Motorcycle Rider Critically Hurt Near Cassoday

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Posted: 9:04 PM Jul 6, 2008
Last Updated: 4:16 PM Jul 7, 2008
Email Address: news@kake.com

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A motorcycle rider is in critical condition after crashing his bike near Cassoday. in Chase County

It happened around 12:30 Sunday afternoon on Highway 177 north of the Chase/Butler County line. Both Chase and Butler County emergency crews responded to the call, where officers found the motorcycle in several pieces.

Chase County Sheriff Richard Dorneker says the motorcycle left the road for about 100 feet and hit culvert. Investigators said 20-year-old Race Gray of Topeka was going fast when he was thrown from his motorcycle

Gray remains in critical condition at Wesley Medical Center.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Shelley Location: Topeka on Jul 30, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Jan and Kenny I just heard about Race's accident yesterday. I hope he is doing better. I will be thinking of you and your family. I will leave my eamil, when you get a chance let me know how he is doing.

Posted by: Jeff & Jo Atkinson Location: Topeka on Jul 13, 2008 at 11:42 PM
Kennny and Jan your in our thoughts and prayers. We just heard the news on Friday if there is anything we can do please call!!!

Posted by: Jay/Lori Location: Topeka on Jul 9, 2008 at 04:49 PM
Kenny and Jan, this is to let you know that the entire Flowers family is praying for you and keeping positive thoughts. We're thinking of all of you every day. Love you.

Posted by: RORO Location: meriden,ks on Jul 9, 2008 at 12:28 PM
My thought@prayers go out to the young mans family@for him.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 9, 2008 at 09:18 AM
THANKS TO JODI AND WAVERLY AND LUCAS FOR THEIR HELP.THEY WERE THE FIRST TO HELP RACE AND TRY TO KEEP HIM CALM.JODI CALLED 911 AND REQUESTED AIR RESCUE, 2 TO 3 AMR UNITS WERE IN ROUTE AT THE SAME TIME. THANKS TO THESE PEOPLE RACE IS STILL WITH US.. IT DOESNT MATTER IF YOUR ON A BIKE OR IN A CAR IF SOMEONE IS HURT IT TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON WITH HEART TO GO THAT EXTRA STEP. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HELP

Posted by: Irritated Location: Topeka on Jul 9, 2008 at 03:39 AM
Please people, try to put only positive comments on here, negativity is not necessary! Think if this was your family member....we all make mistakes, this is a wonderful young man with a baby, his family needs love and prayers right now.

Posted by: Lucas Location: Emporia on Jul 8, 2008 at 10:22 PM
I was the last of many motorcycles that Race passed on that stretch of highway just 20 feet behind him before he veered off the road, and coincidentally the first person to stop and assist. I approached him and with the help of my Uncle assured him that help is on the way. I was there and saw the carnage of his person and his bike. Helmet or no helmet, this is the worst nightmare of any motorcyclist on the road. So you all fight about the freedom to choose, while Race fights for his right to life. And as for me, I pray that he makes it through all this with the love of his family and friends. And in the meantime, I will again try to sleep peacefully tonight as the sight of his body and bike fly through the air over and over again in my mind. May God be with you Race!

Posted by: roberta Location: topeka on Jul 8, 2008 at 09:05 PM
Kenny & Jan Our thoughts and prayers are with you and all your family We hope Race pulls through okay Flowers family

Posted by: Susan rust Location: hutchinson on Jul 8, 2008 at 11:40 AM
The one that called a family member a squid,how insensitive can you be? I beleive in wearing a helmet but to be so crude,I hope when something happens to you that there will be nothing but kind words said. I resapect the family and pray God will help you through this very difficult time. From an American Legion Rider- Sassy and Drifter

Posted by: newbie Location: wichita on Jul 8, 2008 at 07:37 AM
I too, was in Cassoday last weekend and yes, there were a lot of people and bikes. But this didn't happen in town nor when the majority of the crowd was there, so using "distractions" as an excuse is lame at best. I'm a first time rider. Everything I've read and heard about this tragedy simply reinforces what is taught in the Motorcycle Safety Foundation class I recently took. Most motorcycle incidents involving single vehicles like this one occur on curves and are due to inattentiveness, negligence or inexperience. To call this an accident is to excuse such behavior. Though my thoughts and prayers go out to this man and his family I cannot excuse his poor riding skills. This reflects badly on all cyclists and I hope those of you who ride, whether for 40 years or 1 week, take heed and learn the skills necessary to be safe on the road.

