Death of My Daughter

SXrich · 2010-11-22 14:18:27

It has been four years since my Daughter's accident. In her memory I continue to try to get the message out. Below is the letter I wrote 4 years ago. Written with all the emotion of the moment - It still says what I beleive, so I don't edit it just send it out every so often hoping it will help another.....

" I love dirt bikes and all aspects of the sport. I taught my whole family to ride and I clearly understand the benefits and risks associated with this type of activity. I can unconditionally state this because I recently lost my 18-year-old daughter in a desert accident. She was my treasure and I will miss her dearly forever. You need to understand I am not one to pass responsibility on to others. Off-road play is inherently dangerous and we must acknowledge this as part of our sport.

My daughter, an avid dirt bike girl, was driving one of the new off road jeep type vehicles. There are several of these types of vehicles on the market; Polaris Ranger, a Yamaha Rhino, Kawasaki Mule to name a few. My daughter was driving a Rhino in her accident. I do not hold Yamaha responsible but my conscience forces me to get this message out far and wide. With their size and roll bars, these vehicles give an impression of being very safe – certainly safer then a dirt bike or quad. Her accident was on a very flat, clean part of the desert. She was fully strapped in using an improved aftermarket 4-point (verses factory 3 point) restraint seatbelt. The vehicle rolled when she turned it and she was caught between the roll bar and ground.

I’m not opening this for a running debate; I just want everyone to understand that these vehicles are just as dangerous as our other off road toys. I have seen many people riding these with little or no protective gear, children in their laps, people standing in the back etc. Do not be fooled by the “perceived safety”. I encourage you to enjoy this new family of vehicles, but please treat it like a dirt bike or quad where the danger is much more self-evident. Make sure your family and friends wear protective gear! Ride with your children! Learn the vehicles capabilities. Respect these vehicles and play smart.

I beg you to learn from my loss. For each person we can make safer in the future it helps me take a small step forward trying to heal. Thank you for reading this and out of respect please pass it on to any it may benefit."

Sincerely,
Rich Bernard

Fasttrax · 2010-11-22 16:55:50

Every year I see this and wonder why the manufacture should be liable when there is enough safety decals on these things to prevent "accidents". When the wheel falls off or the engine seizes from factory issues is a manufacture issue. It is our responsibility as parents to make sure we as well as other drivers have the IQ to operate safely. We all feel for your loss still but when do we be ome responsible citizens and quit allowing the government to wash their hands in other business?

Also, why did you have to screw up four other threads in the process of posting this again?

RANGERDALEXP · 2010-11-22 17:59:25

Every year I see this and wonder why the manufacture should be liable when there is enough safety decals on these things to prevent "accidents". When the wheel falls off or the engine seizes from factory issues is a manufacture issue. It is our responsibility as parents to make sure we as well as other drivers have the IQ to operate safely. We all feel for your loss still but when do we be ome responsible citizens and quit allowing the government to wash their hands in other business?
Also, why did you have to screw up four other threads in the process of posting this again?

Personally I think it is a good post and one that should be done at least once a year. People seem to forget on what they have and then suddenly it is too late. These machines are not toys and they get faster and faster every year either by the manufacture or modifications done by the owners. The owners set them up to seat 4 people instead of two in which they built for and then add another 10 to 30 horse power on top of that. Some people upgrade the safety equipment and some don't. The decals are removed for a custom paint job and not reinstalled and the keys are given to friends without proper instruction on how to drive one without proper supervision. I also see all the time under aged people driving them. He never mentioned that he blamed the manufacture at all in his posting, he just wants to try to remind people on what they have and to try to prevent it from happening to you or other people, I think it is a good thing and a worthy post.

Anyways, I find much much less important postings on this site then this poor person who lost his child and just wants to hopefully prevent another one, It has been A year and there are new members that may not have seen this in the past :idea: ......

