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Man dies after motorcycle crashes during helmet protest ride
9wsyr.com ^ | July 2, 2011 | WSYR-TV

Posted on 07/03/2011 8:33:56 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

LAFAYETTE, NY (WSYR-TV) – New York State Troopers say one man is dead after a motorcycle crash near McClary Road and Route 11 in LaFayette on Saturday.

New York State Police say 55-year-old Philip Contos of Parish was part of a protest against motorcycle helmets.

Police say several motorists from the group ABATE (American Bikers Aimed for Education) of Onondaga County had come together to make a point that they didn't need their helmets.

The group was driving south on Route 11 in Lafayette around 1:30 p.m., headed toward Lake Como, just south of the Finger Lakes.

Police say Contos suddenly hit the brakes and lost control of the motorcycle.

According to troopers, Contos was thrown over his handlebars and hit the pavement as his 1993 Harley Davidson motorcycle skidded toward the guardrail.

Contos was still alive when crews arrived at the scene and was transported to Upstate University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to police, Contos was not wearing his helmet, as required by law. Witnesses say this decision was part of the protest.

Police say that based on evidence at the scene and from doctors, Contos would have survived if he had been wearing a DOT-Approved helmet.

(Excerpt) Read more at 9wsyr.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: New York
KEYWORDS: irony; whoops
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To: Salamander

Nah. Just don’t hang it out the window at oncoming traffic or pedestrians and you should be Okay.


261 posted on 07/05/2011 1:14:12 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: cripplecreek

haven’t seen this year’s version of the helmet law, are they still putting in the massive insurance rider clause?


262 posted on 07/05/2011 4:29:36 AM PDT by absolootezer0 (2x divorced tattooed pierced harley hatin meghan mccain luvin' REAL beer drinkin' smoker ..what?)
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To: al baby

or using either one when they mean asphalt.


263 posted on 07/05/2011 4:44:18 AM PDT by absolootezer0 (2x divorced tattooed pierced harley hatin meghan mccain luvin' REAL beer drinkin' smoker ..what?)
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To: absolootezer0
are they still putting in the massive insurance rider clause?

It sounds like they do intend to tie it to insurance.
264 posted on 07/05/2011 8:11:11 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: servantboy777

****If you’re traveling 50-80 mph and you lay that bike down, that helmet will do nothing more than keep your brain alive till they transport the body to the hospital and pronounce you dead of massive internal injuries.

Tell that to the Moto GP racers who “lay it down” at 130 mph and sometimes get up w/out a scratch. It’s not the sliding, it’s the crashing into solid objects or getting run over by another car after you crash that produces those internal injuries.


265 posted on 07/05/2011 9:47:19 AM PDT by jjm2111
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To: citizen; Tax-chick
Acronym FAIL = A courageous rider of New York mistakenly flew and isn't living.
266 posted on 07/05/2011 2:03:15 PM PDT by I Drive Too Fast
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To: I Drive Too Fast

Wow. I’m truly impressed by your acronimbleness.


267 posted on 07/05/2011 5:12:04 PM PDT by Tax-chick (There is no satire that is more ridiculous than the reality of our current government.~freedumb2003)
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To: jjm2111
>>Tell that to the Moto GP racers who “lay it down” at 130 mph and sometimes get up w/out a scratch. It’s not the sliding, it’s the crashing into solid objects or getting run over by another car after you crash that produces those internal injuries.<<

These guys are running a closed track with heavy leathers, boots, helmets. The track are most times lined with bales of hay and such.

You lay your bike down on any of the highways or byways here in Houston....your gonna impact with something along the roadway or another vehicle will run smack dab over ya.

Not even the same analogy.

268 posted on 07/06/2011 5:59:53 AM PDT by servantboy777
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To: servantboy777

****If you’re traveling 50-80 mph and you lay that bike down, that helmet will do nothing more than keep your brain alive till they transport the body to the hospital and pronounce you dead of massive internal injuries.

Then you should’ve qualified the above comment with the on the Highway in Houston. It’s not fully accurate even then, because I know people who have crashed on the highway in full gear and had only minor injuries.

The above comment makes it sound like death is inevitable, helmet or not; a point I was trying to counter.


269 posted on 07/06/2011 6:19:57 AM PDT by jjm2111
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To: jjm2111
Whatever. Anyone except you would have drawn the correct conclusion. Gezzzz.

Let me qualify that comment, anyone except you and those like you would have drawn the correct conclusion...there, that better.

270 posted on 07/06/2011 6:28:00 AM PDT by servantboy777
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To: PowderMonkey

A helmet save my life when I was 17. Here in MN we don’t have helmet laws (yet), but I wear one probably better than 50% of the time.

My last crash was 5 years ago, no helmet 20 MPH.Cordura works.

I don’t like being told what to do including what to eat,smoke,etc.


271 posted on 07/06/2011 9:00:53 AM PDT by WOBBLY BOB ( "I don't want the majority if we don't stand for something"- Jim Demint)
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To: servantboy777

Do you even ride?


272 posted on 07/06/2011 12:11:36 PM PDT by jjm2111
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