Motorcyclist killed in rush-hour lightning strike

MGKrebs

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Thu Jun-22-06 02:36 PM
Original message

Motorcyclist killed in rush-hour lightning strike

"WESTMINSTER, Colorado (AP) -- A motorcyclist died after he was struck by lightning while riding in rush hour traffic between Denver and Boulder, police said.

Witnesses reported seeing a flash of light shortly before the motorcyclist struck the center divider on U.S. 36 Wednesday, police spokesman Tim Read said.

Gary Missi, 46, of Longmont was pronounced dead at the scene.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/22/motorcycle.lightning.ap/index.html

Karma anyone?
Maybe the end times are here.

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Marnieworld

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Thu Jun-22-06 02:38 PM
Response to Original message

1. Karma for what?

Sounds horrific to me for the rider and any witnesses. I guess it's all in your perspective.

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MGKrebs

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Thu Jun-22-06 02:41 PM
Response to Reply #1

4. I'm not suggesting it was karma. I just know people believe in

that sort of thing. I certainly don't know anything about the guy. Sorry I was unclear.

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Mountainman

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Thu Jun-22-06 02:38 PM
Response to Original message

2. I thought you would be insulated with rubber tires. Maybe his feet were

touching the ground. Seems kind of freaky.

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B3Nut

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Thu Jun-22-06 02:44 PM
Response to Reply #2

5. The rubber in the tires is insignificant.

Since the electrical charge in a lightning strike has overcome sometimes miles of a dielectric (air), a few inches of rubber means diddly. The reason you're safe in a car isn't the tires - it's the metal skin and chassis and the fact that the current follows that path, skipping right over the tires to ground (GE captured this photographically in the laboratory.) On a motorcycle or bicycle or in a convertible, you're fair game if you stick up. A car's metal body acts as a Faraday cage.

Todd in Beerbratistan

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hobbit709

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Thu Jun-22-06 02:48 PM
Response to Reply #2

10. You're not insulated by the tires

Edited on Thu Jun-22-06 02:49 PM by hobbit709

A lighning bolt that can travel a mile of more through the air is not going to be stopped by 6 inches of rubber. What protects you in a car is the Faraday Cage effect-electricity travels on the outside of the metal and you're relatively safe inside as long as you don't touch anything or hang your arm out the window.

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Lowell

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Thu Jun-22-06 02:39 PM
Response to Original message

3. I'm sure some non-rider will say

it wouldn't have happened if he'd been wearing a helmet.

It must have been a substantial hit, the report said that it blew debris all over the highway.

RIP Gary Missi.

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GardeningGal

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Thu Jun-22-06 02:47 PM
Response to Reply #3

8. He was wearing a helmet.

Here's the local coverage.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9407981/detail.html

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Fridays Child

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Thu Jun-22-06 02:47 PM
Response to Reply #3

9. The bike was intact. What was the debris?

Edited on Thu Jun-22-06 02:49 PM by Fridays Child

I shudder to think.

Edit: Never mind. I see that it was asphalt.

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Nickster

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Thu Jun-22-06 02:45 PM
Response to Original message

6. Holy crap! What are the odds of that happening. How terrible.

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TahitiNut

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Thu Jun-22-06 02:46 PM
Response to Original message

7. "Hey, God! Watch this!"

:evilgrin:

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catnhatnh

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Thu Jun-22-06 03:30 PM
Response to Original message

11. Up here in New Hampshire....

Bike week ended last Sunday....tough year with ten cyclists killed.One however stands out-a wife on the back of the motorcycle was killed when a tree fell on her head while they were leaving a campground along the scenic Kankamagus Highway.....the running joke here was that the campground was packed for the balance of the week with angry husbands circling the parking lot with their spouses.....

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