Motorcyclist killed is 5th biker to die in a month

Accident scene Wednesday night where motorcyclist was killed. [Eamonn Kneeshaw | Special to the Times]

A Clearwater man died Wednesday night after his speeding motorcycle crashed into a pickup truck pulling out of a driveway on Hercules Avenue, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

L.G. Kwiatkowski, 29, was driving a 2007 Yamaha R1-1000 southbound on Hercules Avenue at a high rate of speed without the headlight on when he ran into the side of a Dodge Ram truck driven by Keith A. Woodring, 39, of Clearwater, troopers said.

The wreck took place about 9:39 p.m. north of Sherwood Street. The impact caused the the truck to spin around. Kwiatkowski, who lived on N Hercules Avenue, was thrown from the motorcycle and landed in the road. Kwiatkowski was wearing a helmet, troopers said, but was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Woodring's truck sustained $15,000 damage in the wreck.

Kwiatkowski is the fifth motorcyclist to die on North Pinellas roads in less than a month. In the other crashes:

* A 22-year-old man identified by his family as Craig M. Hales of Palm Harbor, died Monday when his speeding Kawasaki motorcycle crashed into an SUV making a U-turn on U.S. 19, troopers said. The driver of the SUV, Jack R. Taschereau, 46, of Palm Harbor, also died in the fiery crash.

* Early on the hours of New Year's Day, Jeffrey T. Eckhardt, 39, of Palm Harbor, died after his motorcycle slid on East Lake Road and he was thrown to the pavement, troopers say. He was not wearing a helmet.

* On. Dec. 19, John Edward Paul Jr., 51, of Clearwater died after his speeding Kawasaki motorcycle rammed into the back of a Ford Explorer. Paul and two other motorcyclists had been weaving in an out of traffic on U.S. 19 at speeds of 90 to 100 mph when the accident took place near Drew Street, police said.

* Christopher Herring, 25, of Largo died Dec. 11 after driving his Suzuki GSXR motorcycle into a car making a U-turn on Seminole Boulevard near 70th Avenue, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Stephanie Garry, Times staff writer

Comments

Before every idiot in the region jumps on this forum and starts bashing motorcyclists - please pause to recognize those being killed fall into a singular category of cyclist.

Generally younger men on high speed, high performance motorcylcles. When you consider the total population of "bikers" in the state, this proves to be a minority segment of riders.

So let's condemn all "bikers" as reckless, anymore then we would regard all SUV drivers as tailgating roadhogs.

[sariah]

It's a shame but its a result of their own stupidity and feeling like their invincible.I'm not saying all motorcycle accidents, but when the drivers are going that fast....they should know in the back of their minds what their doing, their all adults.

[JAMES]

Before anyone passes jugdement on these people, lets remember lives were lose. Because we all make mistakes but unfortunately they paid the price with their lives. God Bless

[Bob]

To 12:46 afraid that everyone on the forum will start bashing all motorcyclists...you're right that the majority of cyclists who end up getting injured or killed due to their own stupidity are young men on the "crotch rockets." But just today I witnessed two un-helmeted bikers, riding Harleys, pull out onto US 19 directly in front of traffic. They crossed the right lane and got in the middle lane, causing the car in the middle lane, who was not speeding, to slam on its brakes.

My point is *not* that all motorcyclists are idiots, and you're right that a lot of other motorists are, however motorcyclists absolutely *must* ride responsibly and defensively. There's no frame or sheet metal surrounding them, no seatbelts or airbags. So motorcyclists should be extra careful.

Pulling out in front of traffic in a car or truck is irresponsible and dangerous. Pulling out in front of traffic in a motorcycle is often fatal.

[Sarah]

It's just a shame when they take someone else's life along with their own...

[CliffordRH]

Motorcycles have no place in cities. Most drivers are arrogant and think they own the road. Just check out the malls, gym, and other public parking where they park illegally - sometimes taking up handicap spaces where the ramps for the wheelchairs comes down.

[Blue Moon]

Bob said it best...I ride also, saftly. 2 Harley Idiots raced as I changed lanes recently, endangering themselves & innocent others. Both idiots, waiving the finger at me, one threathened violence, Idiot representing many cool riders....

