Become a Member: Get Ad-Free Access to 3,000+ Reviews, Guides, & More

Lone rider dies in overnight crash

RIP fallen riders crash lone

A motorcyclist has died after his bike left the road and hit a pile of rubble near Walgett in central NSW overnight.

Police believe the 20-year-old man was travelling along Opal Fields Road, Cumborah, between 7pm and 7.30pm (Wednesday 1 May 2019), when the crash occurred.

“He failed to reach his destination and people went looking for him,” police say.  

The rider is believed to have died at the scene.

Officers from Central North Police District established a crime scene and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Night rider

Lone riders

He is the third rider in the past week to have crashed and died, lying for some time before being located.

Last week, a passing motorist found a 52-year-old male rider lying on the Nottingham Road Bridge next to his crashed bike.

NSW Police say it is unknown how long the man had been lying on the road.

Paramedics attended, but he died a short time later.

In the second incident, a lone rider appears to have crashed at night.

The body of the 46-year-old Stockington man and his Harley-Davidson motorcycle were found the following morning down an embankment in the Lake Macquarie region.

Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of all riders.

Take care

These incidents highlight the importance of lone riders telling someone where they are going and when they plan to arrive, especially when riding at nightNight rider learner submission.

That way an alert can be despatched if they go missing.

Lone riders should also consider carrying a locator beacon or downloading a smartphone app that provides friends and family with their location.

Click here for some of the important apps riders should consider.

Europe last year mandated “eCall” systems in all new model cars that send an alert to emergency services when they detect a crash.

BMW has already produced the technology for motorcycles with their K 1600 the first bike to fit an SOS button either as as an ex-factory or aftermarket option.

First-aid apps riders should download

  1. Unfortunately the BMW SOS button is not available on Australian imports.

    1. Yes and it should be, and no activation required it detects a crash and will send an alert unless you deactivate it within a certain time frame. All bikes should have this life saving feature.

  2. A sad loss, our thoughts to his family.
    Perhaps we should all think seriously about EPIRB that connects when we separate from the motorcycle.

    1. iam the mother of the rider , who lost his life on the 1/5/2019, only 20 years old, id like to thank you Angus, for your thoughts to our family, , was so so such sad new to receive by , phone, while he was away on holiday, with his brother an best mate, mum & dad & brother`s had a lovely private service for our son when we brought him back to south australia to lay to rest, , we all dearly miss him, it was a tragic accident, and wild life out there is a possibility, us as a family are working thru this together, we are very blessed we have so many photos an fond memories of our much loved Son, & much loved Brother,

  3. I don’t know if animal strikes or near misses had any part to play in any of these fatalities, but roos are a huge problem in terms of collisions and near misses, which can also result in an accident. A mate of mine was recently in IC and there were another two riders there, as a result of animal strike. I know of at least 2 others in recent times, and a number of strikes that didn’t result in a loss of control – just plain lucky there.

    Roos are very active at sun-up and sun-down, but they can be seen on roadsides at any time of the day, so we need to be ultra-cautious.

    I don’t know what the answer is, but an SOS button would only be good if the rider was conscious, in reach of it, and able to press it. Maybe a lanyard would work, but then you’d have to remember it whenever you dismounted. I suspect that would only result in many false alarms.

  4. This comment is not a “Free Plug” for JNY Safety Care.
    There are occasions when I ride without other riders. Some years ago I purchased the JNY Safety Care Pendant (https://jnysafetycare.com.au). If I come off my bike it will send a message to three (mobile) phone numbers programmed in to it. The message will give my Speed, Location and a link to maps to show where I am.
    For more information contact John at JNY Safety Care on Phone: 0416 000 194 or look at https://jnysafetycare.com.au
    My pendant costs less than $10 over a THREE MONTH PERIOD as I test it every month. While on two occasions in five years it has activated while I’m riding and sent messages to my 3 contacts. My contacts can phone my pendant and hear my surroundings. When they hear the bike changing up and down gears or the likes they realise it was a false alarm & ring my phone to confirm. The JNY Safety Care system is better than “Vitas Call” for your parents too as Vita Call needs a landline phone. If your parent had a Vita Call and had a fall down the street Viat Call won’t work where the JNY SAFETY CARE PENDANT DOES WORK.

Comments are closed.