Posted by: :- | Location: here on Jul 7, 2008 at 11:26 PM
My father in law was killed recently in a bike accident and my mother in law dismembered... guess what... they were wearing helmets. It seems to me that to snip about helmets in this matter is petty and small. To the family and friends, my prayers are with you...

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 7, 2008 at 09:13 PM
I also was in Cassoday last Sunday. There are so many people & so many things going on it is easy to see how this unfortanate accident could have happened. My prayers are with the rider & his family. For the negative comment, wearing a helmet is a CHOICE!! so "GET A LIFE"!!!

Posted by: Munsell's Location: Topeka, KS on Jul 7, 2008 at 09:06 PM
Our thoughts & prayers go out to Race, Isabelle, and his family. We were devastated when we got the call from Travis and having just went thru a traumatic event with Travis our heart ached immediately for you all. If there is anything we can do for you during this time, please don't hesitate to let us know. Message to "Dub": KS law says you don't have to wear a helmet, but it does say you must wear a seatbelt, DO YOU??? Do you always obey the law? If not, please don't leave judgemental comments about someone and something you have no facts about. Yes he probably should have had a helmet on but that's not for you or me to say... This family has enough to endure at this difficult time. Put yourself in their shoes... The Munsell Family Topeka, KS

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 7, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Prayers out to the motorcyclist and his family,may he recover quickly.

Posted by: dave Location: topeka on Jul 7, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Update: This rider was in our group! As of 10pm 7/6/08 he is alive and in recovery,he went thru reconstructive surgery for the shattered bones in his face in the afternoon into the early evening.He has a long road of recovery ahead of him. Please make a prayer for him and his infant daughter.For those of you that have negitive things to say please dont, His family and friends are going thru enough.

Posted by: cliff Location: wichita on Jul 7, 2008 at 09:12 AM
It is hard to believe that speed wwas involved, ther are a lot of sherifs cars allong the route to and from Cassoday the first sunday of each month to watch for "speeders". the few accidents I have found along there, it took a long time for any sherif cars to arrive.

Posted by: @ Location: dub on Jul 7, 2008 at 07:00 AM
and thats what you get for being a squid. No sorry feelings for you when you dont protect your skull. My thoughts are with his family, for his stupiedity they lost someone they cared about.

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Fire Department: Fireworks Are Illegal In Most Of Sedgwick County

