 1937. Raleigh still has a couple that he rides. I have one that I have not licensed for maybe ten years. Every year, I plan to start riding again, but I think that I’m getting scared out.

Just last week on Friday afternoon, February 27, 2004, Richard A. Miller, 55, was riding a red Yamaha motorcycle westbound on East Fourth Street about 3:30 p.m. when a 79 year old man driving a 1985 Chevrolet truck was stopped at a stop sign south-bound on Norwood Avenue, at the intersection with Fourth Street.
The truck driver reported that he did not see the motorcycle and pulled out onto Fourth Street. The motorcycle was in the right hand lane and not speeding. The motorcyclist did not have time to react and slammed into the truck. The rider went down hard against the pavement and received serious head injuries. He was taken to Parkview Medical Center and was undergoing surgery late Friday night.
According to Pueblo Police Sgt. Brett Wilson, drugs and alcohol did not appear too had been factors and neither driver was speeding. The accident is still under investigation. No charges have been filed against the truck driver.
The next day, Pueblo Chieftain had this heading: “Motorcyclist dies from injuries.”
A 55-year-old Pueblo man has died as a result of injuries sustained in an accident Friday.
Richard Miller died at Parkview Medical Center Friday night as a result of closed-head injuries, said Pueblo County Coroner James Kramer.
Miller was riding his 1998 Yamaha V-Star motorcycle westbound about 3:30 p.m., according to Pueblo Police Sgt.Brett Wilson. A 1985 Chevy half-ton truck driven by Eduardo Gallegos, 79, entered the intersection southbound from the Norwood stop sign and pulled in front of Miller, who was in the right-hand lane. Miller, who was not wearing a helmet, hit the truck and was thrown from his motorcycle. Gallegos was not injured in the crash. Pueblo Police Capt. George Rivera said Gallegos is Miller’s father-in-law.
No charges have been filed against Gallegos, Wilson said. Detectives are continuing to investigate the accident.
In the Funeral Notice of Wednesday, March 2, 2004 of the same newspaper: There is a picture of Richard A. Miller and this is what was printed:
Richard A. Miller, 55, passed away Feb.27, 2004 at Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo. He was born on Aug. 29, 1948 in Richland, Wis. A resident of Pueblo for 12 years, he worked for Kurt Manufacturing for 38 years. He is survived by sons, Anthony Miller of Colorado Springs; Derek Miller of San Antonio, Texas, and daughter, MeiLon Rollins of Colorado Springs. He was grandpa Motorcycle to his 4 grandchildren, Alex and Nicole Miller, and Lauren and Taylor Rollins. He loved riding his motorcycle and enjoyed the outdoors. Services are to be held at Swan-Law Funeral Home at 501 N. Cascade Ave. in Colorado Springs. Memorials may be made to P. O. Box 26117, Colorado Springs, CO 80936.

I’m going to see if I can send this to you. If you need the clippings from the newspaper, please let me know.

Sincerely,
Robert James or Bobby James, 80N, Retired Indian Racer, Class of 1945-50.