Another death at our local riding area

[Joel/ak]

Silver lake sand dunes in western mi.

2nd this year. Both are complete accidents but still sucks.

1st death this spring where a runaway jeep (stuck throttle) ran into spectators. Killed a mom

Then a guy jumped a hill and crashed into a jeep. Bike went right through the windshield but everyone survived. He broke his back, punctured his lung, stuff like that.

This weekend a 20 year old was killed when a razor topped a hill and ran over the kid.

We stopped going there, way to many people. It's only like 400 acre area with thousands of people riding.

Don't know the solution but something has to change. I hate more regulations but....

 

[5030]

Sport ORV's have gotten way too fast and way too powerful. Michigan should be like Wisconsin and limit them to specific riding areas.

 

[bdhsfz6]

It's always sad to hear of accidents like this.

I assume it is legal to ride in the place you mention. If so, hopefully, there is some form of insurance available to help the injured.

I live in coal country and there are many abandoned stripping pits where people ride. The land is posted with no trespassing signs but people largely ignore them. Last spring, a young couple was riding an ATV in one of the pits illegally. They were on a trail with several flooded spots and they hit one that was 6 feet deep. The ATV flipped, pinned them under water and they both drowned.

A tragedy, yes, but what bothers me is, the parents of the couple filed a multi million dollar lawsuit against the land owner, stating they had not done enough to keep trespassers out. All the points of access were well posted with locked gates. Trespassers either ride around the gates or pull them out with a pickup truck. Short of posting guards, I'm not sure what else the landowners could do. The case has been in court for over a year now.

There are ATV & snowmobile trails on my land and I occasionally have to chase riders out. Like the stripping pits, I have no trespassing signs posted with locked gates at the entrance. I'm quite concerned that I could also be sued if an accident should occur. I have insurance but not enough to cover a multi million dollar suit. The premium on such a policy is way more than I can afford.

 

[Joel/ak]

Silver lake is a legal, ORV designated riding area.

The whole state park is around 3000 acres. Only around 400 is designated for ORV. Rest is for hiking and environmentalists got a big bunch closed down due to a once in a 10 year migratory bird that might nest.

They have tried various rules like no drag racing, no jumping etc and shocker but nothing works.

Usually not many people die up there, this has just been a really bad year

 

[dodge man]

We were there but it was probably over 20 years ago. We rented a Jeep but they didn’t really cut you loose, you just followed the leader. When we were there it was busy but seemed pretty safe. I can see how things could get out of hand and crazy.

 

[Joel/ak]

We usually go up there and just cruise around.

I will admit, back in the 80's I'd go up there on my dirt bike and tear things up though. I can't afford the repairs so just casual driving now

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Then a guy jumped a hill and crashed into a jeep. Bike went right through the windshield but everyone survived. He broke his back, punctured his lung, stuff like that.

I saw the video of the bike vs jeep. Absolutely brutal!! It was both chest cam footage from the bike and a wide shot of the whole scene.

 

[Bad Boy Biker]

My brother on an atv hit a dirt bike head on at the top of a hill. The bike rider got away with just a broken leg.

 

[Joel/ak]

I saw the video of the bike vs jeep. Absolutely brutal!! It was both chest cam footage from the bike and a wide shot of the whole scene.

The rider went for a ride, that's for sure.

Guess both rode in the same ambulance to the hospital and the biker said it was good between the 2.

Glad no one was in passenger seat of jeep

 

[Joel/ak]

My brother on an atv hit a dirt bike head on at the top of a hill. The bike rider got away with just a broken leg.

He got lucky. Glad both were ok