San Diego rider down

[JonKerr]

Unfortunately we lost a rider locally this past Sunday. Neysa Ornelas. I never actually met Neysa, (I know we came across each other on rides but never actually met) but some of my good riding friends were very close to her. She was on highway 94, an area I ride almost every week, not doing anything unsafe at all when a damn 85 year old man who shouldn't be on the road made a sudden left turn right infront of her as he was coming off a dirt road in the middle of a turn, blocking both sides of the road. There was no where to go.

There's been an incredible show of support from the local riding scene. There was a candlelight vigil held tonight (covered by the local news Vigil for San Diego woman killed in motorcycle wreck - San Diego, California News Station - KFMB Channel 8 - cbs8.com ) and there will be a HUGE memorial ride and fund raiser held on March 17th. There's also a memorial fund being setup to help her 7 year old son. The incredible show of support from so many people, many of whom never met Neysa, has been amazing. A few years ago we lost a good friend of mine, Robert Becker, to a similar accident and over 150 bikes turned out for his memorial ride and he had an escort of 75 bikes from the church the cemetery the day of his funeral. Just shows how close and how big our little riding community is and how passionate we all are. One thing I've come to realize since becoming a part of the motorcycling community is we tend to be very emotional and passionate bunch. Something like riding a bike stirs up so much emotion in us and can bring so many different people together. People who in all honesty, would never have anything to do with one another if it wasn't for our love and passion for riding and the emotions riding can evoke.

Unfortunately I'm unable to make the memorial ride due to a prior engagement, (and I'm sick about it) however, I feel the need to spread the word around for any local riders who may wish to join in. Details are on the following Facebook page and meetup.com page for both the ride as well as the memorial fund.

https://www.facebook.com/events/351885388264133/353222864797052/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity

Memorial Ride & Fund Raiser for our Sister Neysa - The San Diego Sportbike Meetup Group (San Diego, CA) - Meetup

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFMCCLgY1Hk"]Tribute to our friend and fellow rider. - YouTube[/ame]

 

[06330i]

Sorry for your loss man, I lost a few buddies last summer so I know the feeling...RIP Rider

 

[CrazyCawi]

wow, that saddens me deeply. Loss of a rider, mother, daughter, and friend to MANY people. Such a sad sad day.

 

[BKP]

Makes me ill to hear about this...
Prayers for her 7 yo son...

 

[mtheartist]

Condolences

Wow, just saw this post and being a new rider this hits close to home since I've had at least 3 cars pull into my lane on various occasions. This is one of the main reasons I invested in a louder exhaust. I just saw the report on the news and heard the man will not be charged. Really???? This infuriates me as a rider and I cannot imagine how this will make the family feel. Talk about adding insult to injury. Condolences to the friends and family. RIP fallen rider... Thanks for sharing Jon.

 

[tatty2012]

Sorry for the loss. I'm sure she will be missed deeply.

I watched the video and honestly teared up a bit. Whenever I hear something about another rider, it saddens be deeply. What makes things worse is that a lot of people (non bikers) don't understand the emotions that we have when it comes to other riders...

Again, very sorry for the loss. Prayers are headed her way and to her son, family and friends.

 

[MNGreg]

Sorry to hear about the loss of the local rider. Even though you didnt know her, prayers and wishes will go out for the family.

Agreed w/ Tatty.. Being a rider now, have more feelings when hear about someone going down.

 

[dart1963]

thoughts go out... always a sad event...

 

[Yamaz6]

Thoughts and prayers to her family and friends!

 

[Rabbitman109]

Definitely always sad to lose a great person like this. It angers me that it still is so dangerous for riders, because people who don't ride driving around aren't paying attention. Thoughts going out, especially for her son.

 

[RoadTrip]

RIP, yeah I couldn't watch that video, it hurt

 

[UncleHilty]

Terrible Terrrible news. My thoughts are with her and her family.

F-ing Old People! I respect thier right to drive but they should be tested annually. They have been graced with many years of life and they should not have the opportunity to cheat someone else out of thiers.

God Bless her!

 

[Scott_Thomas]

Sooooo sad! Seems she was a very good rider, beautiful girl and a mom. My heart goes out to her family and friends.

Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2

 

[arse]

Rip, my condolences to her family and loved ones.

 

[MistahT]

My thoughts and prayers for her soul and her family, as well as you, my fellow riders.

 

[DragonBlu]

A very sad thing indeed. My thoughts and prayers to her family.

 

[DakinechicK]

So sad and sorry to hear! Very heartbreaking. Praying for her friends, family and especially her little boy.

Beautifully done video.

Thanks for sharing, Jon.

 

[bobby bo bonsin]

Very very sad. My prayers for her family and daughter.

Hello my real name is Adam.

 

[JT]

Sad day! RIP Neysa

 

[JonKerr]

Thanks everyone. Like I said, even not knowing Neysa myself, seeing my friends who did know her well hurting the way they are, hurts me a lot.

The scary thing is where this happened. Most of us who ride the 94 regularly (I'm talking I've gone past this spot hundreds of times) didn't even know there was a road where this old man pulled out. Below are google maps images from street view. Neysa was coming up the hill toward the camera in the first picture. The truck came out of that road and made a LEFT turn out of there. REALLY? WTF did he think was going to happen. If she'd been in a car both would have been dead because that's a 55mph road. Being that she was on a bike, only she was hurt.

There have been pleas sent to the county to get that road either shut down or at minimum signage and stiff penalties for left turns out of there.

This is the view that Neysa had, except we don't have a wide angle fisheye camera mounted 8 feet in the air where we can see that road there. Like I said, most of us have ridden there for years and always thought it was just a turn out, not a road to expect cars to be pulling out of.

Any time something like this happens it always reminds me that we're vulnerable, and breakable, no matter how much gear we wear. I know a lot of people start second guessing what we do. And I get that. But IT'S WHAT WE DO. And in all honesty, those we've lost are people we would have never met if it wasn't for this passion for riding. (At least in most cases) I'd rather go early and enjoy my life than live to 100 and regret that I never followed my passions. One of the cardiologists at work put on a seminar one night that I worked (he actually is a fellow rider who I've ridden with before) and he had a eye opening little cartoon in his powerpoint. And old, crumpled up man, blind, basically in a sitting fetal position in a doctors office and the doc saying, "You know those extra 20 years you added to your life by not going out and having any fun ever, these are them." It just hit home. Why live life if you're not going to enjoy it? I had 3 months to live at one point in my life due to misdiagnosis and a shitty insurance company. When I switched (to the company I now work for) and was essentially saved, I promised myself I wouldn't waste another day. And I don't think I have. Our fallen friends wouldn't want us to stop doing what they enjoyed doing. Is it an eye opener? Sure it is. Will I ride a little more cautiously now? Probably. I like to think I already take a lot of precautions. But I will not stop enjoying my main passion.