[daniel]

its a shame but i dont feel sorry for people who drive like idiots

[PFG]

Why do some bash the motorcyclist anyways... more times then not the person on the bike is one who dies, or is seriously injured!

[John]

CliffordRH - SUVs don't belong in cities. Most drivers are arrogant and think they own the road. Just check out the malls, gym, and other public parking where they park illegally - seemingly unable to park their vehicles straight, often occupying 1.5 spaces and sometimes blocking other drivers in.

[Stephanie]

You are right it is NOT EVERY motorcyclist but I am tired of everyone saying it was the cars fault not the motorcycle...Speeding with no lights on in the dark? Hello can you say "STUPID"? and the helmets are another thing, you may not speed or drive recklessly but NOT wearing a helmet makes you just as careless!

[Steady in the Slow Lane]

I want legislation to limit the speed of motorcycles to 55 MPH via a governor. Tampering with the governor would result in heavy duty fines and prison sentences.

[Steady in the Slow Lane]

...Oh, a no riding after dusk or before dawn.

[Steady in the Slow Lane]

...and weekly urinalysis and monthly motorcycle refresher courses with a fee in front of them.

old people hitting young men on motorcycles because "they couldn't see them" should be off the road long before motorcycles should be. If car insurance was so extremely unobtainable, many people would be riding in those gigantic tank-size SUV's.

[Jeff]

What about the poor people who hit the motorcyclists and end up hurt or dead, not to mention the incredible sense of guilt they may have knowing that someone died from their vehicle even if it wasn't their fault. Also if I have to wear a seatbelt, they should have to wear a helmet, it is for the good of everyone paying taxes. You may not care if you are a vegetable but when my tax dollars are paying your medical bills and disability I care. I have no problem with responsible riders on safe roads with little traffic but there aren't many of those in the bay area.

[Fruedsky]

The people riding motorcycles are thrill seekers and put all of our lives at risk (not only on the road)!

"The people riding motorcycles are thrill seekers and put all of our lives at risk (not only on the road)!"

Wow. No. Wrong. Next.

[Vincent]

Not all of these accidents are alike. Every one is unique in its own way.How do you feel about a 79 year old woman who wouldn't wear her corrective lenses because of "vanity" and instead of stopping in the median she stopped in the extreme left lane thinking that she was in the median.This display of vanity took a young 23 year old mans life.He was going 9 miles over the speed limit of 45 mph.Does this mean he asked for it?Granted had he been in a vehicle,SUV,or a truck he would have survived.But because he was on a motorcycle does that make him the negligent party?Don't judge all motorcycle riders as being negligent and careless.BTW, the fact that this woman wasn't wearing her corrective lenses was never posted in any news articles either.This isn't the land of the senior citizen's parents anymore where we have to pander to them for their votes.Many many young people live here now also.Thank God they do,and hopefully they will soon outnumber the senior citizens in this part of FL

[Jeepers]

Right, Bob. But did anybody die because those bikers simply pulled out in front of someone? No. The people we're seeing dying everyday are the ones on "sport" bikes (crotch rockets) that are doing wheelies down the road at twice the speed limit. Today, on Bruce B in New Tampa, I saw a group of 3 idiot sport bikers that kept going up on their front tire everytime they pulled up to a traffic light. I was praying that one of them would flip over. That way I could get out, run up to the idiot and laugh in his face.

[Al]

Motorcyclists are so cool. Everytime I see one blow by me I think to myself "Wow, he looks so cool!". Then I see a dead one under a bloody sheet on Us 19 and then I think to myself "Wow, he looks so cold"...but then I roll up the window, turn on the A/C, go home to my wife and newborn and don't give it him a second thought.

[Heather]

Luckily for us responsible, courtious motorists, this is sad but in the end our roads are a little bit safer each time one of these assclowns disintegrates into the back/side of someone's car. And the next pair of testosterone-depleated wannabees on Harleys thinks it's funny to ride across the Gandy Bridge @ 40mph side-by-side intentionally blocking both lanes, causing 50+ cars to back up behind them are getting maced in the face. See how funny that is!

