Bikes In Atlanta, No Way (For Jason)

[lkpettus]

Think long and hard about getting a bike and riding it in Atlanta traffic. You are safer to Join the Marines and go to Iraq. At least there you get more training. One small mistake and your gone.

Jason took the motorcycle course in Alphareta and had no problem getting his license. It does you no good though when someone fails to yield and pulls out in front of you.

He had never been hurt a day in his life. Let me know sometime and I'll show you his autopsy report. Everything broken. So think long and hard before you set your mom or dad up so that they have to write letters to your credit cards with Death Certificates attached.

Better to be late getting to the party, but always get there, than to get in a hurry and not make it.

God I miss my son.

Jason Kent Pettus

7/8/1984 – 12/30/2005
In Our Thoughts Forever
JUST SO WE COULD SEE HIM SMILE AGAIN



When he was just a very young little boy,

he rode the toy horse outside the store.

I tickled him, just having fun that day,

and he thru his head down towards the horse.



He hit face first and came up with a broken tooth,

the next day his mom took him to get it pulled.

For the next few years whenever he smiled,

he kept his lips closed so no one could see.



He grew older and his grown up teeth came in,

all crooked because of the one he had lost when small.

So we took him to get braces to fix this problem,

JUST SO WE COULD SEE HIM SMILE AGAIN.



He wore those braces for many years,

the problem wasn’t easy to fix.

But as you can clearly see,

His smile returned so beautifully.



Until that fateful night not long ago,

riding his motorcycle so happily.

He promised his mom he was being oh so careful,

But he hit face first going way to fast.



Life now is over as we know it,

I’d give all I have,

My entire life,

JUST SO WE COULD SEE HIM SMILE AGAIN.

[HiPSI]

i understand the pain for your loss, but please don't villify motorcycles in general because of it.

[lkpettus]

Unless you have written letters like the one shown below, then you do not understand. I pray you never do. When motorcycles and cars mix it up, the motorcycle always looses.



To Whom It May Concern,


Attached you will find a copy of My Son’s Yamaha Motor Credit account statement. Along with it is a copy of his Death Certificate. You may now consider his account paid in full.



Jason was the love of our life and now he is gone forever. He was killed on Friday night 12/30/05 while riding the wonderful death machine that he was able to purchase with the Credit you provided.



My lawyer has stated to me that as of now Jason doesn’t owe anyone anything anymore.



God I miss my son.



Kent & Venitha Pettus

[HiPSI]

Unless you have written letters like the one shown below, then you do not understand. I pray you never do. When motorcycles and cars mix it up, the motorcycle always looses.



To Whom It May Concern,


Attached you will find a copy of My Son’s Yamaha Motor Credit account statement. Along with it is a copy of his Death Certificate. You may now consider his account paid in full.



Jason was the love of our life and now he is gone forever. He was killed on Friday night 12/30/05 while riding the wonderful death machine that he was able to purchase with the Credit you provided.



My lawyer has stated to me that as of now Jason doesn’t owe anyone anything anymore.



God I miss my son.



Kent & Venitha Pettus

again, i am very sorry for your loss and i can't even begin to fathom what it's like.

at the same time i can't possibly imagine why you'd try so very hard to villify one of the many hobbies in the world that i love and have been a part of for years. in my years of riding i've seen/heard of many riders down and unfortunately a few that passed on as a result, but as david stated it's not the fault of the machine he was on. calling a bike a "death machine" is simply wrong; you might as well call cars, bicycles, boats, trucks, airplanes, helicopters and any other form of mobile transport "death machines" because people die in them as well.

[imbosile]

i understand the pain for your loss, but please don't villify motorcycles in general because of it.

maybe you should be getting mad at the person who failed to yield, not the bike.

[lkpettus]

I forgot to mention the Fact that 2nd Degree Vehicular Homicide in Georgia is a Misdameanor. Punishable by a Fine and Probation. So if someone simply makes a mistake and runs you and your motorcycle over, you get a life sentance and they get a slap on the wrist at best.

[David88vert]

I forgot to mention the Fact that 2nd Degree Vehicular Homicide in Georgia is a Misdameanor. Punishable by a Fine and Probation. So if someone simply makes a mistake and runs you and your motorcycle over, you get a life sentance and they get a slap on the wrist at best.

This is something that the AMA has been trying to change for years. Janklow got away with only 100 days in jail - for willfully killing a 44 year-old Harley rider. Even if the rider was in a car, he would have died (he was hit broadside at 70mph when Janklow ran a stop sign).

[Eli]

I can not even imagine what you have had to go through and I am sorry for your loss.

I can only hope that my parents will never have to go through such a loss as I know they are scared shitless of me riding and someone else hitting me because automobiles simply do not pay attention to bikes. Both my dad and step-dad ride (dad no longer has a bike but is thinking about buying one soon since i have one now) but it still scares them.

I am thankful to be living in a small town where traffic is not near as severe as Atlanta and my commute to work is a 2 lane road where my bigget problem would be deer (since I travel on it between 5am-6am)

[David88vert]

Losing a family member is always tough, but it is much worse if it is your child.

Looking at the facts, this appears to be an accident. No intent to kill, or anything of that nature. That does not lessen the pain of course, and I seriously doubt that the pain of his death will ever lessen for you.

Your son was old enought to make the purchase as an adult, correct? I am assuming that he was at least 18 years old in order to sign a contract without a co-signer. If so, you definately do not owe anything to Yamaha. The insurance company will have to pay. If you co-signed for him, you would be held legally liable in the event that the insurance did not pay (not a chance of that in this case).