Posted By: Shaun: I think that people in the county needs to remember that this day is to celebrate or freedom as a country!!! China gave us fireworks to help US and a COUNRTY celebrate. To me this is UNAMERICAN!!! Yes, i agree that the big ones that can set major fires sould probly not be shot in rural areas. And all though this law don't affect me personally, it still does as I am a soldier and an American. I am proud of my country. Even if I could only shoot off fountains or what ever I still think that is better than nothing. As long as the person shooting them off is doing it on a concrete surface I don't see why they can't have small fireworks!!!!!
Posted By: donald otnes: My daughter called me at 10:15 pm on July 2, 2009. She had people setting off fireworks in her housing district. The kids were firing off the ones that sound like a bomb going off. Are people that stupid to let kids have fireworks that could blow up and take a hand off or even there face.
Posted By: miss america: My family is apparently among the wild, irresponsible rednecks in unincorporated Sedgwick county that have shot off fireworks every year on the 4th since I was a baby. It's true there is a need to protect farmers' wheatfields, so I can understand why the county might ban the big fireworks that fly up in the air, and bottle rockets, etc. But, why shouldn't we be able to at least set off the smaller fireworks, such as fountains, that are less dangerous? Why are our families denied the privilege of celebrating the 4th in a safe, fun way just because we live in the unincorporated areas? This fireworks ban on the 4th needs to be loosened up. It's really not fair.
Posted By: a: Think about this people! Fireworks are loud and anoying! I am so sick of people setting them off late at night while we are trying to sleep! My baby is being kept up by fireworks because people set them off at two in the morning!Please just think about where you are setting them off like close to houses and apartment buildings. Those are not good places to be doing them!
Posted By: Firefighters daughter: For those who think that firefighters just "sit around" you obviously have no idea what these people do. Just looking at the 4th, I can recall as a child how we all wondered if my dad would get to finish his hamburger before being called out to yet another of the many fires he went on that day . The work they do isn't restricted to a summer holiday. Think about the gear they wear...heavy coats, boots, air tanks, even on 100 degree days. Take a walk in their boots and face the fires, car accidents, tornado/storms, floods, and other emergencies they must face with courage, calm, and strength in order to save lives and property. As for "washing the truck" and other maintenance that must be done, do you want a rusted out, broken hosed truck showing up at your house because they DIDN't do those things? I hope they do get a chance to relax, eat, sleep, etc. between the emergencies they must face. I want a well rested and ready fire fighter showing up at my house should I ever need one
Posted By: rebecca: hey does anyone know if the little boy that went into QT has been found? I know this isn't the topic but I just wanted to know.
Posted By: : h: I believe that fireworks like Black Cats can be used in Derby as well as Wichita (it's been a long time since I've done any here so I wouldn't definitely know). But they might be setting off something bigger like an M50. The main problems they've had is with the ones that burst into showers of colored balls and sparks like we see in the big displays, roman candles, M80s and the ones that spray out sparks. The Eagle Beacon, last year, said that a good rule of thumb is if they shoot out sparks more than about 6 feet from the device then they are probably illegal.
Posted By: h: well they are sure shooting them in derby and we're in sedgwick county either they are not banned or the police in derby are not doing anything about the ones that are shooting off fireworks already. Frankly I'm sick of it, the neighborhood kids are shooting them off close to my property and my dogs are having fits, a call to the local police dpt says nothing they can do....so if they are banned in sedgwick county then they should be banned in derby and the derby police dpt needs to start enforcing the ban, if they aren't banned in derby then they need to be, there are other ways of having a good time on the 4th of July without having to endanger your yard, my yard, your life!!!!
Posted By: : If everyone was a responible person that means for their self and for the one's that have children, then we wouldn't have had these laws made.The population is so high now that the fire departments are on overload because of the people that will not take responsiblity for their actions.And as far as the fire department setting around!!! Let your house be on fire and then have to wait because these people are not at their work area's because you think they are setting around.I would hate for them to be kept busy 24/7. What would happen to our town without them if that were the case.Already the street that I live on is littered with trash from fire works because people are not responsibly.(not all)
