Bruce Rossmeyer, the very well known owner of 15 dealerships, including the huge Destination Daytona, was killed in a motorcycling accident while riding from a Harley Davidson / Buell dealers meeting in Colorado on his way to Sturgis, SD. The line of riders was passing a pickup truck towing a camper trailer when it merged into the other lane.
Our very sincere condolences to everyone in the Rossmeyer family.
Link: AMA
Link: Cycle News
UPDATE: Reports about this incident have varied widely as to the details of what happened. More detailed reports now seem to indicate the truck towing the trailer was signaling a left turn and was beginning his turn when Rossmeyer attempted to pass and struck the driver's door.
Link: Examiner
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{ 11 comments… add yours below ... }
Ride in Heaven Ross !!
It’s time for our government to truly treat everyone fairly. If this truck/camper improperly merged in to a lane that the drive failed to ensure was clear for merging, the driver should be charged with a minimum of manslaughter and serve time accordingly. Once the government clamps down automobile/truck drivers, and starts holding them responsible, enough of them will serve time behind bars and others will eventually get the point. How many more motorcyclists have to die before that happens? Thoughts and prayers are with our fellow Harley rider!
My prayers and condolences to his family. From all I read he was a good man and he will be missed by the motorcycle community.
I’m sorry to hear the bad news. I’ll take this as a lesson never to pass on the left of a vehicle making a left turn – and to wear a helmet.
Let’s all make sure we don’t forget how vulnerable we are on our bikes and ride safe.
-todd
Todd – not sure how to take your comment, but if you were not there, then you do not know whether or not Bruce was in the act of passing before the pickup with trailer put their signal on.
I agree, Good helmets save lives even in the most benign fall offs.
Several reports have clearly stated what Todd is referring to – the reporting of the incident details has been very uneven across the news media.
That still doesn’t change the sad results.
passing on the left is not in question. Any of us can pass on the left. The question is where the 2 vehicles were when the truck began to change lanes.
When a vehicle, such as a pickup towing a camper, is slowing down with its left turn signals and brake lights on and then makes a LEGAL left turn on a two lane road, then passing on the left isn’t a healthy choice. The sixth rider (the rider behind Bruce) went around the truck’s right side.
Some news reports are stating that’s what happened. I would like to know how accurate that is. I’ve also read that he was underneath the trailer at the end of the mishap – I doubt a helmet would have done him a whole lot of good.
It is also a good time to think about group riding behavior.
Tough luck that the man’s gone – there’s only little consolation in the fact that he went while doing what we all really like to do.
My condolences to the family.
I will wait until the official Police report is issued before I make dispairiging comments about a successfull bussinessman who died doing what he loved. May God rest your Soul Mr.Bruce.
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