Monday, May 30, 2022

Eight Motorcyclists Injured in Crash

Northfield, Massachusett, USA (May 30, 2022)BSB - A Rhode Island man is facing several charges, including operating under the influence, after eight people were injured when he allegedly crashed his SUV into five motorcycles in Northfield on Sunday, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
 
Photo: Northwestern District Attorney’s office on Facebook

Ryan O’Farrell, 32, of Westerly was traveling south in an SUV, which was pulling a motorcycle in a trailer, near 272 Main Street in Northfield around 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, when he allegedly crossed over a solid yellow double center lane and hit five motorcycles heading north, the DA’s office said.

The nine motorcyclists, eight of which were taken to area medical centers, were part of Connecticut motorcycle club that left the Connecticut around 11:00 a.m. on Sunday. Two of the motorcyclists were critically injured in the crash and taken to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, the DA’s office said.



Two children, aged 11 and 12, who were in the SUV with O’Farrell were also taken to the hospital though they appeared to be uninjured.

O’Farrell was arrested on seven counts of operating under the influence of drugs causing serious bodily injury, operating under the influence of drugs, two counts of child endangerment, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

O’Farrell will be arraigned in Greenfield District Court Tuesday morning. He was held on $250,000 bail, according to the DA’s office. The crash is still under investigation.

Saturday, May 21, 2022

VIDEO: Cops Praise Biker For Not Killing Road Rage Man

Palm Coast, Florida, USA (May 21, 2022)BSB - A Florida man has been arrested and charged with assault after pulling a knife on a biker in a road rage confrontation and lunging at him, that's when the biker pulled out a handgun.

The incident occurred shortly after 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, May 17, when police dispatch received six separate 911 calls informing them there was an armed confrontation at Pine Lakes Parkway and Whirlaway Drive. The whole thing was all captured on film, thanks to the biker's wife who was riding pillion.
 


The couple told police that the driver of a Silver Toyota Tacoma had cut them off, and both vehicles pulled over. According to investigators, 50-year-old Rafael Vincent Rivera then emerged from his vehicle armed with a knife. "Concerned there was about to be a physical altercation, the victim grabbed his metallic knuckles," the Sheriff's Office said.



The video shows the two men squaring up, when Rivera slashes at the biker with his knife. Without flinching, the biker calmly reaches inside his leather vest and produces a handgun, which he points at Rivera, who suddenly seems to settle down.



Rivera encourages witnesses to call police, which he then does himself, informing dispatch that someone had just pulled a gun on him. He forgets to mention his own knife, but the biker's wife reminds him she has caught it all on film. Rivera was arrested on a charge of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon without Intent to Kill, and held on no bond. The biker meanwhile, who is a CCW (Carry Concealed Weapon) license holder, was hit with nothing but praise

"Traffic disagreements should never result in violence in our streets. In this particular incident, the video captured by the victim’s wife clearly shows that her husband's life was threatened," said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly. He then added, "I applaud the way the motorcyclist handled this situation." "After his life was clearly threatened, he lawfully defended himself and then de-escalated the situation. The offender is lucky he was not shot."

Motorcycle Company Vanishes with Millions

Arua, Uganda, (May 20, 2022)BSB - More than 100 people, mainly motorcyclists in West Nile sub region are in shock after failing to get motorcycles for which they made hefty deposits. Officials of Sky Motors Limited, the company they say they deposited money to get motorcycles, has vanished and officials switched off their phones.

Sky Motors Limited opened an office in Manibe ward, Ayivu Division in Arua city early last month, after allegedly getting clearance from the division authorities to offer motorcycle and tricycle loan services.

According to the company guidelines, each interested rider was expected to make an initial deposit of between sh680,000 and sh4,000,000 out of the required sh6.8 million to access a motorcycle and sh10 million for the tricycle. Potential clients were then expected to make either a weekly or monthly payment for a motorcycle or tricycle while those who can afford can also pay cash.
 


The company had promised to deliver motorcycles and tricycles for the applicants on Sunday afternoon during a “mega launch”. However, on Saturday, some of the affected clients who had come to clear their outstanding initial deposits ahead of the launch were shocked when they arrived at the company’s office and found no officials in office.

After waiting in vain for the officials to arrive, the affected clients rushed to the nearby Manibe Police station in shock to report the matter but were later referred to Arua central police station.

Stephen Droma , one of the affected boda boda riders says that he paid shillings 1.36 million for two motorcycles and the company promised to deliver his motorcycles during the launch which never materialized.

Meanwhile, Flavia Adiru, a single mother from Katrini sub county in Terego district who lost shillings 2 million wants the city authorities to intervene noting that many of the affected clients borrowed money from SACCOs to secure the motorcycles.

Elmahad Salim, the chairperson of Arua city Boda Boda Association, told URN that he has received a list of at least 80 of his members who made partial payments to Sky Motors Company Ltd. He however faults Ayivu division authorities for issuing a trading license to company without due diligence.

Alice Akello, the Arua Resident City commissioner says that the company officials had been moving on different radio stations in Arua City popularizing their business as genuine. Akello however cautioned the residents to be extra vigilant in dealing with companies whose registration status is not known .

This is not the first time residents in the sub region have been conned by fake motorcycle companies who purport to offer motorcycle loan. In 2019, hundreds of businessmen, teachers, and boda boda cyclists in West Nile and Acholi sub regions were fleeced by Easy Boda-Boda Company Ltd in yet another motorcycle loan scam.

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Harley-Davidson to Suspend Motorcycle Production

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA (May 19, 2022)BSB -Harley-Davidson officials say the company is suspending production at its York County plant for the unforeseeable future. The news sank Harley's stock price nearly 9% shortly before Thursday’s market open.
 


According to a company press release, the decision was made "out of an abundance of caution, is based on information provided by a third-party supplier to Harley-Davidson late on Tuesday concerning a regulatory compliance matter relating to the supplier’s component part.”

The company says it's temporarily halting all vehicle production and shipments at the vehicle assembly plant in Springettsbury Township due to a supply chain related matter. The production suspension excludes Harley-Davidson's new LiveWire electric bike. As of May 19, it's unclear how many employees will be impacted and for how long.



STATEMENT FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON

MILWAUKEE, May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, Harley-Davidson, Inc. ("Harley-Davidson") (NYSE:HOG) took the decision to suspend all vehicle assembly and shipments (excluding LiveWire) for a two-week period. This decision, taken out of an abundance of caution, is based on information provided by a third-party supplier to Harley-Davidson late on Tuesday (5/17) concerning a regulatory compliance matter relating to the supplier's component part.

Source: Harley-Davidson Investor News