What Day Is It?

ODOT Traffic Volume Report

Did I shower today or was that yesterday?

When did this all start? February? That feels like ancient history.

March ended without March Madness. April started with Arizona Bike Week and the Laughlin River Run being canceled.  May graduations were canceled.  Friday happy hours have been called off indefinitely.  For those who still remain employed, but working from home, daily cues like commuting, rush hour traffic and socializing after work have disappeared

Workdays blur together, and weekends are just weekdays with fewer obligations. I know I’m not going out today so, it’s just, every day is today.

The good news…

On all major interstates in the Portland metro area, traffic is down 46% from levels last year, according to a report compiled by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Interstates 5, 405, 84 and 205 are all seeing significant traffic declines. For example, average speeds on I-5 northbound during what used to be the afternoon rush hour were up to 60 miles per hour in the most recent week of figures. Back during the week of March 1, the average rush hour speed there was 33 mph.

I-5, in particular, is seeing the most significant declines of metro-area freeways. The average weekend traffic was down 64% for the most recent full week of data available (March 30-April 5). State officials compiled the data from 38 traffic monitoring locations across 13 freeways and highways in Oregon.

The number of car crashes has plummeted due to lower traffic volumes.  However, evidence is beginning to emerge that absent traffic jams during the coronavirus crisis, many drivers are getting more reckless.

Speaking of reckless…

Pavel Vasilyevich Krechko

The latest example in Portland, Oregon happened on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at 3:34 p.m., East Precinct officers responded to the intersection of Southeast 148th Avenue / Southeast Powell Boulevard on a report of a traffic crash involving a motorcyclist.

Investigators learned that the suspect, Pavel Vasilyevich Krechko (19-year-old), was involved in a minor traffic crash on Southeast Powell Boulevard just west of Southeast 148th Avenue and was fleeing from that traffic crash when he then crashed into a motorcycle head-on killing Brandon Cody Reid (32-year-old).

Krechko, fled the scene immediately (a 2nd time!) after the crash and abandoned his vehicle.  Investigators responded to Krechko’s residence in Troudale, Oregon where he was taken into custody about an hour later. Krechko initially denied being involved in either crash, and said his car had been stolen a few hours earlier. But, police said he eventually confessed to crashing and fleeing both scenes.

Krechko was arrested and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, one count of Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver (felony), one count of reckless driving, and one count of Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver (misdemeanor).

Now for the MOST important part of this post, which should wipe away that stupid smile on Mr. Krechko’s booking photo!

Senate Bill 810 became effective January 1, 2020.  It was signed into law back in June, 2019, and modifies the definition of “vulnerable user of a public way” to include persons operating or riding on a moped or motorcycle.  The law (801.608, “Vulnerable user of a public way”) enhances penalties for motorists who kill or injure motorcyclists, as well as other vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, highway workers or bicyclists.

It is very distressing to write about this type of idiotic negligence.  My hope is that Oregon taking this important step to protect motorcycle riders by significantly enhancing the penalties against careless and criminally negligent drivers will slow down people making bad choices.

Photos courtesy of ODOT and Portland Police Bureau

Oregon Crash Statistics & Reports    |    Invest in yourself and Stay Sharp HERE!

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Oregon Motorcycle Fatalities

There’s been 19 motorcycle fatalities so far this year in Oregon.  Too many and more than twice the 9 deaths in 2013 during the same period.

ODOT has stated and the facts bear this out that many of the fatal crashes are due to operator error, unsafe riding–speeding, following too close and abrupt lane changes.

And then we have the below idiot…  Speeding, reckless driving, acting stupid and irresponsible on the way to work.

On July 2, 2014 at approximately 6:26 a.m., an OSP senior trooper on patrol saw a black & silver 2003 Suzuki motorcycle displaying a Washington license plate eastbound on Highway 30 milepost 42 traveling 120 mph. When the trooper activated the patrol car’s emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, the motorcycle sped up faster on the two lane highway passing other unidentified witnesses using the westbound lane and eastbound shoulder. The trooper lost sight of the motorcycle a couple miles later and terminated the attempt to stop it.

At approximately 6:40 a.m., a report was received from a log truck driver that the reckless, eluding motorcyclist pulled into the Dyno Nobel (a leader in commercial explosives) plant parking lot where it was parked. The trooper and officers from St. Helens Police Department and Rainier Police Department arrived at the parking lot and found the unoccupied motorcycle.

Subsequent investigation confirmed the motorcycle’s operator, Michael Tejada Echeverria, age 19, from Longview, Washington, worked at the plant and he was contacted by officers.

Mr. Echeverria was arrested and lodged in the Columbia County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude on a Vehicle, Reckless Driving, and Recklessly Endangering Another Person. He was also cited for Exceeding the Posted Speed in Excess of 100 mph, No Motorcycle Endorsement, and Driving Uninsured.

Clearly Mr. Echeverria will drive without a motorcycle endorsement.  He must be thinking that the U.S. Constitution guarantees him the right to travel the roads of the land freely, and that state laws don’t apply.

