Man killed riding brand new motorcycle home

[PAFirefighter11]

Note the bold text...

NEW CASTLE, Del. - June 14, 2011 (WPVI) -- A Delaware man, who was riding a brand new motorcycle home with his son on the back, was killed when he lost control of the bike and flipped over.











The man has been identified as 37-year-old Anthony Brooks, Jr. of New Castle. His son has only been identified as a 19-year-old New Castle man.

The accident happened around 10:10 p.m. Monday while Brooks' wife, who had driven the father and son to the bike dealer, was driving behind them in the family car.

Police say Brooks was operating the 2005 Kawasaki motorcycle at a high rate of speed on New Castle Avenue when he lost control trying to make a left-hand turn onto Lambson's Lane.

The bike hit the curb and several concrete pillars.

Brooks was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say he was not wearing a helmet.

His body was turned over to the medical examiner's office where an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

The 19-year-old, who was wearing a helmet, was taken to Christiana Hospital. His injuries were described as non-life-threatening by police on Tuesday morning.

While the incident remains under investigation, police say both speed and alcohol are being considered as factors in this crash.

(Copyright ©2011 WPVI-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?se...cal&id=8189066







Latest version shows different events - note bold:

NEW CASTLE, Del. - June 14, 2011 (WPVI) -- A Delaware man, riding his motorcycle home with his son on the back, was killed when he lost control of the bike and flipped over, police say.

The man has been identified as 37-year-old accountant Anthony Brooks, Jr. of New Castle.

Brooks was not wearing a helmet, however, his passenger, his 19-year-old namesake son, was and survived.

"He loved his bike, he loved his family," Anthony Brooks III said.

The incident began last night when Anthony Brooks III could not get the 2005 Kawasaki motorcycle to start in a nearby park.

He called his parents, who said they would be right over.

Once they arrived, their son had already figured out the problem was the kickstand's positioning, which he fixed.

Anthony Brooks, Jr. told his son he would like to ride the bike home and his son got on the back.

Police say Brooks was operating the bike on New Castle Avenue when he slowed down and leaned into a routine lefthand turn. That's when everything went wrong.

"He stopped turning, he was going 5 to 10 mph. I kept tapping, 'Dad, Dad, Dad.' He was not responding to me," the son said.

Anthony says his father appeared to slump over; the bike then blasted out of control throwing Anthony off the back.

He wonders what caused his dad to lose control.

"Maybe like a heart attack or a stroke or something, he never had a heart attack before, but I know he wasn't responding to me when I was shaking him," Anthony Brooks III said.

The bike hit the curb and several concrete pillars.

Brooks was pronounced dead at the scene.

His body was turned over to the medical examiner's office where an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

Anthony Brooks III was taken to Christiana Hospital and released.

The accident happened around 10:10 p.m.

The police investigation into the fatality continues, but authorities say speed and alcohol are being considered as factors in the crash.

Brook's family says he owned the powerful sports bike for a couple of months; it was not just purchased as previous reports indicated. It is not known, though, if he had taken a motorcycle safety course.

While not required for adults, hands on safety classes are highly recommended for beginning riders.

Lynn Nathan who owns Powersports East, a large motorcycle dealership, says practice is critical when riders upgrade to more powerful bikes.

"You need to practice all things you practice in the class, you need to go to a parking lot and practice breaking, you need to make sure the bike turns the same way, every bike is different," Nathan said.

Anthony Brooks, Jr. leaves behind a wife and three children.

(Copyright ©2011 WPVI-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

[420sx]

Fast rate of travel + no helmet + unfamiliar bike + alcohol = ... well, you know.

Sucks. My condolences.

[Ender81]

Originally Posted by 420sx

Fast rate of travel + no helmet + unfamiliar bike + alcohol = ... well, you know.

Sucks. My condolences.

Pretty much summed up my thoughts as well. It's just a damn shame, so many mistakes in one accident it was almost destined to happen as soon as he threw his leg over the bike to bring it home.

[PAFirefighter11]

I'm sure his wife didn't know about him speeding before it happened, but did she know he was drunk/had drinks? I'm sure he smelled like alcohol, at least a little bit. If that's the case and she allowed it, that's even more sad...

[Ender81]

Yeah how much had he had to drink, did the dealership notice and let him leave on the bike?

[98GSXdude]

What a shame. Poor decisions.

[sillyeye]

God Bless that Family.

[Ds650rida]

dumb people doing dumb people ****. natural selection at it's finest...

[jen.]

Originally Posted by PAFirefighter11

While the incident remains under investigation, police say both speed and alcohol are being considered as factors in this crash.

That's very sad. It would be super disturbing to hear if alcohol was actually involved, not only because the man operating the bike put himself and everyone else on the road in danger, but also because he allowed his son to ride on the bike with him.

[ThePrimerSuspect]

But his son was 19. Not like he was a child. He was older than his father was when he was born, apparently.

[SovXietday]

Originally Posted by 420sx

Fast rate of travel + no helmet + unfamiliar bike + alcohol = ... well, you know.

Sucks. My condolences.

Pretty much summed it up nicely.

[RyanG]

Sucks but why would you have you 19YR OLD SON riding bitch?? I don't get that at all..

[itwillboost]

Originally Posted by Ender81

Yeah how much had he had to drink, did the dealership notice and let him leave on the bike?

That's what I was wondering. Either way it is a tragedy.

[Bates]

I wonder if this family is related to that MX kid who got banned.

Very sad regardless.

[Spawne32]

darwin gets another one lol

[420sx]

Originally Posted by AREA1320

Sucks but why would you have you 19YR OLD SON riding bitch?? I don't get that at all..

Even IF it was socially acceptable for two dudes to ride on a motorcycle (which it isnt), why then would you be hauling ass with a passenger?

My bike feels MUCH different even with a 100lb girl on the back, to such a degree that I ride like a grandpa. Riding recklessly with a passenger, much less your son is just...

[DPancoast]

so i guess his son was wearing a helmet? if so thats good....

but i'll agree with most everyone else. it really is a shame.

if someone has been drinking I will NEVER ride passenger with them.

[Nick 95 6sp]

I always feel bad for people suffering, even if it's due to their own stupidity.

One of my first thoughts about this thread was "what the hell is a motorcycle home". I was starting to picture some little gypsy bike with a house on it.

[DelayedZ]

This is why you don't ride meat to butt...

But seriously, its just said in peoples poor decision making.

[Reds82]

Ah family is the only way too guys are allowed on a bike but it sucks to find out you should own in this way