Ryan Stankavage, 14, killed when his bicycle is hit by a miniva...

A 14-year-old Schuylkill County boy was killed Monday night when a minivan hit him while he was riding his bicycle with another 14-year-old boy as his passenger on Route 54 near Shenandoah in West Mahanoy Township.

[Winston]

Sorry to the family.

[Nobama Pelosi Reid]

RIP. Prayers to the family.

[Tony]

Yo Winston, if you or i drive down the center of the road, not in our lane, and hit something, would it not be our fault? Bikes should have the same right, AS LONG AS THEY ARE OBEYING THE SAME LAWS!!! So in essence, you are saying bikes are above the law. It's people like you that raise a**h*** children.

[Tony]

P.S. The parents of the minor should also be held responsible for the damage to the mini van, the damage was done not by themselves, but by someone else's actions.

[luvmycop]

Tony wrote:

Poor family? I understand the death of a child is a tragic thing to go through. But it's Gods way of weeding out the stupid.
"Ryan Stankavage was riding his bike in the center of the road with Damien Layton as a passenger"

Are you kidding me? What a stupid thing to say. He was 14yrs old. My prayers to the family.

[AviationMetalSmi th]

Motorists have got to be more careful.
I often wonder; How far ahead in the road does a motorist notice a bicycle or pedestrian? Can a typical driver see a bicycle 250 feet ahead? and get his or her foot off the gas pedal? Can he or she stop in time, if necesary (like in this case...)?
I wish motorists would be couteous and use some common sense.
If I saw a bicycle with two kids on it, in the middle of the road, I would not pass. I would control my car, and not come within 200 feet. I would half expect the passenger to fall off.
Being in the middle of the road IS safe, considering that it is the most visible place.
DMV requires motorists to take a vision test, but how many vision impaired drivers actually *wear* their glasses?
I drive a car, and I ride a bike too.

[me too]

AviationMetalSmith wrote:

Motorists have got to be more careful.
I often wonder; How far ahead in the road does a motorist notice a bicycle or pedestrian? Can a typical driver see a bicycle 250 feet ahead? and get his or her foot off the gas pedal? Can he or she stop in time, if necesary (like in this case...)?
I wish motorists would be couteous and use some common sense.
If I saw a bicycle with two kids on it, in the middle of the road, I would not pass. I would control my car, and not come within 200 feet. I would half expect the passenger to fall off.
Being in the middle of the road IS safe, considering that it is the most visible place.
DMV requires motorists to take a vision test, but how many vision impaired drivers actually *wear* their glasses?
I drive a car, and I ride a bike too.

How about you re-read the article. The van was coming around a sharp curve in the road right where the kids were.

[AviationMetalSmi th]

me too wrote:

<quoted text>
How about you re-read the article. The van was coming around a sharp curve in the road right where the kids were.

Yeah, and I've seen a car once go past a sign that said "BRIDGE OUT", right into a creek.
It's a Blind Curve? Is that what you're saying? It couldv'e been a broke-down dump truck in the road, and the mini-van driver would be dead.
I will look this up on Google maps to see what the speed limit is... I'll get back to you.

[AviationMetalSmi th]

Google maps doesn't have a street view of the location, but I think I see the curve in the satellite photo, Is that it near the RR crossing?
Anyway, it looks like a dangerous curve, and I don't know why people drive so fast.
I saw a bumper sticker once, that said "Don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly".
And I believe the automobile is the work of the Devil.

[So Sad]

My condolences to the family, I can't even begin to imagine your pain. God Speed!

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

AviationMetalSmith wrote:

Google maps doesn't have a street view of the location, but I think I see the curve in the satellite photo, Is that it near the RR crossing?
Anyway, it looks like a dangerous curve, and I don't know why people drive so fast.
I saw a bumper sticker once, that said "Don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly".
And I believe the automobile is the work of the Devil.

How do you get around? Horse and buggy or what?

[kathy65]

kids at 14 wanting to have fun,,,don't see any danger in what they're doing....parents hindsight...'if I only would have', and the poor neighbor having to relive that nightmare for life....I feel terrible for all involved!

[ladyfree]

AviationMetalSmith wrote:

<quoted text>
Yeah, and I've seen a car once go past a sign that said "BRIDGE OUT", right into a creek.
It's a Blind Curve? Is that what you're saying? It couldv'e been a broke-down dump truck in the road, and the mini-van driver would be dead.
I will look this up on Google maps to see what the speed limit is... I'll get back to you.

Ahh dont bother! Its varies along that stretch of the roadway. It could be 40 or 35.

