Showing posts with label Motorcycle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Motorcycle. Show all posts
25 March 2015
25 March 2014
In Remembrance of March 25, 2010
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| In loving memory of Dayle, Dan, Clyde and Steven. My everlasting admiration of your strength and courage: Jason, Tod, Julie, Terry, Will, Margie and Janet. Today is a bittersweet day. My friends who ride remain in my thoughts and prayers, always. |
25 March 2013
In Remembrance
On many days, and especially this day, I remember my friends who ride the heavenly roads - Dayle, Dan, Clyde & Steven.
And those who continue to ride despite their physical and/or emotional scars - Ernie, Jason, Tod, Julie, Terry, Will, Margie & Janet.
You all have my love and my adoration of your strength and spirit.
My thoughts and prayers remain for you, your friends, and your family. Always.
And those who continue to ride despite their physical and/or emotional scars - Ernie, Jason, Tod, Julie, Terry, Will, Margie & Janet.
You all have my love and my adoration of your strength and spirit.
My thoughts and prayers remain for you, your friends, and your family. Always.
16 November 2012
26 years.
26 years, eligible for parole after 21 years.
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Man who killed 4 motorcyclists to be sentenced
by The Associated Press Video report by Tess Rafols Posted on November 16, 2012 at 7:22 AM Updated today at 8:40 AM
PHOENIX (AP) An Arizona dump truck driver convicted of numerous charges for the 2010 deaths of four motorcyclists is to be sentenced Friday.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Joseph Welty has set aside the entire day for the proceedings.
Jurors returned guilty verdicts against Michael Jakscht on 13 charges of manslaughter, aggravated assault and endangerment after an August trial.
Jakscht plowed his 12ton truck into a group of motorcyclists stopped at a north Phoenix traffic light on March 25, 2010. Four motorcyclists died and five others were injured in the fiery accident.
Phoenix police said toxicology tests showed Jakscht had methamphetamine in his system. Jakscht's attorneys had argued that he had taken diet pills and that the brakes on his truck weren't working well.
Sentencing Day
Two years ago, 12 friends set out for a weekday ride. Two left after the lunch break and the remaining 10 continued the second half of their ride. The news article is vague. My friends are very real - the truck driver took the lives of Dayle, Dan, Clyde and Steve. Injured were Ernie, Jason, Tod, Julie, and Terry. Thanks to Dan's heroic actions, Will was spared any physical injury. The effects of this accident radiate out to hundreds of friends, family and loved ones. Our lives are forever changed.
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Man who killed 4 motorcyclists to be sentenced
by The Associated Press Video report by Tess Rafols Posted on November 16, 2012 at 7:22 AM Updated today at 8:40 AM
PHOENIX (AP) An Arizona dump truck driver convicted of numerous charges for
the 2010 deaths of four motorcyclists is to be sentenced Friday.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Joseph Welty has set aside the entire day for the proceedings.
Jurors returned guilty verdicts against Michael Jakscht on 13 charges of manslaughter, aggravated assault and endangerment after an August trial.
Jakscht plowed his 12ton truck into a group of motorcyclists stopped at a north Phoenix traffic light on March 25, 2010. Four motorcyclists died and five others were injured in the fiery accident.
Phoenix police said toxicology tests showed Jakscht had methamphetamine in his system. Jakscht's attorneys had argued that he had taken diet pills and that the brakes on his truck weren't working well.
15 November 2012
Justice for Dayle & Friends
Jakscht will be sentenced tomorrow. I'd like to say justice will finally be served for Dayle, Dan, Clyde & Steve, but will it? I don't know. Our friends who ride are loved, missed and cherished and are always in our hearts.