[michael]

First to Stephanie: the bike HAD ITS LIGHTS ON, late model bikes have daytime running lights, much like newer cars... Second to Clifford: THE REASON WHY BIKES ARE PARKED "ILLEGALY" AT MALLS AND UP CLOSE TO THE STORES IS BECAUSE OF THEFT. NOTICE MORE MALLS ARE MAKING IT A POINT TO HAVE "BIKE SPACES" CLOSER TO THE ENTRANCE. Last to all who feel so self righteous about having to share the road with bikes? CHECK STATS ON DRUNK DRIVING! MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM- PEACE

[michael]

HEATHER,AL AND JEEPERS, OBVIOUSLY WERE NOT HELD ENOUGH AS AS CHILDREN! MAJOR ANGER AND RESENTMENT ISSUES. I WOULD HATE TO BE THEIR CHILDREN... I GUESS YOU THREE HAVE NEVER TAILGATED,PASSED A VEHICLE ILLEGALLY,DRANK AND GOT YOURSELF HOME, HMMM?? HE WITHOUT SIN PLEASE CAST THE FIRST STONE. (HOPEFULLY YOU THREE HAVE BAD AIM.)

[BB]

Michael, you weren't there. Ask his girlfriend, who he dropped off to watch him jump the railroad tracks, if he had his lights on. Or you could ask any of the other eyewitnesses if you wanted to know the truth. Spit out your foot and take your caps lock off.

[KB]

Oh gosh you all, it's NEVER the motorcycles fault. Don't you know? I would say the ratio of street bike accidents to Harley accidents is QUITE different. You people disgust me, not a DAY goes by that I don't see idiots flying around on their little crotch rockets. They deserve to die with the way they drive them, no pity here. They are always at fault, just sit on the causeway and watch on Thurs, Fri, Sat night...it's like a train wreck..just waiting for one to get killed weaving, white lining, scaring the heck out of SAFE drivers, normally happens, then we read about how it isn't their fault and what a great person they are. GIVE ME A BREAK. Let me shed a tear, you ruined someones innocent life because they hit your idiotic self because you were speeding with no headlight. Poor you, bye bye.

[Jeepers makes me laugh.]

Oh Jeepers, you and I would have a time together! I do the SAME THING. I see them tooling around driving like IDIOTS, doing wheelies, weaving and I just urge to one day see them flip and roll or fall backwards. It would be THEIR OWN fault, I don't care how good of a person they are, they are idiots and deserve everything that comes to them. Don't get me wrong, I'd call 911, tell them what awesome cool tricks they were doing that caused it, tell them no hurry, it's a DRT (dead right there) then I'd just laugh to myself about how dumb these idiots are and how it wasn't their fault, blah blah.

[BOB]

Road over crowding and speed is a factor to these accidents
These so called bikers is a misconception these mostly are the crotch rockets as some one else reffered to but the bikers i know wouldnt ride a kawasaki or a honda so please refrain from reffering to them as bikers they are just fools ... sterotypical remarks by the writer here

"... testosterone-depleated wannabees on Harleys..." Heather hit the nail on the head! No riding under the influence of Viagra either!

[JA]

Michael, I know the guy that was driving the truck. The biker had his lights off. He had dropped his girlfriend off at the railroad tracks where this happened. He went back a couple of blocks, turned around and came tear-assing up the road to jump the tracks. He wanted her to watch him do it. Instead she watched him get splattered. The guy in the truck luckily heard him at the last second instead of seeing him. He hit the gas to get the hell out of the way. He's lucky he did or he would have been dead too. The bike his the bed of the truck just behind the wheels. It tore that truck bed up. It's a crew cab dually. A BIG truck and it got spun around like a toy.
I made sure that my son who rides a donorcycle came down to see the truck.

[Mike]

We all take chances by just driving on the road. I would much rather deal with public transportation but outside of Dunedin the greater Tampa Bay area does not offer much. It is really a necessity to have a car here unless you like waiting 1 hour for the bus.

