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ARCHIVED - Costa Blanca bikers blame dangerous bus driver for Murcia accident
One member of the Costa Blanca Rawhiders MG motorcycle club made a narrow escape after an accident involving a bus last weekend
After a scary incident last weekend in which a motorcyclist was almost run over by a bus near Canteras, Murcia, the group of professional bikers have hit back, blaming the bus driver for causing the accident and claiming he acted illegally by driving off from the scene without leaving his details.
Darren, Vice President of the Costa Blanca Rawhiders MG, a motorcycle club based mainly in Alicante province, said that “On the day of the ride (1/10), our group of experienced riders of 24 bikes were being led by me.
“At 10.17am, 35 seconds before the reported accident occurred, the bus in question… took a blind bend on this challenging stretch of steep downhill road. It was travelling at far too an excessive speed and was at least 1+ meter (3ft+) over my (uphill) side of this very narrow road on the tight bend.”
Contrary to reports of witnesses travelling on the bus, says Darren, the rider who came off his vehicle was not overtaking the rest of the group on the bend: “All bikes were single file for absolute safety and it is forbidden in our club (and most professional riding clubs) to overtake a fellow rider in convoy.”
He continued: “This motorcyclist is a highly respected and valued 72-year-old gentleman who is a long serving member or our professional motorcycle club. A very experienced rider, married with children and above all else, a very decent human-being.”
The man is said to have needed “some hospital attention” the following day.
The Costa Blanca Rawhiders MG is one of the most respected motorcycle clubs on the Costa Blanca, supporting many key charities over its 12-year history, including MABS Cancer Support Foundation. The Club consists predominantly of retired professional men and women who have a lifetime of experience on motorcycles and some of whom have operated in key positions within the military or emergency services throughout their working lives.
As Darren recalled, the accident on that Saturday ride was caused by the bus driver’s illegal and dangerous road manoeuvres: “I narrowly missed a head on collision with this bus, just swerving to the inside of the carriageway as it swung around the blind bend, overhanging my side of the road, at an excessive speed.
“This incident was directly witnessed by riders immediately behind me, and was considered to be a very lucky escape. I was shocked at the sheer idiocy of the bus driver at the time, as was my wife riding pillion, who was shaken up at having such a very close miss.
“The 23 bikes, following on behind me through this winding stretch of narrow uphill road, then had to contend with the same bus, and it came as no surprise to then learn one of our riders had gone down in the road, particularly given my previous experience some 35 seconds earlier.
“Eye witnesses from our riding group informed me that one rider had to take immediate evasive action as the bus came down the hill, without due regard for motorcyclists or cyclists. One rider’s emergency evasive action to avoid a collision with the bus then led the next rider some 15 meters behind, to brake sharply and the front wheel went from underneath, leaving the bike and rider down in the road, into the path of the bus. The bus braked very hard and managed to stop, without running over the rider, who had gone down directly in front of it.
“Our Club holds the bus driver fully culpable for this accident, as just before and at the time of the incident, he was not operating the bus safely or at a rational speed for the size of the vehicle on the very tight blind bends and the narrow-width carriageway. Simply put, his lack of professionalism and complete disregard for safety nearly wiped out my bike and then, 35 seconds later, a second bike was wiped out. Potentially, this bus driver could have wiped us all out!
“Once it had been established that our downed rider was sufficiently well enough (despite shock, some cuts and scrapes) to make it to the side of the road, the bus driver never left his vehicle at any time, but sat in the driver’s seat observing, whilst the riding group attended to the rider and bike.
“As soon as the rider and bike were moved to the side of the road, the bus continued its journey and at no time did the driver check on the rider, communicate directly with the ride group or supply any of his details. As far as we are concerned, he was a key eye witness and primary cause of the incident and despite not colliding directly with our rider, the bus driver left the scene of a serious accident, without providing any information, which is illegal.”
Darren is dismayed at the portrayal of his club and all motorcyclists as ‘daredevils’ and ‘risk-taking idiots’: “We are all… very experienced older riders, not ‘boy racers’, all with cruising bikes well in excess of 1000cc.”
He concluded that reports like this “give all bikers a very poor reputation – even bikers like us, who raise thousands of euros each year for the poor, vulnerable and sick in society.”
When contacted for comment, the bus company Alsa, which is in charge of the bus service from Mazarrón to Cartagena, said they have no record of any such incident occurring.
Image: Costa Blanca Rawhiders MG
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