Posted by CountryGirl on May 11, 2008 at 1:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

That's all? Why even report the story if you don't have any more information than that?

Posted by JohnS on May 11, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We need to know if he was wearing a helment so we can properly do a post here.

Posted by ForPnC on May 11, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My condolences to the family.

Posted by summerville_guy on May 11, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We sure have seen a lot of motorcycle deaths recently.

Posted by JoeL2 on May 11, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

He was wearing a helmet, gloves, and jacket.

Posted by realman on May 11, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Rest in peace.

Posted by KidYendor on May 11, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

All the real deaths on our roads on motorcycles each month and the politicians outlaw smoking in the bars and tout they are saving lives. Instead, it is just fashion law. It is in fashion to control and tax smoking. Line up motorcycle deaths to deaths caused by second hand odors and see what you come up with.

Posted by RTC on May 11, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A kid told my son that this young man was run over by a car.
I don't know if this is factual, but that's what I was told.

Posted by jammer on May 11, 2008 at 6 p.m. (Suggest removal)

KidYendor there is no comparison, there are thousands of deaths across the country daily attributed to smoking... directly and indirectly by second hand smoke

your analogy doesn't hold up to anything but the false point you attempt to make

way more people die in car accidents a day as well, but for some reason people flinch more when they hear it's a motorcyclist... two here yesterday...

on the job deaths outnumber them too, should we stop working? lol

you can go on and on with the lists of deaths by causes that outnumber motorcycle deaths

on a side note, you rarely see an article mention if the rider had a helmet when he/she was actually wearing one... so you know he/she most likely was wearing one if the leave out that info

Posted by RStern on May 11, 2008 at 6:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

...ask the Post and Courier to report the rest of the story.

Posted by outrage on May 11, 2008 at 7:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There is alot more to this story! Sorry, I can't comment at this time, but most of you know why. It is a horrible story.

Posted by KidYendor on May 11, 2008 at 7:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sorry Jammer I don't believe you can prove any second hand smoke deaths. First hand yes. I read a lot more about motorcycle accidents than people keeling over from second hand smoke. It is in fashion to regulate the smokers while people lose their lives to careless driving/motorcycle accidents daily.

Posted by jammer on May 11, 2008 at 10:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

how do you stop this AUTO PAGE RELOAD crap!!

I had several paragraphs wiped out in the middle of typing

Posted by chris23t on May 11, 2008 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

For all those wondering about this. My name is chris i was riding with Justin when he was killed. Its been a very rough weekend and yes he was wearing a helmet. He was ran over by a drunk driver. He lost control of his bike and was thrown off the front end, as he was rolling on the ground a truck ran him over. She then accelerated into my other friend Josh who is now in the hospital. She ran from the scene but was later caught and she was very drunk and only 20. My friend is struggling in the hospital but he is living. That is everything i can tell you with out making this story any more horrific then it already sounds. Justin was alive until ran over by the drunk driver.

Posted by KidYendor on May 11, 2008 at 11:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Throw that drunk piece of trash in the slammer for a long, long, long time. Take care chris23t.

Posted by outrage on May 12, 2008 at 12:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I told you there was more to the story, but I can't reveal things that have not been released yet.

I am sorry for your loss chris, and hope josh is okay!

Posted by prosperous_hb on May 12, 2008 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

chris23t...I'm sorry that you had to go through that. My prayers go out to you and your friends family.

Posted by Zod on May 12, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Harpo, that accident was near 10 pm Friday night. The P&C reporters were out for a night on the town.

I did not see a police car involved. It appeared to me as though the silver car was turning onto Rebecca street and the truck was coming east down Rivers Avenue. The accident happened in front of T&T sports which is about a half mile past Parks Auto. The number of officers involved on the scene made me think that someone involved was dead on the scene.

Posted by Zod on May 12, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Jammer, Every now and again this site starts the auto refresh crap. If you find that you have written anything lengthy, it is best to right click and copy what you have written as you go.

Posted by ln1959 on May 12, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

chris23t, I am so sorry you had to go though something like that at such a young age. My prayers go out to the family.

