Why I prefer not to night ride - local fatality

[JACKAL]

This was on the trails of Widowmaker, Sand Mines, and Dragons back.

Oneida man in his 20s, La Follette man in his 40s in UTV accident; La Follette man dies

CARYVILLE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)- Matthew Cameron with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency explains to WLAF that yesterday, November 9, 2024, at around 8:30 p.m., two men left from work at a truck stop in LaFollette and rode a side by side off highway vehicle onto the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area from Highway 63.

At some point during the night, they drove off a 200 foot rock high wall in an area known as the sand mines. The operator, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected and killed.

The passenger was wearing a seat belt, was knocked unconscious and seriously injured. It’s unclear what time the incident occurred, but the passenger regained consciousness around 3:30 AM and called 911. Rescue squads arrived at the accident site and stabilized the passenger but were unable to transport him due to the remoteness of the incident site.

Around 9 a.m., a National Guard Black-hawk helicopter airlifted the injured passenger to UT Medical Center at Knoxville. The operator’s body was recovered by around 11:30 a.m.

The incident remains under investigation by the TWRA, and the TWRA will release the identities of the victims on Monday.

 

[Admin]

 

[NTCPrezJB]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 for all the peeps and families involved

 

[Remington]

Read that earlier today, sad.
Need to be aware or your surroundings at night and always ware a seat belt.

 

[Jason W]

That is horrible, reminder to not out run your line of sight. I wouldn't doubt heavy drinking involved.

Prayers for all the familys

 

[DG Rider]

🙏🙏🙏

I love riding at night, but it adds a level of difficulty to any trail that no amount of light bars can overcome. For that reason, I avoid trails I know to be difficult, and shy away from areas I'm not familiar with unless it's daylight.

 

[Hillbillytnt]

Everything looks different in headlights and light bars. The fog and puddles can also play tricks on the eye making you miss things or see things that aren’t there. Best to be ultra cautious when you go creeping around in the wee hours. Last Saturday was opening morning for deer and the fog was so thick I passed up the turn off to my spot.

 

[Rayger143]

I’ve personally experienced an incident like this. Lost a buddy and another air lifted to the hospital hrs later. It’s always either speed, alcohol or both. Seat belts work. These stories really suck! Especially when it can be avoided.

 

[DRZRon1]

I’ve personally experienced an incident like this. Lost a buddy and another air lifted to the hospital hrs later. It’s always either speed, alcohol or both. Seat belts work. These stories really suck! Especially when it can be avoided.

all these incidents are sad and sorry for the families and most maybe know of similar experiences

these things are dangerous, even at 5MPH

soooo, my advice

helmet 100% of the time
nets up
seat belts/harnesses snug
easy on the booze till end of ride

I have zero problem with 90F and a helmet.

I’ll take my chances with a helmet when things go sideways

 

[Brett002]

I always wear my seatbelt after this. Happened on my birthday weekend 2 weeks after getting my talon. Was going .02 mph and a cleat from my tire caught a pine tree. Popped up out my seat and hit where the net buckle is on the cage overhead. Left me with a nice yellowstone logo. I had to promise to always wear my seatbelt or I had to sell the talon. Seatbelt it is.

Something to mention is never ride alone if you're going on an adventure like this. It was only me and the mrs's but we were in the middle of a national forest. Luckily it wasn't worse cause she would have never been able to find her way out, and nowhere for a helicopter to land, etc. I drove out with my shirt tied around my head and had to stay the night at the hospital for observation.

Please put that nylon over your shoulders!

 

[Scoop]

Precisely why I recently installed the PRP harnesses in the Talon ...

 

[Jason W]

No matter the opinoun, if nothing good at all comes from a loss, a warning of dont ignore our own safety in our machines,

I lost a freind yrs back when a suspension part broke on a xj cherokee in harlan ky, coming down easy trail towards Putney side, pregnant wife lived, he got squished like a bug between cage and ground, no seatbelt