Fasttrax · 2010-11-22 18:54:23

Fully understood on the concerns of others. The issue is his daughter was killed by a drunk driver who was allowed by the owner to drive impaired. He went after the manufacture of a vehicle that just like any other can kill. My deepest sympathy remains with him and his family but he originally blamed the manufacture for the death. I would not wish for this to happen to anyone and it is good to speak up about impaired drivers but do not blame the manufacture. Just my opinion and don't mean to offend.

RANGERDALEXP · 2010-11-23 11:18:44

Fully understood on the concerns of others. The issue is his daughter was killed by a drunk driver who was allowed by the owner to drive impaired. He went after the manufacture of a vehicle that just like any other can kill. My deepest sympathy remains with him and his family but he originally blamed the manufacture for the death. I would not wish for this to happen to anyone and it is good to speak up about impaired drivers but do not blame the manufacture. Just my opinion and don't mean to offend.

I know you did not mean to offend. You obviously know more about what originally happened then I do but it has been four years and things do change with people. If he did hand the keys over to a driver under the influence that would have nothing to do with the manufacture but would only be the fault of the driver and the owner. As his post says, he does not blame the manufacture and now understands that now, he just does not want it to happen to someone else and make the same mistake he did.

Will the message save another life, I do not know, but he feels that he should try.........

quadman · 2010-12-29 11:59:07

Seems to me it would be better placed in a drunk driving forum instead of giving our sport unneeded or wanted bad press.

zrated · 2010-12-29 23:33:55

I am very sorry to hear about the loss of this mans daughter.
I can't begin to imagine how hard it would be to loose a child.

We would all do well to double our efforts to be sure we are teaching our children and friends responsibility when operating or even riding in these machines as a passenger.

It does make me wonder though why there was not one mention in the letter of the drunk driver who was allegedly driving this machine when the accident happened. Drunk and reckless driving was apparently the true issue here. Furthermore, if the manufacturer’s warnings had been heeded and common sense would have been used, this man’s daughter might still be here today

It seems to me that this letter should have been about drunk and reckless driving.

Brad777 · 2010-12-30 13:09:08

I am very sorry to hear about the loss of this mans daughter.
I can't begin to imagine how hard it would be to loose a child.
We would all do well to double our efforts to be sure we are teaching our children and friends responsibility when operating or even riding in these machines as a passenger.
It does make me wonder though why there was not one mention in the letter of the drunk driver who was allegedly driving this machine when the accident happened. Drunk and reckless driving was apparently the true issue here. Furthermore, if the manufacturer’s warnings had been heeded and common sense would have been used, this man’s daughter might still be here today
It seems to me that this letter should have been about drunk and reckless driving.

While maintaining respect for this man's daughter, well said Zrated.

MQUnlimited · 2011-01-02 15:08:22

Sooo sorry about your loss. I think twice about everything I do when I have my 2 yr old daughter in the Ranger. I have also been training her to ask for her bicycle helmet before she gets on her electric quad so that it is second nature for her as she gets older.

RANGERDALEXP · 2011-01-05 14:11:55

Seems to me it would be better placed in a drunk driving forum instead of giving our sport unneeded or wanted bad press.

If this was posted in a drunk driving forum, you would not have ever seen it. It is related to the UTV sport regardless if the man was drunk or not and I have seen this problem all the time with people that use them. Mistakes were made and he is trying to the best of his power and remind people so they may not make the same mistake. That is the reason for his post on this site :idea: ......

#1 2010-11-22 14:18:27

Re: Death of My Daughter

#2 2010-11-22 16:55:50

Re: Death of My Daughter

#3 2010-11-22 17:59:25

Re: Death of My Daughter

#4 2010-11-22 18:54:23

Re: Death of My Daughter

#5 2010-11-23 11:18:44

Re: Death of My Daughter

#6 2010-12-29 11:59:07

Re: Death of My Daughter

#7 2010-12-29 23:33:55

Re: Death of My Daughter

#8 2010-12-30 13:09:08

Re: Death of My Daughter

#9 2011-01-02 15:08:22

Re: Death of My Daughter

#10 2011-01-05 14:11:55

Re: Death of My Daughter

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