I had to lay my bike back in 84, and since then I only ride sporadicly. The carelessness of others can destroy many families lives.

May your friend have a quick recovery.

Posted by Yankee_Don on May 12, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My thoughts are with the family - and am sorry for your lost. I didn't know the individual however seems he was doing what he enjoyed when he left this world. Thats what I would want if it were me.

The reason why you didn't hear much on the report is because he was wearing alll the protective gear this NHSTA recommends. But the person didn't survive anyway. You will always here if the rider wasn't wearing a helmet -- why do pursade the common folk into thinking we need Helmet laws!

The reason you see more motorcycle accidents lately as someone asked.. have you looked at gas prices. I ride my bike everyday - regardless of the gas price - but I have to assume the rise in cost to get that SUV to and from work is getting out of hand. So people turn to the other mode of transporation. To me Motorcycles are not "recreational" unless its a dirt bike, motorcycles to me is my mode of transportation.

And when people in the cages realize that there are more and more of us out here maybe they will start paying closer attention vs. pulling out in front of us. Learn to Share the road

Posted by ln1959 on May 12, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Harpo, when a car pulls out in front of you..I guess it would be panicked to try to avoid flying over a car. Thanks for the analisis.

Posted by ironhorse on May 12, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

agree...anyone who has some experience riding knows that "laying a bike down" means making a conscious and deliberate choice to minimize injury.

Posted by amysgig on May 12, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

A twenty year old intoxicated female hit the biker and dragged his upper body to the entrance of Lowe's. He was alive when she hit him. She has been charged with felony DUI.

Posted by ColdBeer on May 12, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow, very sorry to hear about this.

I would love to ride a nice Harley but there is NO WAY I'd ever get on a bike and ride on public streets. Even if you are doing evereything right, there's just not enough protection when someone else messes up.

Posted by RStern on May 12, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Posted by amysgig on May 12, 2008 at 11:01 a.m.

A twenty year old intoxicated female hit the biker and dragged his upper body to the entrance of Lowe's. He was alive when she hit him. She has been charged with felony DUI.

...as well as other charges. Again, ask the newsless courier to report the whole story.

Posted by Early on May 12, 2008 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

One dead, one life ruined

Posted by localoyster on May 12, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Chris, sorry for what happened to your buddies. Take this as a lesson that riding wheelies is not a smart thing to do on public roads.

Posted by localoyster on May 12, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I meant to add "a smart thing to do on public roads with drunk drivers and people not paying attention to others".

There was also another accident in front of town center about 2.5 hours later.

Posted by sbs920 on May 12, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

" wheelies " ?

Was the deceased doing wheelies ?

This story just gets sadder and sadder. . .

Posted by ColdBeer on May 12, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I didn't see wheelies mentioned anywhere in this story.

I've seen a few guys on bikes doing wheelies at 50 MPH down busy roads. One almost hit my wife head on up on 17A close to Moncks Corner. They deserve to be shot, plain and simple.

Posted by localoyster on May 12, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Two of the guys were riding wheelies and lost control. The drunk girl then ran over Justin when he landed in her path. She kept on going before she was finally stopped at the next stoplight.

Posted by ColdBeer on May 12, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How is it that all of these facts are out and yet none of them are in the article???

Guys losing control while riding wheelies, if that's actually what happened, changes my whole perspective on this accident. It doesn't excuse a drunk driver in any way, but I can't see drunk driving being any worse than riding wheelies on motorcycles on a public street. Both kill innocent people.

Posted by ColdBeer on May 12, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bad accident on I-26 East bound right now... at the College Park rest area. Looks like a cement truck is involved and I'm already hearing that there is at least one fatality. Camera 10 on the North Charleston section of the SCDOT traffic cams.

Posted by ColdBeer on May 12, 2008 at 8:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If the wheelie thing is true, the female driver should not be charged with anything associated with this guy's death. She should be charged as any person caught DUI (which should be MUCH more than a years house arrest), but his death was his own fault, not hers. Again, that's IF the wheelie part is true.

