Motorcyclist lays down his bike
6/5/09 | 12 comments

Motorcyclist lays down his bike


By Jessica Bloch
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY KEVIN BENNETT
Bangor Fire Department first responders (right) observe Dean Rouse (left) of Brownville as he stands next to his 2008 Suzuki after laying down his bike Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Ohio Street and Griffin Road to avoid a crash.

BANGOR, Maine — A motorcycle driver suffered minor injuries Thursday afternoon when he intentionally laid down his bike to avoid crashing into a van that had gone through a red light at the intersection of Ohio Street and Griffin Road, police said.

Police Sgt. Chip Hodges said Dean Rouse, 43, of Brownville was traveling southwest on Griffin Road on his yellow 2008 Suzuki DL650K when he saw a white 2000 GMC Safari van driven by Raymond Taylor, 47, of Glenburn go into the intersection, Hodges said. Taylor was heading west on Ohio Street.

Rouse intentionally skidded to avoid the van, but his motorcycle hit a 2004 Ford pickup truck driven by Walter Riegelman of Key West, Fla., which was sitting at the red light, Hodges said.

Taylor went through the red light because he was following Bangor police Officer Russ Twadell on a separate incident, and was afraid he would lose Twadell if he didn’t rush through the light, Hodges said.

The sergeant said Twadell and Taylor had arranged to meet at a store on the northeast corner of the intersection so Taylor could follow Twadell. Hodges would not say why the two planned to meet or where they were going.

Realizing an accident had just occurred, Twadell turned around.

Taylor was not charged in the incident.

Rouse was taken to St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor. He was treated, then released, according to a nursing supervisor. The motorcycle had an estimated $4,500 in damage, Hodges said.

Riegelman, 36, was not injured, but his truck had an estimated $3,000 in damage, Taylor said.

Not registered? Click here
E-mail this
Print this
Guidelines for posting on bangordailynews.com

Bangordailynews.com is pleased to offer a forum for readers to react to our stories, discuss them and provide additional information. We are reluctant to delete comments, but do reserve that right for those who abuse our forum. For more on using this site, please see our terms of service.

The primary rule here is pretty simple: Treat others with the same respect you'd want for yourself. What does that mean specifically? Here are some guidelines (see more):

Comments
12 comments on this item
On 6/4/09 at 11:44 PM, Kevin_of_Bangor wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The comments will be fun to read on this one.

Report abuse
On 6/5/09 at 5:31 AM, GMCsucks wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Not charged???? For PURPOSELY running a red light which consequently caused an accident????

Somebody please help me understand!

Report abuse
On 6/5/09 at 8:10 AM, agalwhoreads wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I agree GMCsucks. Why does it matter that Taylor was following a police officer? He broke the law, caused damage to two vehicles and a human life. Let's have some justice here.

Report abuse
On 6/5/09 at 8:29 AM, kal778 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Most people would have been charged for running a red light!!!

Report abuse
On 6/5/09 at 9:00 AM, eastmainer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

We watched a blue car run a left turn red arrow in Brewer yesterday. The driver made a left turn right in front of two vehicles coming through the intersection. Near miss .It could have caused a horrid accident.

Taylor should be charged and made to pay for damage in that accident. Running red lights for any reason is against the law. Luckily the motorcyclist wasn't killed .

Report abuse
On 6/5/09 at 9:20 AM, PabMainer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Thankful this guy riding the bike had the time and sense to "lay the bike down" or chances are he could have been more seriously injured...agree with the comments about being held responsible for driving thru a red light...this is a reason ambulance drivers with family of a patient following them to the hospital tell the family to not follow them closely and to obey all traffic laws (speed, stops etc) even if the ambulance is allowed to procede thru....

Report abuse
On 6/5/09 at 12:21 PM, DanielSchwartz wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

welcome to Bangor

Report abuse
On 6/5/09 at 4:41 PM, outlaw wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 6/7/09 at 8:48 AM, lots2say wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It doesn't sound like he had his lights and siren going...

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 12:57 PM, Erika2 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

outlaw.. if the cop had his lights and sirens on you MIGHT have a point. He should have to pay for damages...that's a busy intersection, someone could have really gotten hurt. Glad the guy on the bike as well as the other innocent people are OK...

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 1:22 PM, duckwa wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I'm not in law enforcement, but I can't imagine too many police officers that would have people tail them at over 100 miles per hour.

Report abuse
On 6/10/09 at 8:03 AM, LethbridgeStewart wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I think the motorcyclist has a civil case.

Report abuse
You must be logged in to post a comment. click here to log in.

Powered by: Creative Circle Advertising Solutions, Inc.