I thought I would share this with you. I heard it on the news this morning. They are not sure yet if they are going to charge guy in the truck yet.Motorcyclist killed by flying matttress

Associated Press - June 28, 2010 7:14 PM ET

PRAIRIESBURG, Iowa (AP) - The Linn County Sheriff's office is investigating a fatal accident in which a motorcyclist was struck by a mattress that flew out of the back of a pickup truck.

Police say 73-year-old John Saddler of Cedar Rapids was riding his motorcycle near Prairiesburg on Saturday afternoon when he was struck by a mattress that blew out of the bed of a pickup driven by Roger Ockensfels.

Saddler, who was wearing a helmet, was knocked off his motorcycle and onto the shoulder of the road. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

Hope they charge him with unsecure load and the riders family sues his butt. On a side note-What has wearing a brain bucket have to do with this one? Up here if the fatality is on a bike it just says motorcycle but if the rider is on a hog they make a point of stating "While on a Harley Davidson" like it seems these bozo's get extra points or something. Stupid Media.

 

We had a similar thing happen up here in Minneapolis earlier this spring. I say charge the a-hole with negligent homicide. I can't stand idiot's who can't take the time to drive carefully, stop at stop lights, secure loads, etc.

Hang 'em high! Grrrrrrrr!

 

They should smother him to death with a Sealy posturepedic!

 

We live in Iowa .....So ya can probably haul anything and play a banjo, and get away with it!!!

 

Hope they don't outlaw matresses.

 

I was knocked off my bike last year by a mattress. I was doing 70 mph on the freeway and it came out from under the car in front of me. It flipped up in the air. I didn't even have time to react and I hit the ground. My bike continued cart wheeling down the road. I slid and bounced down the road for what seemed like forever. I was covered with road rash for two months and it was so bad they almost sent me to the burn ward for skin grafts. I had to have my right wrist rebuilt with a titanium plate and 12 screws. This was my first bad wreck in 30 years of riding.

 

 

A couple of weeks ago, I stopped and helped a kid load and tie down, (I tied it down since he had no clue how to) a mattress that blew out of his truck.
I walked back to my bike and he pulled up and I thought oh sheet, he's going to pull out in front of me with that load.
He was only stopping to ask if I wanted some bottled water. Thankfully he was going the other way.

 

That's why whenever possible I get out of the way of the way of any vehicle that is hauling anything. Here in NC **** fly off trailers and pickups all the time. If I can't get by them I keep my distance so I have more time to make a move if I have to.