Posted by chris23t on May 12, 2008 at 9:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

For one all of you who dont know what happened, stop making postings about what happened if you didnt know. There were no wheelies, this is my friend you guys are talking about, so stop making it sound like it was his fault. He never did a wheelie, yes he laid down his bike and was ran over. But what gives her the right to accelarate and run over my other friend and then flee the scene. Nothing. So for you who think that he deserves what he got, that is bull. We all were driving safe, we were driving home to celebrate my friend moving to Washington. No one knows this accident better then myself and Josh, so for anyone that doesnt know, stop posting the wrong things. This is my friends life we are talking about. This is why the police report is messed up, cuz people say things that they dont know. This is why that dumb girl is going to walk away from murder and attempted murder, however you want to classify it. She deserves life and nothing else. If you saw my friend and if you saw the accident as it happened then you would feel the same way. So i would appreciate it if some of you had some respect and left your nasty comments to yourself. For all of the rest we greatly appreciate your prayers and your comments. Its been a hard road but we are living and thats what we are thankful for. For anyone that is conserned there is a memorial for Justin on Thursday at 2. It is a navy thing so you may have to be family or military, not sure on all that.

Posted by JCM0165 on May 12, 2008 at 10:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

chris23t, sorry to hear about your friends. This is close to home. I heard about this today from an employee who also rides. We all have to be really careful out there. peace, JCM

Posted by Outragedrider on May 12, 2008 at 11:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Most of you have lost sight of the point. I'm not sure of all the facts, but what I do know is this was a bright, young, sailor headed down a good path that was cut short by a drunk driver. I'm also a rider and constantly find the road to be treacherous with sober people sharing the lanes. How could you possibly justify a drunk driver running down a young man regardless of how poor his decisions may have been on the bike? How many of you do idiotic things while driving to save a few extra minutes? Eating, speeding, talking on the phone, putting on makeup?... Are any of us not guilty of showing the proper respect due to a 2 ton vehicle moving 60 mph? If it was your child killed would you be so cold? This is very personal to me. I teach these young men and women. I feel a bond with everyone of them and this is a tragedy. Just remember that this young man made a personal choice to volunteer to protect those of you that have made this a place to comment on riding techniques, idiotic stunts, who can ride well versus who can't and worst of all, justifying his killer. Makes me almost regret the decade of service I have given for you, but most of you are deserving of this man's sacrifice along with all the others that have gone before. That is what I have to remember everyday. I just beg that you remember what this story is really about. A promising young man's future cut short due to another terrible tragedy caused by someone's immature, irresponsible behavior that should be punished.

Posted by common_sense_is_where on May 13, 2008 at 3:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The auto refresh has to go!!!!!!!!!!
LISTEN P&C, you can adjust this.

Posted by common_sense_is_where on May 13, 2008 at 4:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

First, we as a community offer our condolences to you and your friends and your family. There are no words at the moment to even try to console you, just know that we are here in whatever capacity can help. Secondly, you need to check in with Coastal Carolina Chaplains. They have been extremely helpful with survivors of the SSS fire. They have provided light where some ever wondered how they would make through the next hour or day. A very helpful beacon in the dark. This is not a humanly-handled situation. Please find help wherever it is offered. The chaplaincy has helped in many ways and they are ready for you, regardless of your religious affiliation, or if you have none. There are some families in Charleston who are now more readily equipped in managing desperately tragic situations than they were last year. The best way for us to cope is to help the next person who has had to manage losing a loved one to unexpected circumstances. Blame is not the answer right now. We must all deal with humanity and corral around the survivors of any tragic situation. Let's keep perpsective here. Peace to all involved. Prayers are coming to you in a big way.

Posted by ColdBeer on May 13, 2008 at 6:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't see any comments that say the guy on the bike "got what he deserved". Many, including mine do say that "IF" he was doing wheelies, the woman driver is not at fault for his death. Again, they say "IF". The speculation is mostly due to the poor coverage and lack of information in the post and the fact that another person posted and said that they were doing wheelies.

This is a horrific accident. I hope the P&C will get the FACTS and run more on this accident.