Hey Mr. Echeverria, 1776 sent a telegraph to explain something… There is no constitutional right to drive a motorcycle or a car.  You may have the right to travel throughout the country, but that means walking, taking a bus, taking a taxi, riding a bicycle, hopping, skipping, uni-cycling, kayaking, or using a skateboard.  Since a motor vehicle can be a very dangerous instrument in unskilled hands, the state is fully justified in demanding proof that you can operate a motorcycle without endangering anybody, and in reserving the right to revoke your driver’s license if your conduct shows that you tend to disregard the rules of the road and the safety of the people around you.

It’s okay to wish to be a rebel, but enjoy that skateboard when you get out of jail.

Photo courtesy of Rebel Rockers Skateboards.

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That Didn’t Take Long

Near Blackwell Hill

Just 4 days into the New Year… for the first motorcyclist arrest.

Patrick Whalen Parks, age 21 was taken into custody on I-5 at mile post 38 southbound on Blackwell Hill, just south of Gold Hill for reckless driving, driving while suspended—violation, driving uninsured and expired vehicle registration.

How’s that defiance thing working out for you Patrick?

Mr. Parks, who is from El Sobrante, CA and was taken into custody by OSP troopers, was riding a Suzuki motorcycle weaving in and out of traffic in a dangerous manner at over 100 MPH.  At one point passing vehicles on the inside median and almost caused a crash.

Even though motorcycling is a respectable form of recreation we continue to see isolated incidents each year by bad actors that generate negative press and mare the motorcycling image.

Photo courtesy of Google Maps

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Oregon Motorcyclist Sets The Bar For Great PR

Beating a dead horse…  we get to read about another ignorant Oregon motorcycle rider and the foolishness.

In Roseburg on Saturday at approximately 10:55 a.m. OSP Senior Trooper Mark Moore saw a motorcycle with two occupants northbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 120 and noted its speed at 83 mph in a 65 mph speed zone. As Moore was overtaking the motorcycle to initiate a traffic stop, it sped northbound attempting to elude at speeds estimated over 100 mph.

As Moore was trying to keep the motorcycle in sight, it got off at Exit 127 in north Roseburg and became stuck behind traffic on Edenbower Boulevard. Moore caught up to the motorcycle stopped at a red light, noted the license plate and saw the operator of the motorcycle had a female passenger. When the operator saw OSP behind him he sped northbound in heavy traffic on Highway 99 towards Sutherlin passing vehicles in the oncoming lanes traveling at over 100 MPH. OSP terminated its attempt to stop the motorcycle.

At 3:20 p.m. OSP troopers went to the registered owner’s residence and contacted ALEN PATRICK BROCK, age 21. Following an interview with BROCK, he was arrested and taken to the Douglas County Jail where he was lodged for Felony Eluding Police in a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Driving, and Recklessly Endangering a Minor. He was also cited for Violation of the Basic Rule to wit: 107 mph in a 55 mph speed zone.

Troopers also contacted and identified the 14-year old female passenger. After she was interviewed by OSP she was released to her parents from the suspect’s residence.

To Mr. Brock, really, REALLY?!  Thank you for helping label motorcycle riders as misguided and stupid.  Does it feel good to contribute to the increasing insurance rates and providing ammunition for the anti-motorcyclists?

Photo courtesy of C. Road and dennisselisseth.blogspot.com

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Find The Cost Of Freedom

Miguel Cortes - 107MPH Speeding Ticket

Yes, the “B-side” of Ohio.

Warren Haynes can not only play, but he can SING!  If this were 1971 instead of 2011 Warren would be a household name, someone all over the radio.

Watch this video HERE.  The title says “Gold Dust Woman”.  But when Warren steps to the mic, he starts singing that legendary cappella CSNY song…”Find The Cost Of Freedom”.  And then…at 1:10, Warren starts playing “Gold Dust Woman”.  But this is not Gov’t Mule.  This an all star band at the Jammys.  In music what we’ve got these days is two roads.  One based on recording and one based on performing.  The recording one is often sterile, it doesn’t titillate us, and those performing are too often playing B-level material.  But Warren Haynes performs.

And speaking of PERFORMANCES, one of the more disturbing aspects of the motorcycle culture is how the few seem to rewrite history for the rest of us as they ignore their own glaring stupidity.

I’m talking about Miguel Cortes (41) of Tualatin, OR.  Yes, you Miguel!  He wasn’t satisfied to be out riding on a relatively dry winter day and enjoying the freedom of the open road.  No, he needed to PERFORM and make a spectacle of himself and by association drag all motorcycle enthusiasts along with his reckless behavior.

Mr. Cortes was riding a Yamaha F6S, 600cc, and raced past a parked Marion County Sheriff patrol car about 11:40 a.m. and then decided that “splitting” the lanes of travel as he continued northbound on I-5 at a high rate of speed was appropriate.  Mr. Cortes was clocked at 107 mph in a 65 mph zone!  Not only was Mr. Cortes arrested and released on reckless driving, he was also cited on accusations of speeding and failure to maintain a single lane of travel. The speeding fine is $1,143; lane splitting is $287.  Mr. Cortes told the police officer that he thought he was only going “about 80” as he split the lanes of travel.  Clearly Mr. Cortes found his ‘cost of freedom.’

In an open and free society it’s so adorable when we get to watch performances of the dumb and dumber.

Photo courtesy of Marion County Sheriff as Mr. Cortes proudly consented to posing for a photograph holding his citation.

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