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Family befriends recipient of their daughter's heart after tragic motorcycle crash
by Marie Saavedra
Bio | Email | Follow: @MSaavedra3TV azfamily.com Posted on November 15, 2012 at 6:11 PM Updated today at 6:38 PM
PHOENIX
The corner of 27th Drive and Carefree Highway rarely leaves Barbara Rich’s mind. “We come up here all the time …it’s just tough," she said. It’s where she lost her daughter Dayle Downs Totonchi in March of 2010. And it’s why she’s spent the past few months in court, watching the trial of Michael Jakscht. A jury found him guilty of killing four and injuring others after crashing his truck into a group of motorcycles. Jakscht will be sentenced Friday morning. Rich and her husband Frank hope he’s locked up for life. "We have the rest of our lives that we have to miss our daughter. And if he would get out and be able to do things he used to do or whatever, that wouldn’t be right," said Frank. Dayle was 47years old, with a full heart and a loving family. While her violent death and the drawn out trial brought pain, a decision made in the family’s darkest hour has brought hope. "I knew that someone would have to pass on for me to continue to live, and that was hard for me," said Yadira Gonzalez, who’s battled heart problems with her partner Mariah Garcia since 2004. The day of the crash, things looked bleak. "They had me on a prescription which kept the heart pumping because my organs were already shutting down," said Gonzalez. But three days later, the doctors announced they had a heart for Gonzalez, just as her partner heard about the crash. She had a gut feeling about the victims that turned out to be right. "I had talked to a friend of ours who was going to a massage therapy school and that’s where Dayle was a teacher. And we found out she had passed on and that she was on the donor list.," said Garcia. So Gonzales wrote a letter to the donor registry, and this year, a part of Dayle returned to her mother. "Yadira has Dayle’s heart and when I touch her, it’s just, she’s just up there smiling!" said Barbara. They’ve formed a friendship, and a promise, to honor Dayle’s life for decades to come. Gonzales is now living a healthy, full life in Anthem. In all, Dayle's organ donations changed the lives of seven people. For more information on how you can become an organ donor, visit The Arizona Donor Registry.
15 August 2012
Justice
Personally, I don't think justice can ever truly be served. Our lives are forever changed. I'm not sure it will ever get better, it'll just be different. Below is a news article about the conviction of dump truck driver M. Jakscht:
"Dump truck driver convicted in deaths of 4 bikers"
PHOENIX
A dump truck driver was convicted Wednesday in the 2010 deaths of 4 motorcyclists in north Phoenix.
It was the second trial in Maricopa County Superior Court for 47-year-old Michael Jakscht. A jury deadlocked 9-3 in favor of acquittal in August 2011.
Prosecutors say Jakscht faces up to 21 years in prison for each of 4 manslaughter charges and 15 years for each of 5 aggravated assault charges, which all can be stacked at sentencing. He also was found guilty of 4 counts of endangerment.
Jakscht was accused of plowing his 12-ton truck into a group of 9 motorcyclists stopped at a Carefree Highway traffic light on March 25, 2010.
Prosecutors claimed Jakscht tested positive for methamphetamine after the accident and acted with reckless disregard. Defense attorneys blamed brake failure.
"This is an awesome day for all of our friends and loved ones who have been here for us," said Barbara Rich, mother to victim Dayle Downs-Totonchi.
For her family it's been quite an emotional journey. They were there for nearly every day of the first trial, as well as the second one.
"I hope this never ever happens to anyone else where they go through a trial of this scenario."
Rich testified during the aggravated sentencing phase, where jurors decide if Jakscht deserves a more severe punishment.
"Every moment of the day and night I have her ashes sitting in my bedroom on the TV stand, when all this is over with, we will have a memorial," testified Rich.
Paul Totonchi, Dayle's husband, also testified. He told jurors that for the longest time, he just felt lost without her.
"How do you give words to your life dropped out from under you," said Sandra Nachand, who lost her husband Clyde, a former commander in the navy. They'd been married 43 years.
She says there isn't much she remembers about the day he died, all she remembers is going to bed and feeling alone and empty.
"Whenever anything bad happened he was always there for me and he wasn't, the other side of the bed was empty," said Nachand.
"I broke every rib on my right side, twelve of them," testified Ernie Lizarraga, one of the motorcyclists injured in the collision.
Once a Phoenix Fire captain who taught fitness to other firefighters, Lizarraga suffered a traumatic brain injury and spent 6 weeks in a coma. His wife Lori told jurors the rehab process was just devastating.
"He had to relearn to breathe first. Once he relearned how to breathe he had to relearn how to swallow and once swallowing happened he had to learn to sit up," said Lizarraga.
Jakscht faced all of them during testimony, his hands folded on the table in front of him.
Jakscht could spend the rest of his life in prison. Each manslaughter charge carries a maximum penalty of 21 years in prison.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/19288364/2012/08/15/phoenix-driver-is-convicted-in-deaths-of-4-bikers
"Dump truck driver convicted in deaths of 4 bikers"
PHOENIX
A dump truck driver was convicted Wednesday in the 2010 deaths of 4 motorcyclists in north Phoenix.
It was the second trial in Maricopa County Superior Court for 47-year-old Michael Jakscht. A jury deadlocked 9-3 in favor of acquittal in August 2011.
Prosecutors say Jakscht faces up to 21 years in prison for each of 4 manslaughter charges and 15 years for each of 5 aggravated assault charges, which all can be stacked at sentencing. He also was found guilty of 4 counts of endangerment.
Jakscht was accused of plowing his 12-ton truck into a group of 9 motorcyclists stopped at a Carefree Highway traffic light on March 25, 2010.