Posted by MinoritySouth on May 13, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is a very sad story and I am sorry for all involved in the tragedy regardless of the right/wrong factor. Everyone makes mistakes and this is compounded by the fact that accidents are sometimes unavoidable in the best circumstances.

That being said, it seems though, that a "consistent" common denominator with lack of info in the media seems to be closely related to economics. In other words, if the incident happens in a trailer park regardless of right and wrong, you instantly get all the "nitty-gritty" details, like for example effeminate traits of a murder victim without even remotely suggesting that investigators think it was a hate crime or how many 40 oz cans and cigarette butts were strewn across the yard accompanied by pictures from a drunken Cinco De Mayo party or a teenage mug shot from 1992. However if an incident happens near Mt. Pleasant Town Centre, it rarely even makes it to the general public and if so, there are only bare bone general details and no relevant details like blood alcohol content, specifically, how, when, where and if any alcohol testing was given at all which are relevant factors in situations like this or no details of circumstances that indicate less than prudent decision making and behavior on the part of either parties, no laundry list of past law infractions, etc. etc.

Yet again, one set of guidelines for some and another set of guidelines for others.

Posted by ColdBeer on May 13, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't think there are any guidelines. I think there is just a LOT of poor reporting.

Posted by melton524 on May 14, 2008 at 8:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Not at fault...really....let me see, under 21 and over the limit, hmmm...sounds to me like if she hadn't been on the road after drinking too much then a young man would still be alive and another would not be hurt.....so yes it is her fault this crap about not my fault society has got to stop it is crap.
If you take it upon yourself to drink and drive then you are where you shouldn't be, (on the road),thus, if you hurt or kill someone even if they jump out in front of you wouldn't have been there if you had going by the law, so, it IS your fault!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by intha10 on May 20, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I can tell you that all of the talk about "IF" this and "IF" that are besides the point. I was an eye witness to the accident. I was sitting at the gas station right in front of where it happened as the bikes rode by and the comment that was posted about the rider not pulling a wheelie is an outright LIE. I watched him pull the wheelie and saw him roll the bike. I ran into the store and told them to call 911. I cannot say whether or not there was another vehicle involved after he went down because I was telling the clerk to call the police but what I don't understand is why someone had to create a story about some innocent riders being the victims of some terrible accident. If in fact there was a drunk woman that ran him over that is awful but, if he wasn't pulling wheelies and showing off then there is just as good a chance that he would be alive as there would be if the drunk girl wasn't on the road. It could have been a perfectly sober person that could have run him over if he was riding so irresponsibly. So let's look at the whole story when we address this and let the truth be told. I am sorry for your loss and for his family but he was not as innocent in this as some are making it out to be.

Posted by RaoulDuke2k8 on May 24, 2008 at 2:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

intha10, It doesn't matter if the guy was doing cartwheels, wheelies, backflips, whatever in the street. Simple matter of fact is the driver that hit and eventually killed him, was drunk,and is currently charged with Felony DUI. I know your angle, I understand what you are saying. He may not have been as innocent as depicted but the simple fact is she hit him drunk. Your reactions are slowed when you are drunk. Who could say that if she was sober she would have missed him or not? That will never be known. What is known is (said woman who hit man) will be tried for Felony DUI in the death of Justin Elliott. Its a shame that two young people have to pay in such a way but Res ipsa loquitur (it is what it is). I can only hope the justice system does its thing

Posted by RaoulDuke2k8 on May 24, 2008 at 2:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As a man who is a member of the journalism community i would like to say that the Charleston Post and Courier totally crapped the bed on the coverage of this.

Posted by intha10 on May 27, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

RaoulDuke,
I completely agree with you about the fact that if there was a drunk woman there that hit him then she should be tried for driving drunk and pay a heavy penalty for it, not money but serve time. But my point was simply to show that he was acting just as irresponsibly as was a drunk driver if he was driving recklessly. I also need to point out the fact that some of his friends that have posted comments on here felt the need to lie about what happened. This makes me question just how recklessly he was driving and how much at fault the young lady was. I am in no way forgiving or syaing that anyone "got what they deserved" because a young life that is cut off by whatever means is always a tragedy, but It does raise some questions as to why they felt the need to lie, does it not?