[michael]

Hey BB DO YOU RIDE? I DO NOT CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS, A 2007 YAMAHA R-1 HAS FUNCTIONING RUNNING LIGHTS THE MINUTE THE IGNITION IS TURNED OVER. I SHOULD KNOW, I OWN THREE BIKES. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, ACCIDENTS OCCUR EVERYDAY AND I AM TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT "SUPERBIKES". DID ANYONE HERE READ THE PAPER YESTERDAY? GEE, 5 PEOPLE DEAD, 40 INJURED ON "DIE-4". OOPS SORRY RETARDS, THAT WAS AN ACT OF GOD. WERE THERE ANY BIKES AT FAULT THERE? GET A GRIP.

[michael]

AND NO, I WILL NOT TAKE MY CAPS LOCK OFF..... THIS IS STILL AMERICA AND MY COMPUTER. WHAT IS THE MATTER? NO ONE CARES TO LOOK UP THE STATS ON DRUNK DRIVING? PEOPLE WANT MOTORCYCLES GOVERNED, HOW ABOUT ELIMINATING ALCOHOL? OH MY FAULT WHAT WAS I THINKING.......

[michael]

JA WAS YOUR FRIEND IN THE TRUCK JUST HANGING OUT WAITING TO PULL OUT? IT SEEMS TO ME HE HAD ENOUGH INFO TO FURNISH YOU WITH A PLAY BY PLAY. MAYBE HE IS JUST COVERING HIS OWN A%%. OR MAYBE HE IS EXPERIENCING THE FIRST STAGE OF GRIEF. JUST TRYING TO JUSTIFY HIS OWN NEGLIGIENCE. I HAVE RIDDEN FOR 12 YRS. ON THESE FLORIDA ROADS, AND THE FIRST PRIORITY FOR ME IS TO ASSUME EVERYONE ON THE ROAD IS A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. THAT'S IT.

[Johno]

To anyone that does not have disdain for the current crop of young morons on crotch rockets bent on killing themselves please drive westbound on the Courtney Campbell Causeway
Friday or Saturday night and witness the moronic procession of 18-21 year old kids on the fastest bikes man has ever made doing wheelies and
driving past cars at 100 miles plus on there way to Clearwater beach to spend the night there revving there bikes up and getting drunk. Please please call 911 on your cell phones the minute you see these morons doing anything stupid.I do every night. I'm so sick of people getting hurt & killed by these jackasses.I implore Clearwater Police to do DUI roadblocks on Gulf to Bay Blvd where it meets Bay to Bay Bridge from 11 PM to 2 AM every Friday & Sat night. Please.You will save alot of lives.

[Johno]

To anyone that does not have disdain for the current crop of young morons on crotch rockets bent on killing themselves please drive westbound on the Courtney Campbell Causeway
Friday or Saturday night and witness the moronic procession of 18-21 year old kids on the fastest bikes man has ever made doing wheelies and
driving past cars at 100 miles plus on there way to Clearwater beach to spend the night there revving there bikes up and getting drunk. Please please call 911 on your cell phones the minute you see these morons doing anything stupid.I do every night. I'm so sick of people getting hurt & killed by these jackasses.I implore Clearwater Police to do DUI roadblocks on Gulf to Bay Blvd where it meets Bay to Bay Bridge from 11 PM to 2 AM every Friday & Sat night. Please.You will save alot of lives.

Perhaps the light had burnt out.

Real classy to blame the victim in the case. Waiting there to pull out...oh yeah, let's call the guy a murderer because you don't like the police report.

Most bikers are safe drivers. We just hear about the tools who don't more frequently as they are more prone to lay on the side of the road and give good print.

[Dave W]

It sounds like most of these cases are the fault of poor riding. Responsibility is by far the most important trait when riding a bike, and weaving in and out of traffic at age 51 is certainly not responsible. These saddening events should remind everyone to wear a helmet, obey the laws of the road, and pay extra attention while riding.

[JA]

Michael, You are obviously an irrational A%%.
A great deal of that information was provided by an eyewitness leaving his business not 30 feet away from the accident. He saw the entire thing from the time the guy dropped off his GF till the time they scraped him off the road.
YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!

