Navy woman dies in motorcycle crash

Sea & Shore, Summer, 2004 by Ken Testorff

Fatal motorcycle mishaps involving Navy and Marine Corps women are rare. However, Naval Safety Center statistics show that 18 have occurred since 1982. In eight of these cases, operators were killed; the remaining casualties were passengers. Here is a breakdown of the total fatalities to date:

1982 - 1 1984 - 2 1985 - 4 1986 - 2 1987 - 1 1988 - 2 1991 - 3 1993 - 1 1998 - 1 2004 - 1

The latest statistic was added Jan. 1, 2004. A 37-year-old Navy lieutenant was out riding her motorcycle with some friends at 0130 when she lost control, slid into oncoming traffic, and collided with a Jeep. The highway-patrol report lists "unsafe speed for the current road conditions" as the cause of the crash. She died of injuries to the lower part of her body.

According to the investigating officer, the victim was wearing a helmet, leather jacket and jeans. That PPE, however, doesn't meet all the requirements (see list at end of this article) outlined in OpNav Instruction 5100.12G, which is covered extensively in the Navy's motorcycle rider course. The victim had completed that course in March 2001.

A 1984 high-school graduate, the victim joined the Navy in 1985, with hopes of becoming a translator. Instead, she became a dental hygienist for the next eight years. She then joined the Naval Reserve and went to dental school, graduating in 1998. Soon afterward, she was commissioned a lieutenant in the dental corps and spent four years overseas before being sent to San Diego for duty. She was scheduled to be discharged in August 2004.

As a result of this tragedy, the victim won't travel or climb any more mountains (she once climbed Mount Fuji). She also won't be able to pursue her interest in children's dental-health programs. More importantly, her parents will have to raise her 14-year-old daughter.

OpNavInst 5100.12G requires all Navy people operating a motorcycle or riding one as a passenger, on or off base, to wear this equipment:

[index] A helmet (meeting the U.S. DoT standard), with the chinstrap fastened securely under the chin.

[index] Eye-protective devices (impact or shatter-resistant goggles or full-face shield attached to the helmet). A windshield, fairing or eyeglasses alone are not proper eye protection.

[index] Long-sleeved shirt or jacket, long-legged trousers, and full-fingered gloves or mittens designed for use on a motorcycle.

[index] Sturdy footwear. Leather boots or over-the-ankle shoes are strongly encouraged.

[index] Brightly colored outer upper garment during the day and a reflective upper garment during the night. The outer upper garment must be clearly visible and cannot be covered. Military uniforms do not meet these criteria.

If you need more convincing that PPE works for motorcyclists, consider the two testimonials that follow.