[ladyfree]

I was almost involved in an accident on the same curve. As I approached the end of the curve I suddenly came upon a vehicle parked..yes parked in the middle of my travleing lane!
I got a good look at the driver and passengers. They all looked stoned out of their minds! Not to mention the one door was wide opened on the vehicle as they pulled off the roadway, when I began to yell at them and blow my horn!
After they left I looked out my window and noted that one of them had "thrown up on the roadway"!
Fine place to throw up your guts!
This area is ridden with drunk drivers and speeders.
The road is narrow and then briefly widens.
Homes are within a few feet of the road. Not a safe area to allow kids to travel on, and especially at night!
Like why couldnt these parents have picked these children up after their basketball game??
My heart goes out to them all. I do pray that the driver is not held responsible. Its time that pedestrians and bikers learn the rules of the road.
Same thing as when driving through a shopping center! They dont bother looking, for they assume that the driver must be solely responsible for their safe crossing!!
What a crock!

[richC]

AviationMetalSmith wrote:

Motorists have got to be more careful.
I often wonder; How far ahead in the road does a motorist notice a bicycle or pedestrian? Can a typical driver see a bicycle 250 feet ahead? and get his or her foot off the gas pedal? Can he or she stop in time, if necesary (like in this case...)?
I wish motorists would be couteous and use some common sense.
If I saw a bicycle with two kids on it, in the middle of the road, I would not pass. I would control my car, and not come within 200 feet. I would half expect the passenger to fall off.
Being in the middle of the road IS safe, considering that it is the most visible place.
DMV requires motorists to take a vision test, but how many vision impaired drivers actually *wear* their glasses?
I drive a car, and I ride a bike too.

While I agree with most of all the comments. I still feel Tony is right! And as a driver whom travels 35000 miles a year I have to add a comment!
I have seen the BOZO'S that Tony mention's They are everywhere!!!!!!!
My heart also goes out to the Parents of both children HOWEVER Those boys were in those pre-teen years YUKKING it up at the fun it is to drive down the center of a road AT 10PM HA HA HA what fun it is Did they have helmets on ?? Reflectors?? Light or dark clothing????? By the way people the Route they were on is a MAJOR ARTERY for that area.. It is NOT a ROAD to PLAY IN THE CENTER OF!!!!! AND we all must feel very sorry for the driver of the mini van She is NOT AT FAULT

[Not Again]

AviationMetalSmith wrote:

Motorists have got to be more careful.
I often wonder; How far ahead in the road does a motorist notice a bicycle or pedestrian? Can a typical driver see a bicycle 250 feet ahead? and get his or her foot off the gas pedal? Can he or she stop in time, if necesary (like in this case...)?
I wish motorists would be couteous and use some common sense.
If I saw a bicycle with two kids on it, in the middle of the road, I would not pass. I would control my car, and not come within 200 feet. I would half expect the passenger to fall off.
Being in the middle of the road IS safe, considering that it is the most visible place.
DMV requires motorists to take a vision test, but how many vision impaired drivers actually *wear* their glasses?
I drive a car, and I ride a bike too.

You can be the most cautious driver in the world, but anything can happen. If somebody walks in front of your car, even if you are going the speed limit and have your car under control, you will still hit them if you don't have time to stop. Please don't think it can't happen to you because in a blink of an eye, your life can change forever.

[katee]

my best friend was hit and killed by a drunk driver i know how the family is feeling. and i know your not supposed to drive in the middle of a road but the lady should'nt have been driving so fast around a sharp turn you need to be ready for anything that may happen at any time. my prayers go out to both family's

[Unbiased]

I would just like to remind everyone here that one child is dead, another badly injured and a two adults who are probably tearing themselves up with guilt. There is no fault right now, what there is right now is several families in turmoil. I suggest what you should do is stop debating on what is right and wrong and pray for all the people that have been affected by this tragedy.

To Tony- I bet you were 14 and stupid once too!

[coal region]

kattee... where does it say she was speeding? You are from VT and no clue what that road is like.. I do.. the women was in her own lane and they were in the middle of the road..it is a blind curve and you really can't speed around it or she would not have been in her own lane.. she feels bad enough i am sure... god bless the families of all those involved. Just one of those things that happen and no one meant any harm or trying to be cool.. just two boys enjoying a warm night on their bike... things happen. Cut all of them some slack and know what you speak of before you jump to conclusions.

[AviationMetalSmi th]

Just a thought;
Maybe if everyone had their own bike, there wouldn't be any "towing" , or carrying passengers on bikes meant for one person.
If the bike had a light, or reflectors, it was probably blocked from view by the passengers legs.

I'm also thinking that the bike swung wide, into the middle of the road, on account the passenger's weight was making the bike hard to handle, and it's a sharp curve.

Yes, I have a car, but I drive only 5000 miles a year. Everything's nearby. I take my time when I'm driving. Hey, if you like driving so much, why are you in such a hurry to get the ride over with?