Prosecutors claimed Jakscht tested positive for methamphetamine after the accident and acted with reckless disregard. Defense attorneys blamed brake failure.
"This is an awesome day for all of our friends and loved ones who have been here for us," said Barbara Rich, mother to victim Dayle Downs-Totonchi.
For her family it's been quite an emotional journey. They were there for nearly every day of the first trial, as well as the second one.
"I hope this never ever happens to anyone else where they go through a trial of this scenario."
Rich testified during the aggravated sentencing phase, where jurors decide if Jakscht deserves a more severe punishment.
"Every moment of the day and night I have her ashes sitting in my bedroom on the TV stand, when all this is over with, we will have a memorial," testified Rich.
Paul Totonchi, Dayle's husband, also testified. He told jurors that for the longest time, he just felt lost without her.
"How do you give words to your life dropped out from under you," said Sandra Nachand, who lost her husband Clyde, a former commander in the navy. They'd been married 43 years.
She says there isn't much she remembers about the day he died, all she remembers is going to bed and feeling alone and empty.
"Whenever anything bad happened he was always there for me and he wasn't, the other side of the bed was empty," said Nachand.
"I broke every rib on my right side, twelve of them," testified Ernie Lizarraga, one of the motorcyclists injured in the collision.
Once a Phoenix Fire captain who taught fitness to other firefighters, Lizarraga suffered a traumatic brain injury and spent 6 weeks in a coma. His wife Lori told jurors the rehab process was just devastating.
"He had to relearn to breathe first. Once he relearned how to breathe he had to relearn how to swallow and once swallowing happened he had to learn to sit up," said Lizarraga.
Jakscht faced all of them during testimony, his hands folded on the table in front of him.
Jakscht could spend the rest of his life in prison. Each manslaughter charge carries a maximum penalty of 21 years in prison.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/19288364/2012/08/15/phoenix-driver-is-convicted-in-deaths-of-4-bikers
01 June 2012
June 1 = 111 Degrees
Welcome to June, summer in the sunny Southwest. It was 111 degrees today.
[Click any photo to see a larger version]
We left an unopened can of Dr Pepper in the truck. Unfortunately, it burst in the heat. Very messy.
Random inspiration:
"Don't be disappointed if people refuse to help you. Remember the words of Einstein: 'I'm thankful to all those who said "NO" because of them, I did it myself.'"
Yes!
Yuki. He's about 16 weeks old in this picture.
Yuki loves Cierra, she can't go anywhere without her kitten following.
Stuffie love.
Puppy love.
When she rolls back on her hips like this, My Honey calls it a "puppy sit".
"Squeaky, squeaky, squeaky"
Not the smartest place to lay down.
Orchids at my mom's house. The white orchid had about 12 blooms on it:
Me and my girl:
Random flowers at my mom's house. The significance of this is that the packrats have not eaten the flowers yet.
Ike. He is 30 years old.
Cracker. He is also 30 years old. Last summer's hot weather was difficult for Cracker, this may be his last summer.
The buckskin is called Ollie.
My son is here, hurray!!!
This photo was taken by my son's friend Pancho at Imperial Sand Dunes, California.
[Click any photo to see a larger version]
We left an unopened can of Dr Pepper in the truck. Unfortunately, it burst in the heat. Very messy.
Random inspiration:
"Don't be disappointed if people refuse to help you. Remember the words of Einstein: 'I'm thankful to all those who said "NO" because of them, I did it myself.'"
Yes!
Yuki. He's about 16 weeks old in this picture.
Yuki loves Cierra, she can't go anywhere without her kitten following.
Stuffie love.
Puppy love.
When she rolls back on her hips like this, My Honey calls it a "puppy sit".
"Squeaky, squeaky, squeaky"
Not the smartest place to lay down.
Orchids at my mom's house. The white orchid had about 12 blooms on it:
Me and my girl:
Random flowers at my mom's house. The significance of this is that the packrats have not eaten the flowers yet.
Ike. He is 30 years old.
Cracker. He is also 30 years old. Last summer's hot weather was difficult for Cracker, this may be his last summer.
The buckskin is called Ollie.
My son is here, hurray!!!
This photo was taken by my son's friend Pancho at Imperial Sand Dunes, California.
30 March 2012
Revisiting The Memorial Site
My mom wanted to make sure there was fresh water in the flowers we left last weekend (isn't she awesome?). We returned today to check on things. And, she had a huge bouquet of artificial sunflowers to leave at the accident/memorial site. My mom is my hero, truly.
[Click any photo to see a larger version]
[Click any photo to see a larger version]
