Motorcycle Crash Kills Springfield Couple

Saw this in the news today. When you ride anything not a car — and I ride both a bicycle and a motorcycle — a story like this is always a reminder of how fragile life is, and how quickly things can change… or end.

Coastal motorcycle crash that killed couple still under investigation; no citations issued yet: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore.

“A May 17 traffic accident near Florence that killed a husband and wife from Springfield remains under investigation, Oregon State Police said Friday. No citations have been issued or arrests made in the collision on Highway 101 north of Florence that killed Robert Ellis Shimp and his wife, Nancy Ann, Sgt. Ron Martin said Friday. The state police crash reconstruction team is continuing to work on the case.”

What happened? The Shrimps were riding their motorcycle (no details on what make and model) and about to exit Highway 101 outside of Florence, Oregon. Then a driver in a Ford Taurus rear-ended them.

Now they’re gone.

These things happens; it’s one of the risks we accept when we ride. But it’s never easy to see that headline, to read that story, and know that a rider died while riding.

Our thoughts go out to all affected. And we remember them, whenever we get on our bikes again.