Crash with flying P/U truck bedliner

[latebloomer]

Got hit by a P/U truck bed liner!
I was riding back to Berkeley on 11/7/2012 around 3PM from Richmond on I580(very inside lane) just before Central Ave exit and last thing I know big black object flew toward my 848 going 70+ mph!
The loose p/u truck bed liner(which I've learned from the witness who was kind enough to stop to check on me as well as testify to my insurance) smashed into my bike and me but fortunately have managed to stay upright and able to change lanes to shoulder of the freeway. Needless to say, I got bruised up despite titanium protected Dianese gears and totally shattered front fairing and Magnesium supports. Helmet was damaged also.
What is frustrating is that no one slowed nor reported negligent p/u truck license number other than one person who stopped to check on me(super nice guy!) but never had chance to get the license number other than black Ford ranger p/u truck. I'm meeting my witness friend tomorrow for nice breakfast. He still can't believe I survived the impact of such a freak condition!
I've become a more believer in full armor gears, stop to help all two wheels/many wheels and report bad drivers w/o hesitation.
Stay upright and be safe my rider friends.

 

[budman]

Count yourself lucky.

Did you notice it being loose..flapping at all?

Basically were there visual clues to this happening and was there a shot at avoiding it?

 

[NowDatsLivin]

Holy moly...I'm always super-wary of overloaded trucks, landscaping clipping trucks with those flimsy tarps holding down the greenery, and contractor trucks with tools and ladders and trash and whatever junk rolling all over in the bed...but the whole liner flying out to come and smack ya...yipes that's not exactly what I'd expect either!

But will keep an eye out for that too. Like Bud sez, any clues like the edges fluttering? Or was it a few cars ahead of you and not really in your line of sight yet?

You are hecka lucky to have ridden that out, I imagine at freeway speed and with the wind picking it up and it flying at you, it packed quite a punch.

Glad you're ok.

You should have some good karma coming your way to make up for this ridonkulousness.

 

[latebloomer]

No, I did not see the truck nor loose bed liner.
I think the truck was way ahead on the middle lane and the liner blew over few cars
toward my lane. When I saw the big black object, I went through with loud impact.
I did not know of my bike's condition until got to the shoulder.
My eyes were focused farther out on the road to maintain upright!
My bike's front just shattered and perhaps that helped from loosing balance.
My 848 is fantastic in every way!
I will buy nothing but Ducati super bike.

 

[CalBergenser]

Got hit by a P/U truck bed liner!
I was riding back to Berkeley on 11/7/2012 around 3PM from Richmond on I580(very inside lane) just before Central Ave exit and last thing I know big black object flew toward my 848 going 70+ mph!
The loose p/u truck bed liner(which I've learned from the witness who was kind enough to stop to check on me as well as testify to my insurance) smashed into my bike and me but fortunately have managed to stay upright and able to change lanes to shoulder of the freeway. Needless to say, I got bruised up despite titanium protected Dianese gears and totally shattered front fairing and Magnesium supports. Helmet was damaged also.
What is frustrating is that no one slowed nor reported negligent p/u truck license number other than one person who stopped to check on me(super nice guy!) but never had chance to get the license number other than black Ford ranger p/u truck. I'm meeting my witness friend tomorrow for nice breakfast. He still can't believe I survived the impact of such a freak condition!
I've become a more believer in full armor gears, stop to help all two wheels/many wheels and report bad drivers w/o hesitation.
Stay upright and be safe my rider friends.

Latebloomer. Sorry to hear about your mishap and I'm glad you're OK. Good riding.
I've got to say, that stretch of I580 through Richmond is one of the worst areas for debris on the freeway in the Bay Area. I'm not sure if it's because of the recycle plant off Richmond Pkwy or what, but I stopped commuting on my bike years ago. I live in Marin and work in Berkeley. I had several real close calls before I figured out how much I disliked riding my bike on that stretch of freeway. I switched to my cage and since then have had two blowouts, hit a hard plastic construction bucket which lodged up under the car damaged a bunch of stuff, hit somones wheel rim also causing major damage and the worst was when a half dozen or so pieces of corrugated metal roofing flew off the back of a truck in front of me. I slammed on my brakes and barely missed them, only to be rear ended by some dumb chick on a cell phone.
Oh, I also hit a duck with my windshield at 65 mph, but that was on the bridge. Poor duck.
Anyway, it's a nasty stretch of road so all you riders keep alert through there.