The California Bay Area hosts a variety of motorcycle racing events throughout the year, one of which is the Red Bull US motorcycle grand prix at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. These events are a time for motorcycle and racing enthusiasts to come together and enjoy their shared passion. However, the 2010 grand prix was marred by a serious motorcycle accident which occurred as the riders were leaving the raceway.
The two-vehicle accident involved a total of three motorcycle drivers and one passenger, all of whom suffered severe injuries. Two of the drivers collided as one rider attempted to make a U-turn on a blind curve. This accident pushed one of the riders across the highway and into another oncoming biker. The collision sent this biker flying from his vehicle and left him dead at the scene.
This victim’s widow recently filed a lawsuit naming the city and county of Monterey, California State, the California Highway Patrol, Leguna Seca raceway, the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula and the two other motorcycle drivers involved in the accident as responsible for her husband’s death.
The suit claims that the organizers of the even should have never forced the riders of the grand prix to use an exit requiring a blind U-turn. The plaintiff asserts that the poorly designed exit played a major role in her husband’s death. The widow also claims that, short of changing the route, organizers could have lowered the speed limit during the duration of the race in order to keep drivers safe.
Source: Monterey Herald, “Monterey County, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca sued in death.” Virginia Hennessey, 24 May 2011