Never know when it's your time.

[dakota7557]

A motorcyclist was killed last night by lightning on I-90 in South Dakota. I guess you never know when it's your time. Sad to be killed by Mother Nature's Wrath. I hope those coming to the Sturgis Rally ride within their limit. It seems that every year we hear about more and more bikers over riding the conditions in the Black Hills. This poor guy's time was up and I feel for his family. As always, any Kawanow members visiting the Rally are welcome to email me for my phone number if they should need some assistance while they are here for the rally...Jody
http://www.blackhillsfox.com/2011/08/04/Motorcyclist-struck-by-lightning-on-I-90

[mobandy78]

That is a freak thing to happen. There is another thread on here about riding in the rain and possibly getting struck by lightning. I didn't think it would happen, but this just proves me wrong. Anything can happen and will if the timing is right.

Very nice of you to offer your help for visiting members. That is one place I'd like to go ride, but not sure if I'll get up there anytime in the next several years.

[pirate]

Wow, that's scary. I've ridden through a couple storms that I shouldn't have, and I've thought about a lightning strike. Thoughts go to this guy's family. Safe travels to all those going to Sturgis.

[ponch]

Did the lightning kill him or the impact? Lightning scares the hell out of me. I've been shocked once peripherally.

[skeeter]

what a way to go.....I've always wanted to go out in a blaze of glory. Amp me up when I go. Got to be quick.

[carolinakid1]

My understanding is that bikes do not give the lightening protection a cage does.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Really tragic news to hear. None of us ever know when our time will come.

[dakota7557]

Did the lightning kill him or the impact? Lightning scares the hell out of me. I've been shocked once peripherally. Not sure if it was the lightning or the crash that killed him. Seems the odds would be astronomical for lightning to hit a small moving object such as a motorcycle. Sadly, it was his time. I feel for his family. Jody

[landman]

Did the lightning kill him or the impact? Lightning scares the hell out of me. I've been shocked once peripherally.
he crashed into a gaurdrail after being struck so who knows which event killed him.

[ringadingh]

Whatever caused it, it was a very unfortunate fluke either way.

[ponch]

My understanding is that bikes do not give the lightening protection a cage does.

And you answered the question. A car is like a faraday cage. Now if they can only make a suit that acts as a faraday cage, that would be useful riding in a storm. I've read about riders getting hit. I've only heard of one making it.

[unwind2]

Geezzz.....

[glwilson]

Lightening can strike anything and has been documented to do so through the years.

A bike is no different; especially given that it is like a moving lightening-rod which causes a static field whereby the polarity surrounding the rider becomes a "magnet" for a lightening-bolt.

If the actual strike didn't kill him (which I actually doubt it did entirely -- not that it couldn't); surely the impact and explosion caused him to lose control and crash to his death.

A very unfortunate event.

There was a motorcyclist around this area that was killed last year when a tree suddenly fell-over on him (it was a sunny day). That simply is bad-luck. No preparation can prevent that other than never ride. ;)

[waterman]

Did the lightning kill him or the impact? Lightning scares the hell out of me. I've been shocked once peripherally. Not sure if it was the lightning or the crash that killed him. Seems the odds would be astronomical for lightning to hit a small moving object such as a motorcycle. Sadly, it was his time. I feel for his family. Jody

Since we moved out to Colorado 10+ years ago there has been at least 2 deaths of motorcycle riders by lightning. One of them was hit and it took a chunk of the highway underneath him as well.

[lw]

Reminds us that "God can hit a moving target!"

[Loafer]

The last time I was in an electrical storm, I stopped and stood under some trees. When
I looked up, I realized that they were the tallest things in that area. I ran across the road
and across a lawn up onto a porch. The older woman living there was actually startled by
me, but she handled it quite well I thought. I stood there for almost 45 minutes. Quite the
storm!

[Yellow Jacket]

Here's an interesting article about lightning.

http://wvlightning.com/safety.shtml

[Loafer]

That's an excellent article. Thanks. :)

[ringadingh]

Thatwas a neat article about lightning strikes, I feel safer already. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif