Received this in an e-mail from a fellow rider. I also did a search and found the article in the St. Petersburg Times.



ST. PETERSBURG — A woman died after the motorcycle she was riding on lost a wheel and crashed on Interstate 275 Thursday night, officials said.
The crash was reported at about 7:35 p.m. on southbound I-275 at 28th Street S.
According to troopers, a Tierra Verde couple was in the center lane when their 2009 "Harley Davidson TriGlide " lost one of its wheels.
William Riley, the driver, lost control. He and his wife, Janet Riley, were thrown onto the grassy median. Janet Riley, 63, died at the scene. William Riley, also 63, was taken to Bayfront Medical Center with serious injuries.
The accident was not alcohol-related, officials said. Both people were wearing helmets.
The left lane of the highway was blocked for more than an hour as Florida Highway Patrol troopers investigated.

 

Sad in my prayers and thoughts. I wonder what caused wheel to come off. The read diden't say if front or right or left rear. Wonder if it was a axel that let go. Wish there was more info.

 

Definately of interest to all of us Tri owner's! It will be especially interesting to know if that rear end had been worked on or the rear wheel had been off that Tri before the accident!
The heat problem may not seem so critical now if we have a problem with the differential or wheel assembly.
Thanks for the heads up ON-3, and I also hate to hear about anybody going down! Cringe thinking about it!

 

I am so saddened to hear of tragedies like this; however, it illustrates the importance of checking the torque on our lugs, especially those of us that have chromed our rear wheels, we should re-torque them after a hundred miles or so!

 

Very sad indeed. Your right on the money, folks who work on their own should get the proper tools and a service manual. It would be interesting to know which wheel came off and why.

 

Terrible, terrible tragedy!
I found the news article online from Tampa newspaper and there were some annoying comments...............
http://www.tampabay.com/news/publics...rashes/1070855

 

I found this, stating that the left rear wheel came off.

Accident

RJ

 

I agree with all, this was very sad. I just hope there is some way we can keep track of this tragedy and find out why/how it happened. There was a failure somewhere for the rear wheel too come off.

 

Has anyone emailed the writer of the article. she may know which wheel came off.

My system has a flaw and is very troublesome at best

 

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- A motorcycle crash on I-275 near 28th Street South seriously injured a man and killed a woman Thursday night.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, at about 7:30 p.m. William Riley, 63, of Tierra Verde, was riding a 2009 Harley Davidson TriGlide, a three-wheel motorcycle. Janet Riley, 63, of Tierra Verde, was a passenger.
FHP said they were traveling southbound on I-275 in the center lane when the left rear wheel of the bike came off, causing the William Riley to lose control.
Both Rileys were ejected into the grass median, where the motorcycle also landed.
Janet Riley died at the scene. William Riley was transported to Bayfront Hospital where he is in serious condition.