Posted by puckett777 on May 28, 2008 at 4:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Okay here is my problem I've read all these blogs and it seems to me a lot of you are some cold hearted people that just write stuff to be writing it I guess. Here is the thing a young growing adult serving our country was riding with some friends and wreck his bike and was run over by a drunk driver who was not even 21. You say why ruin two people lives or if he was doing wheelies she shouldn't be punished as bad but the thing is she was DRUNK period. Just for example put yourself in his family shoes and say that this was your brother or son and you knew that he had died being reckless but was killed by a drunk driver how would you react. All I'm saying is that the point of the whole thing is that if the girl was responsible then she should not have been driving now who is to say that it would have turned out different maybe and maybe not but the fact is that she killed him and that’s all. I am a local from the town of Fancy Farm, Kentucky Justin’s hometown I grew up with him play baseball and was close to his family. He had an only sister that was really close to him and now she will never get to see talk or do anything with her brother ever again. It disturbs me to think this is how we treat a man who gave his life to protecting this country and all people can do is post stupid blogs to the fact that we didn't write anything about this tragedy but that he died. So I can't figure out why there is no article longer than a second grader can write about this accident. You write pages on a man who robbed something and about some big event but an American sailor life is taken and we write nothing. Whatever the case is, and whatever really happen the fact is she was DRUNK no if and or buts about it that is the facts and nothing else matters if he was doing a wheelie or riding beside his bike or standing on top of it for that matter SHE STILL WAS DRUNK.

Posted by intha10 on May 28, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Puckett,
Just so you know I am not just writing to see my words online. I am a veteran of the armed forces myself and will always have a soft spot for those who serve this country, no matter what branch they were in. And you are misunderstanding my words if you think that I am saying that she should not be held responsible in any way. All I am saying is that this girl, who was involved in a tragic accident, and who's life will never be the same regardless of the outcome of this, should not take the full brunt of the law. She should definitely be punished, and severely, but if Justin's friends feel the need to LIE about the fact that he was driving the way he did it makes you wonder how much of the responsibilty should be on their shoulders. I truly empathize with Justin's family and friends but I don't want to see more harm come out of this than has already. Punish the girl for driving drunk and making a terrible decision to do that and let her learn her lesson while she is in jail for that. But don't completely drop the blame on her shoulders when the fact remains that Justin was very much a part of the reason for the tragedy. It is a terrible shame that she will move on to learn from this and Justin cannot, but hopefully his friends will see the dangers of driving a bike irresponsibly and do the right thing from now on and honor Justin by using this tragedy as a lesson for life. I know you said it doesn't matter what Justin was doing because she was drunk but that is a blind way of looking at the facts. ALL of the parties involved in this had equal parts to blame for the accident. That girl made the wrong decision to drive in the state she was in but so to did Justin make the wrong decision in driving recklessly. I am sorry if I do not have the popular opinion on this but I simply call what I see.

Posted by puckett777 on May 29, 2008 at 2:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Intha10

I'm sorry about the comment toward you it was meant mainly toward the other bloggers and I couldn't say them all so I just made it in gerenal. I to believe in a way that you do, this young girl will have this on her chest for the rest of her life. I don't believe they should throw the book at her but all to many times it seems when you read the news someone is getting off the hook or serving min. time for a harsh crime. I geuss in most cases I get upset to hear this but it goes away shorty after that and now something hit alittle closer to home.

Posted by intha10 on May 29, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I understand exactly what you're saying and the only thing I can say to that is sometimes it gets very hard to keep our opinions un-biased. When something like this happens to a person you know it is very easy to simply look at the other person and blame them. In this case I found it easier to look at what Justin did wrong simply because he was the only one that I actually saw doing something wrong. I might have been aproaching this differently had I walked around the corner of the building 10 seconds earlier and watched him get run over. I hate that this happened and wish it didn't but my prayers are with both Justin's friends and family as well as that young girls.