Posted By: D: I completely agree with Anonymous at 9:26. Linda, unless you've been living under a rock, it's been well known for years that fireworks are illegal in the city limits. They make the same announcements every year. They don't sell the "big" illegal fireworks in the city but everyone still goes out of city limits to buy them and then come back home and shoot them off out in the neighborhood streets. I've seen fireworks in my neighborhood that would rival the ones at riverfest and Lawrence Dumont stadium and they aren't legal in the city.
Posted By: : Cliff: That's true but when they are burned off purposely there are fire control measures in place. When someone sets a fire with fireworks they tend to run away and then it gets out of control. Like I said, I've missed work because of people who do this. The reason why they made them illegal in Sedgwick County to begin with is because most people here are not responsible enough to use them safely. And Linda: They've been telling people every year that they are illegal. Most people just don't pay attention. And they only selll fireworks in Wichita that you can set off in Wichita. That's why they've always said "Shoot them where you buy them".
Posted By: Rod: I'm with 'Anonymous on Jul 1, 2009 at 08:08 AM'... Helps us Obama! We need you to protect us from ourselves! ALL PRAISE OBAMA!!!
Posted By: Linda: Ok, for one I think if they were illegal, than why didn't we know about it along time ago. I bet that the majority of the people that lives in Wichita didn't know this, and I think it is not right to start enforcing it NOW, I mean come on the main reason why people shoot of fireworks is for the kids entertainment, Also if its going to be illegal than why on earth should selling fireworks at the stands not be? People see the signs that fireworks are illegal, but when they are driving around wichita and see firework stands it just tempts them that much more. So I think its not right.
Posted By: cliff: anonomous at 8;08, fireworks are a tradition on the fourth of july. and the "tinderbox "harvesed wheat fields are usually burnt off this time of year anyway even without fireworks.
Posted By: : Bottle Rocket Roger: What makes you think being American means you should have the right to set off explosives? For the idiots who think they need to have fireworks: how many of you have to call into work and tell your boss you can't come in because some moron set fire to your house or yard? What about when they go outside the city & set them off in newly harvested wheat fields that are nothing more than tinderboxes at this time of year? Every year for the past six years I've lost pay because idiots cannot control themselves or the fires they set.
Posted By: don: its really sad,,,,we are not hardly even "independent" anymore,,,the government has "used" up all are rights,,,,,like the ol' saying goes though "just be glad your not getting ALL the government you pay for",,,,,period, end of sentence !!!!
Posted By: : Anonymous who is coming down on firefighters and their "lazy days of washing the trucks and sleeping and cooking meals" has no clue what firefighters do and how many calls many of the stations get,though many are medical. Firefighters are not exactly unpatriotic joy-squelchers, but they are supposed to educate the general public about fire safety. If you even understood all the job entailed you wouldn't talk like that.
Posted By: Bottle Rocket Roger: When I lived in a town just north of wichita,we were able to shoot fireworks ALL day long for a week..Park City allows fireworks ALL day long for week,NO problems in either town! We celebrate the 4th like americans in these towns! The people that made fireworks illegal in Wichita and hate the fireworks are ALL UNAMERICAN! Go hide in you're basements and shake like a coward..the M80's are coming!
Posted By: : We need two things immediately. One, a petition to remove this descriminatory 1978 law against residents of the county, and secondly, another petition to remove the authors of this law if they are still in office, and any other person in authority that supports it. I'll drive any distance to sign those petitions. Our tax dollars were used to print and post these signs and will also be used again to remove them, and patrol neighborhoods looking for little kids shooting ladyfinger firecrackers. This travesty of the use of our tax dollars must be exposed with those that have attacked Independence Day.
Posted By: Bob: Enforce the law! Many firewoks are dangerous, destructive, and disturbing--especially to pets.
Posted By: : I never knew there were so many un-educated people around the state. It even says in the text of the story, that the fire department is not going to be doing extra patrolling, due to staffing. People are very careless with their fireworks in the "uncorperated" area's of the county. You add wind, and some dry wood, or brush.. And you cause a very dangerous situation, and put those "poorly staffed" fire deparments that respond in danger. ****If you live in a town/city in "sedgwick County".. you need to check your local laws. The no fireworks law - is for "uncorprated" - aka *NOT IN CITY LIMITS*
