Virginia Injury Lawyer Blog

Hampton man dies in dirt bike crash

A dirt bike accident in Hampton Wednesday morning left a local man dead, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

Paul Douglas Gardner was riding his dirt bike in a grassy area along a drainage ditch near the Hampton-Newport News border. The Pilot reported that Gardner crashed into a culvert.

The accident happened behind Cay Street, just north of the Newmarket North Shopping Center.

Gardner and his bike were found in the water-filled ditch Wednesday morning; someone called Newport News police at 10:16 a.m.

Gardner lived on Searcy Drive at the Langley Mobile Home Village in Hampton. The Pilot reported that Gardner was 39, while the Daily Press of Newport News reported that he was 32.

Dirt bikes can present many dangers, even to trained riders. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers hands-on dirt bike safety courses across the country. The curriculum includes proper use of protective gear, controlling the motorcycle, smooth brake application, correct riding posture, risk management, counterblanacing, riding over obstacles, and how to successfully traverse a hill.

“Watch carefully for sharp bumps, holes, ruts or obstacles and be able to identify muddy, sandy, rocky, dusty and wet conditions so you can adjust your speed and riding style accordingly,” the foundation’s Web site advises. “A responsible rider stays out of trouble not simply by handling the machine well, but by being smart enough to stay out of risky situations in the first place.”  

Labels: dirt bike hampton motorcycle accident motorcycle crash paul david gardner paul gardner