A simple though: Had he been driving a car, and the same thing happened, would you say all cars are dangerous? I have had many more friends die in cars than on bikes. Likewise, if the person that hit your son was on a motorcycle, he might still be alive today. The vehicle does not control the driver/rider, so it cannot be the vehicle's fault. In your particular case, you might be able to take a small amount of condolance in the fact that your son did everything that he needed to do perfectly. It was definately not his fault. He followed the correct path, and someone else errored.

Again, I am sorry for your loss, but the fact is quite clear - it was the other drivers fault, and your son did nothing wrong, including buying and riding the bike. However, if he was living under your roof, and you told him not to buy one, then in that case, he would have done something wrong (going against your wishes).

[Tarzanman]

I met your son on two distinct occasions. Once when he was out having a bite with friends... and then another time he beat me at a game of pool over at English's.

Thank you for your concern and your warning. I shudder at the prospect of even imagining the loss that your family endures.

Please pardon some of the more ill-mannered replies that have missed the gist of your original post.

[civicS14]

Please pardon some of the more ill-mannered replies that have missed the gist of your original post.

there is nothing ill-mannered about those replies... its just stating simple facts... people die in all sorts of vehicles, it doesn't mean its a death machine. we're all sorry for your loss, but to go out on a limb and get mad at the bank for giving him a loan to buy a bike is just ridiculous. maybe you should blame your son or the person that hit your son. it was his free choice to get on the bike, and it was the guys mistake to hit your son.... all in all it was an accident, and life goes on, the best we can do is learn from this incident. but definitely don't go around pointing fingers at who or what's at fault... i can't say i can understand your anger or frustration but maybe your should channel it into something more productive and just give warnings instead?

[Eli]

] all in all it was an accident, and life goes on

actually, no it didn't and that is his point...

[civicS14]

actually, no it didn't and that is his point...

actually it was... thats what she said... it was an accident.. as she says the guy failed to yeild...

[Eli]

actually it was... thats what she said... it was an accident.. as she says the guy failed to yeild...

no, look at what i bolded. you said life goes and im saying no it didnt and that was the guys point- his sons life did not go on.

[PSINXS]

my brother rides motorcycles and honestly i am afraid everyday he gets on it. but i just pray everyday he rides that he returns home the same way he left. He loves his bikes so i dont interfere with him doing his thing on them.

sorry for your loss. right now that is one of my biggest fears. to hear news like that about my brother.

[civicS14]

yeah i use to ride myself... i quit because of atlanta drivers... sold my bike about a month ago myself... crazy drivers around here, no one looks before turning or anything

[B16a2 Civic]

sorry for your loss, but defintly i would try and pursue legal action from the individual who hit your son or atleast thier family, im sure anyone who buys a motorcycle knows the risk of having one, i think i will have to agree 100% with HiPSI, its always tough losing a loved one but the motorcycle was not at fault, unless mechanically, the cycle gave way and caused teh accident

[ahmonrah]

yeah, i'm sorry for the loss that your family will/has endured. and i, in no way can even imagine the pain a man and family goes through when they bury their own child, cause in the way of things in the world, no parent is supposed to bury their children. we are to bury the parents. but the pain and anguish of killing through neglegence the driver of that car BETTER feel, rivals the pain that you and your family are feeling with the loss of your son. i myself have some understanding of the gravity nearly lossing my own life at the hands of a drunken driver. i only pray that your son left quickly and w/o feeling pain.

and to those that own/are still getting bikes, like myself, having personally stood at deaths door when i was only going to work, i understand that we can "check out" at any time. but that isnt a reason not to live. to do the things i like or are interested in. it's more of a reason to enjoy the pleasure/interests in life. because it's better to go doing something you love, than to die in fear of dying.

once again, i'm sorry for you loss of your son, but keep in mind, that he didnt die(hopefully) with fear in his heart and he was enjoying doing something that he loved. take solice in knowing that he still loves you and is still with you in spirit.

i thank you for the warning that you have issued to those that own/will own motorcycles. we will/still ride carefully and with the knowledge that we have to drive our bikes like no one sees us. and drive defensively.

[Buford®]

Nicely said.

I as well knew Jason. Very good kid. I knew him from Regal. He had a bright future ahead of him, would give the shirt off his back, and his last dime. It's truely a shame to see him gone.

[blurred visions]

I knew Jason and trying to get this message across is harder unless you actually knew him or someone else that has died on a motorcycle. Kent, IA is full of smartass people and they will only respond with remarks like the ones above. Some people just dont understand that motorcycles just aren't worth it. If anything, get a waverunner..

God Bless

[mumbles]

all i have to say is that i have lost many firends to motorcycle accidents and yet i still continue to ride. people are neglagent and it is no different than getting in a car and driving it the same fate can be reached. rideing is something i love to do and will continue to do. Sorry for your loss but there is no reason to bash people that love to ride. some of you say that bikes are not worth it, but i know most of you have been in excess of 100mph in your cars on public highways where is the certainty in that. its a dozen in one hand and half in the other or however that saying goes. its all about perspective, i've lost friends to car accidents aswell. life can throw you some pretty ugly turns, that is the way it goes. that is my 2cents and all i have to say. those of you that hate bikes voice your opinions else where and those of you that love to ride like me continue to enjoy your ride and be careful.

[Tarzanman]

Wow. Why don't you two go find some other ancient posts to dig up.