Posted By: Michelle: Can't we come to a compromise? Make them illigal everyday of the year, except the 4th? I agree with the ones on here that said we are celebrating our FREEDOM! This is what the USA is about. Hotdogs, baseball and fireworks! 8-)
Posted By: Kristy: "But many like Sedgwick County Resident Michael Dixson don't plan on breaking the law." Seriously - someone who writes for a news station should be familiar with proper grammar usage.
Posted By: : How ironic it is that it's Independance Day however; they tell you that you can't fire off any fireworks.....at least any that are worth paying money for. Yes, we're slowly on our way to becoming a communist country. I miss Archie Bunker!
Posted By: : Why even celebrate??? Pretty sad when Amerians can't participate in the tradation and celebration of America's Indepandance. I feel for you rual Sedwick County people. Sedwick County SUCKS!!
Posted By: Tim: The Fire Department IS NOT encouraging people to call 911 every time they see people shooting fireworks, this will create an unnecessary strain on the 911 system. The problem is being worked on and will take time to get things all straightened out. If you have an emergency or a problem that warrants calling 911 by all means call 911. What is not needed is a call to 911 every time you see someone shooting a firecracker.
Posted By: : The fire departments are going out of their way with NO FIREWORKS signs just because they don't want to have to work any more than they have to. Little fire here and there disrupts their lazy days of washing the trucks and sleeping and cooking meals!
Posted By: topper: at one time you couldn't shoot fire works in dodge, now that we can the 2nd through the 5th i think. i havent heard of more fires or whatever it is you think is going to happen if you were to allow.. its the 4th of july, and you stoping people from celebrating. thats dumb if you ask me. besides, people are going to shoot them off no matter what you do.
Posted By: Frankie: The Fire Department says it only enforces the law against fireworks in Sedgwick County, but I've lived here since 1938 and I remember that it was the Sedgwick County Fire Department that pushed for the County Commissioners to pass the illegal fireworks law.
Posted By: anoymous: It is a little confusing, because Park City has fireworks tents all over, but I thought Bel Aire and Park City were actually their own "cities", and not part of unincorporated Sedgwick County. And they are allowed in Goddard,I checked out the website. I wish there was a central list posted where they are legal/illegal, because I do think there is confusion about this, especially when I thought I heard people in Bel Aire saying they purchased permits in the past. Can anyone elaborate?
Posted By: Debby: If they are illegal why are they sold in the city where they are illegal?
Posted By: : Isn't it funny how it's called Independance Day but yet big brother wants to tell us we can't shoot fireworks? Screw you big brother!! I'm firing mine off!!
Posted By: Elmer: I saw on the news that you are asking the neighbors to report the people who are using fireworks to the police. Hitler did the same thing when enforcing his laws. Are we coming closer to socialist government, or are you just trying to create a community that is untenable due to loss of trust in neighbors? I can't believe we are repeating history again.
Posted By: bob: i think the county is forgetting what we are celebrating, our independence. so they should let us shoot them where you buy them.
Posted By: Justin: Land of the Free, My hind end. Restrictions yes, understandable. But, all out ban? This is not the America I fought for!!!!! Maybe before long we won't have any independence to celebrate!!! And I'm sure the fire fighters are just having to do what there told. Heck, most of them love fire or they wouldn't be doing there job.
Posted By: : "fire dept only enforces the law" im sure they had a say in how it was created. thats like saying police dont have a quota when writing tickets when im sure they do. how else are police measured when trying for promotions and raises--its by how many tickets they write, how many crimes they solve, ect. people are gonna shoot off fireworks and worry bout what happens later because this is the one time in the year that we get to do so! plus it helps celebrate america's birthday !!
Posted By: Mikea: I sure wish there was something we could do about the rednecks who insist on setting off the big heavy skybursts in our neighborhood at 1am every night. Fireworks should be illegal inside the city. Loud car radios are, and fireworks are more dangerous.
Posted By: Bob: Ok maybe this is a stupid question, but what is unincorporated Sedgwick County? What is meant by that?
Posted By: AJ Simkatu: Everyone knows that fireworks that go up in the sky are illegal, even in the city of Wichita. The problem is that nobody cares. Most people think the ban is a ridiculous overreaction to a small problem. People are sick of the nanny state telling us what we can and can't do with our own lives and property. What's next, ban skydiving, skiing, riding dirt bikes, mountain climbing? The government needs to mind its own business and stay out of ours.

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