View Full Version : The Cotton Ball claims another
http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=10657935
TALLASSEE (WATE) -- State troopers are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash Tuesday afternoon on the Blount County stretch of Highway 129 known as "The Tail of the Dragon."
A Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesperson says just before 1:30pm 49-year-old Tamara Fuller of Austin, Texas was riding a 2008 Harley Davidson Sportster southbound on Highway 129.
The trooper said Fuller was coming out of a right hand turn and going into a left hand turn when she lost control. Fuller crossed over the center line and into the northbound lane and went into a ditch. The trooper said Fuller drove out of the ditch across both lanes and went down a steep embankment on the other side of the road.
He said rescuers had to use ropes to reach her. They rushed Fuller to Blount County Memorial Hospital, but it was too late.
The Dragon has 318 curves in 11 miles and is a popular draw for motorcyclists from around the world. But Tuesday's crash is the second fatality there in less than a month.
It was also the scene of a fatal motorcycle crash on June 27 that claimed the life of a Miami, Florida man.
Riders who spoke with 6 News after that crash said it's the thrill of The Dragon that drives their attraction.
"If it was named the cotton ball, I wouldn't be as attracted to come ride it," motorcyclist Adam Powell said.
Been too many deaths up there this year, but I am totally calling it the cotton ball from now on.
RIP rider.
Ninjakel
07-07-2009, 09:54 PM
Damn. RIP
tached1000rr
07-07-2009, 09:59 PM
ouch,RIP
unknownroad
07-08-2009, 11:02 AM
That's a shame.
Oddly enough, I think if it were called the cotton ball i'd actually make another trip up there, and hopefully buy a cotton ball sticker for the SV.
the chi
07-08-2009, 11:03 AM
Dang, that is a bit much for fatalities...RIP
CrazyKell
07-08-2009, 11:17 AM
Wow sorry to hear that. :(
Only one fatality in the region when I was there in May (which is a sad and weird sentence to say).
Heading back in October again.
z06boy
07-08-2009, 12:35 PM
That sucks. There was a girl killed the other week near here on a group run. She ran off the road and didn't survive. Her husband was on the same ride and saw her die. They have two small kids. :no:
Particle Man
07-08-2009, 02:22 PM
that's too bad :(
... and people would still ride it even with a name like the "Cotton Ball"
tommymac
07-08-2009, 02:25 PM
have there been a lot of fatalities the last few years? All it means is the cops will crack down more and will be more outcry to do something about the road. Even though it brings in a lot of tourist dollars to an otherwise rural type area.
Tom
have there been a lot of fatalities the last few years? All it means is the cops will crack down more and will be more outcry to do something about the road. Even though it brings in a lot of tourist dollars to an otherwise rural type area.
Tom
Actually most of the fatalities up there have happened during crackdown times when there was a ton of them up there. Only usually about 2-3 a year. Which is considerably less than a much smaller section of US129 that runs by the airport in Knoxville that sees a lot more deaths per year and is much more dangerous due to traffic, but they don't want to look at that.
marko138
07-08-2009, 02:32 PM
Actually most of the fatalities up there have happened during crackdown times when there was a ton of them up there. Only usually about 2-3 a year. Which is considerably less than a much smaller section of US129 that runs by the airport in Knoxville that sees a lot more deaths per year and is much more dangerous due to traffic, but they don't want to look at that.
Interesting.
CrazyKell
07-08-2009, 02:33 PM
Actually most of the fatalities up there have happened during crackdown times when there was a ton of them up there. Only usually about 2-3 a year. Which is considerably less than a much smaller section of US129 that runs by the airport in Knoxville that sees a lot more deaths per year and is much more dangerous due to traffic, but they don't want to look at that.
Interesting.
Yes. Very interesting.
It's all about politics. People get pissed off when they are out leaf looking at 5mph and getting buzzed by those damn crotch rockets going 50+, while they don't care so much that Bob got run off the road into a ditch or Mary got ran over by some stupid soccer mom on the cell phone yelling at her three completely undiscplined spoiled brats in the back seat of her suburban.
tommymac
07-08-2009, 03:06 PM
Actually most of the fatalities up there have happened during crackdown times when there was a ton of them up there. Only usually about 2-3 a year. Which is considerably less than a much smaller section of US129 that runs by the airport in Knoxville that sees a lot more deaths per year and is much more dangerous due to traffic, but they don't want to look at that.
Is there any truth to the crackdown being that tenn doesnt see much in revenue from the gap since the bulk of the resorts and tourist dollars are spent in NC?
A few people told us that when I was down there in 04.
Tom
Is there any truth to the crackdown being that tenn doesnt see much in revenue from the gap since the bulk of the resorts and tourist dollars are spent in NC?
A few people told us that when I was down there in 04.
Tom
probably. Not many people stay on the Tenn side, but the fun road is on the TN side. :lol:
They finally got a store on that side now though.
I think the cop presence is cause of the locals complaining. People use that road every day just to get to work and such and I could see all us playing on it and driving unresponsibly could get old.
The cotton ball would make a great name for a race track
dReWpY
07-09-2009, 03:09 PM
i was there after that accident, no one was on the road, it felt weird for some reason kinda explains though
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