Two dead following motorcycle accident

Tag : Motorcycle Boots

"There is no way to predict" a motorcycle accident, he said. "Youhave to assume they don't see you."
Laceman was driving the motorcycle around 9:15 a.m. Thursday,headed east on 82nd Street as he approached Milwaukee Avenue. Atthe same time, Laurie Cromeenes, 33, was traveling west, policesaid.
That's when Cromeenes, who was driving a 2005 Chevy Tahoe with a5-year-old and 2-year-old in the rear, tried to turned left ontoMilwaukee and the vehicles collided.
Pieces of glass and parts of the Harley Davidson littered theground in the busy intersection.
Shavers said police are still investigating the accident and havenot filed any charges.
The two children inside the Tahoe were taken to Covenant MedicalCenter by ambulance with minor injuries.
Danny, 43, and Justin Laceman, 14, were taken to UMC by ambulance.Police said Justin was wearing a helmet, his father was not.
Greg Bruce, a spokesman for UMC, said the hospital sees an increasein patients injured in motorcycle accidents in the summer, "butwe've already exceeded the numbers of deaths from last year."
The numbers show it's a deadly trend.
• In 2006, Lubbock police reported 31 fatal vehicle accidentsin the city, of which five involved motorcycles.
• In 2007, police reported 15 fatal vehicle accidents, ofwhich four involved motorcycles.
• This year, there have been 19 fatal accidents in the city,eight involving motorcycles.
Numbers from UMC - where people from across the region are takenwith extreme injuries - show even more.
• In 2007, 95 injured motorcyclists were taken to UMC. Therewere seven fatalities.
• This year, they have seen 31 injured motorcyclists in theemergency room with nine deaths.
Bruce said UMC "has the staff" to handle the influx of motorcycleaccidents.
"I'm just worried, especially with Tech starting back in September,because you're going to see an increase in motorcycles and mopedsbecause of the increase in gas prices," Bruce said.
It is not required that motorcyclists wear helmets when operatingtheir vehicles, said Jim Welch, an insurance salesman with FarmersInsurance.
According to the Department of Public Safety, to operate amotorcycle in the state of Texas you must take a written test and aroad test to get the M' endorsement on your license. If a motoristdecides to take a motorcycle safety class, they don't have to takethe road test, according to DPS, but they do have to take therequired written exam to receive the endorsement.
Welch said he took and passed his written and road tests Thursdayafternoon on his new Harley Davidson he purchased a week ago.
He still intends to take a motorcycle safety class in three weeks.He said the 16-hour course is a "great way to gain experience" inoperating a motorcycle.
The course requires he wears goggles, boots, a helmet, gloves and along-sleeved shirt - all safety practices he said he will continueafter the class. He said he has never been involved in an accidentwith a motorcycle but has heard stories from his friends who knowpeople who were.
"It does bother me a little, but it really just makes you aware,"Welch said.
Because it's up to the discretion of the motorcyclists to wear ahelmet, Bruce said he wants to "increase awareness" of the thingsthat can happen if you don't.
"Wear the helmet and other protective equipment," Bruce said. "Youwant to do everything you can do to ensure your safety."
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