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SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Highway Patrol says road debris is a constant concern for troopers. A recent crash on Interstate 15 in Bountiful is one among many that shows just how deadly and frustrating it can be when motorists do not secure their loads.
Most motorists have had close calls with rocks, tire treads, and maybe even furniture on the roadway. The state runs a campaign called "Litter Hurts," and Spero Fotes of Bountiful has the road rash and bruises to prove it. He has a black and blue injury that runs all the way up his back side.
Two weeks ago, shortly after he merged his motorcycle into I-15 traffic at 2600 South in Bountiful, he slammed into a 20-foot long, 6-inch diameter industrial hose.
"It all happened so fast," Fotes said. "It threw me into a fishtail. It made me veer into the fast lane."
As he veered, he hit a truck and flew over his handlebars.
"I was near death. The lady in the truck that I hit swore that she ran me over," Fotes said.
That's the same woman who called 911.
Fotes will survive his injuries, but the crash damaged his high-performance motorcycle to the tune of several thousand dollars. The wheel rim is cracked, and the carbon fiber nose and other parts of the bike are broken.
Fotes carries only liability insurance, so he'll have to pay for all repairs.
"The biggest issue is strapping it down well and using more than one strap," Dockstader said.
He says too many people will tie down a load with one strap and think that will do the job. When a vehicle reaches highway speeds, one strap will rarely do the job.
As for Fotes, he has raced in the past and taken a few spills. He is thankful his body armor did the job, and his scarred helmet should remind all riders to strap one on.
"I have wrecked in cheap helmets, and I will never buy a cheap helmet, and this is why," Fotes said.
He hopes for some resolution if someone can identify that hose. Unfortunately, the Highway Patrol says they rarely are able to track down the offenders who lose their loads.
E-mail: jboal@ksl.com
