Motorcycles: loved by so many and feared by the rest. These bi-wheeled speed machines have been the cause of thrilling rides and, unfortunately, horrific accidents. The same can be said for Santa Rosa student Quinn Cunningham, whose recent accident was a grim reminder of the dangers of these street machines.
His recent crash was a great representation of the incompetence of modern drivers. On May 7th of 2023 a blue sedan hesitated while making a left turn into a local center, lending Cunningham to clip the fender of the driver. This shocking video, captured from a nearby security camera, portrays the scene in its entirety.
Cunningham’s brush with death was certainly an experience he would never forget. While, thankfully, he left the scene of the accident nearly unscathed, he was ingrained with a new view of the road.
“This crash was on a whole other level,” stated Cunningham. “This is something that has made me more aware while riding and to make sure this never happens again.”
Cunningham used the accident to write his Personal Narrative Writing Assignment for English IV. He describes the crash in detail after having flown sixty feet from his motorcycle.
“I see a car in the suicide lane facing towards me and figure they are going to stop because all of the cars and bikes heading towards them from the stop light,” Quinn begins. It wasn’t until I got closer to the car that I realized that they were not stopping. Their vehicle was heading towards me and then made the left turn into the middle of my lane, it wasn’t until they noticed me heading towards them that it became a problem. When the man in the car noticed me coming towards him he panicked and slammed on the brakes. Now I am on a 500 pound motorcycle having to deal with a two and a half ton car stopped in the middle of my lane in front of me. As soon as they braked it only gave me one escape route and it was too late.”
Despite his scariest experience to date, Quinn suffered only minor injuries. His big toe was broken, and his leg was gashed, but he was able to walk away from the scene and sit on a nearby bench.
Motorcycles can be exceptionally dangerous machines; Quinn has certainly learned a valuable lesson all cyclists should heed: oftentimes, the most dangerous thing on the road is other drivers. Stay safe out there.
