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FALL RIVER — After two crashes inside six months that despatched motorbike drivers over the Veterans Memorial Bridge, some native motorcyclists are questioning the bridge’s security.
Police say Gary Amaral was driving his 125cc four-speed 2020 Kawasaki Z-125Pro eastbound on Veterans Memorial Bridge after midnight Sunday, when he misplaced management of the bike whereas leaning into the right-hand cutoff for southbound Routes 79 and 138.
His street-legal mini bike, which Kawasaki markets as “a nimble streetfighter,” struck the four-foot-high, jersey barrier-style concrete, protecting embankment — at which level police say Amaral was catapulted excessive into the river not less than 40 toes under.
After two days of looking out by a number of state and municipal rescue crews, Amaral’s physique was found late Monday, 4 and a half miles down the river.
Extra:Body of missing motorcyclist recovered from Taunton River
Extra:Fall River fire department’s new rescue boat a welcome addition
There was an identical motorbike crash on the identical spot final summer time.
In that incident a person in his 20s hit the wall and was thrown into the river whereas taking the curve, however managed to make it to shore the place fireplace division paramedics had been in a position to attain him.
Police stated he was taken to Rhode Island Hospital the place he was handled for inner accidents.
George Hoar of Fall River, who rides a Harley-Davidson motorbike, says the bridge’s protecting barrier, particularly the right-hand lane the place the street veers onto the southbound exit above the river, must be larger.
“It must be extra just like the Braga Bridge,” he stated, which has a tall suicide-prevention barrier.
Hoar says he additionally doesn’t really feel comfy taking the right-hand ramp within the far-right lane whereas driving his Dodge Ram pickup truck.
“It makes me nervous, particularly when it’s raining and a bit of bit slick,” Hoar stated.
He stated it’s a matter of time earlier than another person on a motorbike miscalculates the curve and finally ends up being tossed into the Taunton River.
“It’s gonna occur once more,” Hoar stated.
When requested to touch upon the protection of the bridge, a spokesperson for the state’s Division of Transportation issued the next assertion:
“This bridge, the adjoining ramps and the roadway floor are in step with federal and state infrastructure security requirements.”
There are two pace restrict indicators posted on the Somerset to Fall River drawbridge heading east.
The primary is a small 40 mph signal on the Somerset aspect; the second is a yellow 30 mph signal hooked up to a pole on the Fall River aspect, the place autos steer proper onto a two-lane ramp to entry Routes 79 and 138 southbound.
Site visitors that stays within the far left lane enters a single-lane ramp for northbound Route 79, which ultimately merges with Route 24 north. There may be an extra concrete barrier separating a pedestrian walkway from the street.
The walkway on the south aspect of the bridge is barely supposed for official use.
