Wear your helmets!!!! Another dead....

**e.man** · 08-14-2009 10:00 AM

Well, I woke up this moring to a text from a friend saying his neighbor has just been killed last night longboarding. I'd met the kid a few times, but never really knew him that well. But from what I could tell, he was a really cool guy.

I don't have any details right now on how it happened, but I know where it happened. Stern Park, which is downtown littleton for all you Colorado guys. These hills are not that fast, 20 mph tops. The weird thing is, I was just over in stern park last night longboarding pretty late. I probably just missed him.

Anyway, I'll probably have more details or a news article that I'll post up. But keep your helmets on guys, even at low speeds.

**bagelbum** · 08-14-2009 11:08 AM

Sad to hear another passing in the community. I hope this serves as a lesson to those who didn't wear already!!

**Cann0n** · 08-14-2009 11:52 AM

People either do or don't.

Helmet or not, when you duel with traffic, there's a good chance you'll loose.

He probably needed to wear florescence since it was at night.

**assumeivan** · 08-14-2009 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by Cann0n

People either do or don't.

Helmet or not, when you duel with traffic, there's a good chance you'll loose.

He probably needed to wear florescence since it was at night.

Dang loosing to traffic does not sound good.

**Viebster** · 08-14-2009 12:15 PM

Sorry to hear it.

**SlyTX** · 08-14-2009 02:38 PM

Is there confirmation whether he was wearing a helmet or not?

**KyleWester** · 08-14-2009 02:45 PM

To many kids in Rado are dieing from skateboarding i don't understand what it is... every thread i click on about a death it seems to be in colorado. RIP man.

**Mall Grab** · 08-14-2009 03:11 PM

Anyone still think we should get more and more people longboarding? "Spread the stoke"? "Grow the sport"? Put every single downhill video clip on Youtube, spot names included?

What's happening right now is simply a disaster. Young kids are getting killed left and right. Think about that for a while before you type another routine "Wear your helmets people" reply. This can't go on - either the longboarding community does something about it fast or the authorities will.

Freak accidents do happen, but there are just too many people going down hills right now who really have no business being on a skateboard. It's not for everyone. Hate me all you want for saying this, but I'm tired of this stream of bad news.

**$tauberC** · 08-14-2009 04:53 PM

motorcycles, cars, bikes, airplanes, walking..

**Bookworm** · 08-14-2009 06:12 PM

wow mall grab, that was deep.

but you are right. I hit 30 (maybe a lil less) before I knew anything other than how to tuck, I hit 40 before I was comfortable doing shutdowns anywhere above 20, and these last few days I've been hitting 45 helmetless.

It's way too easy to get into a REAL dangerous position, and you're only a twitch away from disaster.

and twitches happen.

**wardlarson** · 08-14-2009 06:32 PM

you never know when you're going to fall
my buddy kole broke his collarbone a week ago, going probably 45 or 50, full leathers and fullface helmet, just randomly twitched and fell straight to the road before he knew what was going on.

**e.man** · 08-14-2009 06:40 PM

An 18-year-old skateboarder was killed late Thursday when he hit a car at South Elati Street and West Sterne Parkway, Littleton police said today.

The dead skateboarder, identified as Jeremy Merkel of Littleton, was heading north on South Elati Street just after 10 p.m. at about 20 mph when he hit the side of a car driven by Kylie Geivett of Littleton, said investigators.

Geivett was driving southbound on South Elati and turning left onto eastbound South Sterne Parkway when the accident occurred, said Lt. Trent Cooper, spokesman for the Littleton Police Department.

Merkel had a friend with him at the time of the accident, and the friend called 911.

When officers arrived, they found Merkel on the ground suffering from a head injury. He was transported to Littleton Hospital, where he later died of his injuries.

Cooper said that Geivett has not been charged with any criminal or traffic violations at this time. He said the investigation is ongoing.

No word if he was wearing a helmet or not. It kind of sounds like he didn't have one on though.

**camlyks2lb** · 08-14-2009 06:52 PM

An 18-year-old skateboarder was killed late Thursday when he hit a car at South Elati Street and West Sterne Parkway, Littleton police said today.

The dead skateboarder, identified as Jeremy Merkel of Littleton, was heading north on South Elati Street just after 10 p.m. at about 20 mph when he hit the side of a car driven by Kylie Geivett of Littleton, said investigators.

Geivett was driving southbound on South Elati and turning left onto eastbound South Sterne Parkway when the accident occurred, said Lt. Trent Cooper, spokesman for the Littleton Police Department.

Merkel had a friend with him at the time of the accident, and the friend called 911.

When officers arrived, they found Merkel on the ground suffering from a head injury. He was transported to Littleton Hospital, where he later died of his injuries.

Cooper said that Geivett has not been charged with any criminal or traffic violations at this time. He said the investigation is ongoing.

Originally Posted by e.man

No word if he was wearing a helmet or not. It kind of sounds like he didn't have one on though.

Sad, man.
I really wish that this doesn't have to happen.

**Jonathon Schumaker** · 08-14-2009 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by Mall Grab

Anyone still think we should get more and more people longboarding? "Spread the stoke"? "Grow the sport"? Put every single downhill video clip on Youtube, spot names included?

What's happening right now is simply a disaster. Young kids are getting killed left and right. Think about that for a while before you type another routine "Wear your helmets people" reply. This can't go on - either the longboarding community does something about it fast or the authorities will.

Freak accidents do happen, but there are just too many people going down hills right now who really have no business being on a skateboard. It's not for everyone. Hate me all you want for saying this, but I'm tired of this stream of bad news.

Your right, we should get rid of cars because teenagers cannot drive them correctly.

It's not the boards, it's just the lack of experience.

Hell, I love Darwinism.

**OldmanT** · 08-14-2009 07:58 PM

very sad RIP....

**iidrum** · 08-14-2009 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by Dr. David E. Dadavildy

Your right, we should get rid of cars because teenagers cannot drive them correctly.

It's not the boards, it's just the lack of experience.

Hell, I love Darwinism.

I think the lack of experience point is actually what he was arguing. Kids are taking things on beyond their skill level, and it's quite literally getting them killed.

Personally, I could do without Darwinism in this case. What if that happened to a friend of yours, man?
I don't really 'love' the idea of anybody dying.

**Petary791** · 08-14-2009 08:42 PM

Seriously, all these "wear your helmets" threads are ineffective and downright stupid. Have these threads changed anything? Clearly not.

**Jonathon Schumaker** · 08-14-2009 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by iidrum

I think the lack of experience point is actually what he was arguing. Kids are taking things on beyond their skill level, and it's quite literally getting them killed.

Personally, I could do without Darwinism in this case. What if that happened to a friend of yours, man?
I don't really 'love' the idea of anybody dying.

I would never let one of my friends longboard without a helmet and the other proper equipment required for whatever discipline we are doing.

**stringtheory** · 08-14-2009 08:49 PM

Man, I'm already sick of saying R.I.P. this week. It's been brutal.

R.I.P. brother.

**bagelbum** · 08-14-2009 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by Petary791

Seriously, all these "wear your helmets" threads are ineffective and downright stupid. Have these threads changed anything? Clearly not.

Hey man, if all it does is get one person to start wearing a lid...I'm a strong believer that they're effective and make a difference. One more life out on a board is a good thing for me.