[Joe C]

Far too many motorcyclists in this area, most on Ninjas, etc., similar don't think it'll happen to them, every week I see idiots surround by cars on the freeway attempt to travel down the freeway on one wheel, flying by, tailing you with no clearance behind you, with no ability to see debris, etc. Too many bikers here are IDIOTS! I say if you walk it on one wheel on the freeway, you lose your license for minimum 2 years. Stiff penalities will save lives. Perhaps mandatory limiters would be in order on these bikes as well. Might fix part of the stupid idiot problems we have in Tampa

[Joe C]

Every week I see them on US19 on one wheel in traffic, on Gandy/Park Blvd, you don't have to look hard, and law enforcement practically doesn't exist, except where you might know where they are (1 place only, Largo on US19, same place, every day)
Law enforcement here sucks.

[gob]

Perhaps all users of the roads, be they drivers of cars, trucks, semi's, SUV's, motorcyclists, and bicyclists, should all take a moment to remember that it is every single road user's duty to drive in a safe, responsible, defensive, and courteous manner. To put it simply, no matter what you drive, don't be a dick. Accidents would still happen, but far fewer of them. Think about it.

[James]

I think that there ought to be ab age limit on who can own one of those crotch rocket bikes. These young people have no common sense when they get on them and start driving like a crazy person weaving in and out of traffic, riding wheelies, etc. They think they are so cool and try to impress everyone, but actually they are signing their death warrant. I had one the other day drive right in the middle of myself another car that were side by side in a lane, that idiot had a very limited space to get in between us, if one of us turned just slightly he would have been lying on the ground. I though about turning just enough so he would clip my mirror just to knock him off just to prove that they can ride like that on the street. But i didn,t. People who drive like that gets what they deserve when they are lying on the ground.

[Michael is a loser.]

Yo Michael, I will watch them scrape you off the road next week. Hopefully. Then your family can say what a great guy you are and we will refer back to this. You go on with your bad self and your capslock. You really made a point.....not.

[BB]

Michael, I rode dirt bikes and street bikes for a long time. I sold my last one a year after I moved to Florida. Do you have a point other than the one on top of your head? Numerous eyewitness claim his headlight was off. You weren't there so you don't know. Maybe you think the DRLs are magic and can't be bypassed but that is not the case. Have you seen the stretch of road where this happened? I'm betting the answer is no. Your pontificating is just more mindless drivel from someone with a very smooth brain. No wrinkles there at all. Put your foot back in your mouth and keep your caps lock on. It fits you.

[Linsie]

You know its not all of us younger drivers.Notice Jeffrey T. Eckhardt, 39 on New Years(early morning) is not young, and he was probably drunk. A few months ago a 45 year old man died on my street Hamlin Blvd in Largo driving his "crotch rocket" going 90 in a 35mph..Its the driver of the motorcycle..It really doesnt have to do with age. If you put it into perspective. I know plenty of young bike riders who drive with caution and know the consiquences. So I believe it doesnt have anything to do with age..Its more like brains, wisdom and their choice. Thats why we have posted speed limits.

[ninja killa]

ha ha ha....sucka deserved it

[Deborah]

My son was actually the first rider to be killed, the day before thanksgiving, on his sons first birthday, he is not mentioned above. What you all seem to be forgetting is all that though speed was a factor in their death it was not the only factor. Not one person has commented about how most of them were killed by a motorist not looking out for them and pulling/turning in front of them. Even if they had gone the speed limit the result still could have been death. I say to all motorist please aware that motorcycles are out there and to please look twice before you make a turn or pull out.

[Stacy]

Maybe all of you should realize that this is a person that died. He was a son, granson, brother, friend and boyfriend. Yeah, he liked to speed. The only one he killed was himself. I think he paid the biggest price. Maybe all fo you can stop bashing him now. He's dead! He can't read your messages! But, his family that is grieving can. How would you like to read this about someone you loved? Think about that the next time you go to post a comment!

[Nicole]

for the people who call young men on motor cycles idiots i personally think they are idiots. my cousin was killed in february of lasy year on his motor cycle due to someones elses STUPIDITY... i see men and woman ON HARLEYS who think they just own the road and do what ever they want. also people in cars dont pay to much attention to their surrounding either. so before you decide to go and bash young men on "street bikes" think of all the IDIOTS in cars.