Oh my. Would I be insensitive if I said he was probably a Republican?
A 55-year-old biker protesting New York State’s law requiring helmet use died at a hospital Saturday after striking his head in an accident.
The Associated Press reports that Phillip A. Contos of Parish, N.Y., was riding with others through the town of Onondaga on Saturday afternoon without head protection, to protest the state’s requirement that bikers wear helmets.
State Troopers told the Syracuse Post-Standard that Contos was driving a 1983 Harley Davidson when his bike fishtailed and he flipped over the handlebars, striking his head on the pavement. He was later pronounced dead at Upstate University Hospital. Police say that had he been wearing a helmet, Contos would probably have survived the accident.
The ride was organized in part by ABATE (American Bikers Aimed for Education), according to a local ABC affiliate reporting on the accident. A spokesperson for the group said they didn’t know if Contos was a member.
A friend who is sort of libertarian and who doesn’t like much of what government does was a bike rider. (I never did get to ride on the Harley with him before his back was too hurt for him to ride anymore.) However, one thing he agrees with are safety laws — he had a huge, black Star Wars-type helmet and he follows seat belt laws when driving.
And now let us sing it like a Peter Griffin barbershop quartet:
“I guess that’s the definition of…I-Ro-Nee-ee!”
Darwin always wins, always.
Had tough-guy biker dude obeyed the law, he would be alive.
derp.
Oooops…….
I think that helmets should be optional, as long as hospitals are allowed to refuse treatment to those without the cash to pay for their head injuries.