CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee -(WDEF) Hours and even days after a motorcyclist was killed on I-75, WDEF viewers have written countless comments regarding what happened and how it could have been prevented.
"I have seen drivers of cars do stupid things, I have seen drivers of bikes do stupid things. Please people drive carefully. You're not the only one on the road," said
Celeste Caroland who left a comment on Facebook.
"Really could the driver of the car not see the man on the motorcycle? What was the driver of the car doing in order to hit him and then run over him," asked Shae Smith who also commented on Facebook. All the commotion is over what happened late Saturday afternoon when motorcyclist Edward Bankston, 58, of Knoxville was killed after he was hit from behind and run over by a car. It happened on Southbound I-75 just a half mile north of the Volkswagen Dr. exit. Investigators said Bankston died on scene.
Motorcycle expert and owner of
Garry Griffith Cycle, Garry Griffith didn't know Bankston but said he can only imagine what it was like to be in that situation since it's very rare for a motorcyclist to be hit from behind while in motion.
"The accident in question that happened the other day is a tragedy and it's one reason why I teach all my kids and all the people I sell bikes to watch their rear view mirror very closely," Griffith said.
Bankston was killed on a day when interstate traffic was very heavy. Griffith said there's always a chance of a crash involving a car versus motorcycle when motorist are only looking out for other cars and trucks and not motorcycles. He suggest motorcyclist avoid highways when there's a good chance more larger vehicles are grouped together.
Griffith believes more people are purchasing and riding motorcycles because they're less expensive than cars and don't burn as much gasoline. That would suggest more motorcycles are sharing the road with larger vehicles thus increasing the risk of accidents if motorist aren't paying attention.
"Look twice. Save a life. Watch out for motorcycles because they're everywhere," Griffith said.
Motorcycle experts also recommend making sure equipment such as mirrors, lights an breaks are properly installed because those precautions can decease the chance of some accidents.
