Posted by Bahama_Mama07 on October 4, 2008 at 8:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the SUV driver's name doesn't need to be released. it's nobody's business.

Posted by cisco54 on October 5, 2008 at 2:02 a.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by nativetexan on October 5, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Another reason to BAN cell phones in cars.
She was on the phone and not paying attention to her driving.
If you MUST use the cell phone, pull over and stop before you use the phone.
She will probably get some small ticket and her insurance will pay IF SHE HAD INSURANCE!

Posted by Festus on October 5, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"If you MUST use the cell phone, pull over and stop before you use the phone."

No, I won't pull over.

Posted by unsub on October 5, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Making a left turn can be one of the most dangerous to make when driving, even more dangerous when the driver is distracted.

In most cases, the driver making the left hand turn is found to be at fault.

Please take extra caution when turning left, or when someone MIGHT turn left in front of you.

Posted by ahs98 on October 5, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I saw you; hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line. But you didn't see me put an extra $10.00 in the collection plate last Sunday.

I saw you pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk. But you didn't see me playing Santa at the local Mall.

I saw you change your mind about going into the restaurant when you saw my bike parked out front. But you didn't see me attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.

I saw you roll up your window and shake your head when I rode by. But you didn't see me riding behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window.

I saw you frown at me when I smiled at your children. But you didn't see me, when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless.

I saw you stare at my long hair. But you didn't see me and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.

I saw you roll your eyes at our Leather jackets and gloves. But you didn't see me and my brothers donate our old ones to those that had none.

I saw you look in fright at my tattoos. But you didn't see me cry as my children where born or have their name written over and in my heart.

I saw you change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere. But you didn't see me going home to be with my family.

I saw you, complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be.. But you didn't see me when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.

I saw you yelling at your kids in the car. But you didn't see me pat my child's hands knowing she was safe behind me.

I saw you reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road. But you didn't see me squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn.

I saw you race down the road in the rain. But you didn't see me get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.

I saw you run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time. But you didn't see me trying to turn right.

I saw you cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in. But you didn't see me leave the road.

I saw you, waiting impatiently for my friends to pass. But you didn't see me. I wasn't there.

I saw you go home to your family. But you didn't see me. Because I died that day you cut me off.

I was just a biker. A person with friends and a family. But you didn't see me.

This is a message from all bikers to the public. We are just the same as you....but we pay more attention while driving because of all the rest of you that don't.

Posted by ASlate on October 5, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank ahs98. Your post is very beautiful. I and the family are thank you very much. Everyone has been so thoughtful. As everyone can see by today's article Marc was relocated to Dallas because Hendricks was unable to handle the exstensive damage. Due to his family dislocation I am going to be opening a bank account here and will begin asking for donations on behalf of his family. The incidentals such as driving back and forth from Dallas, missed work wages, etc. Since I am not family per say, the best I can do for him is help his family financially. I will be posting account information tomorrow after the banks open for the week. No donation is too small. In this type of situation every penny really does count. Mark, his wife, son and daughter all need your help. Once again, thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. You are truly good people and I know Mark would be greatful.

Posted by letsroll on October 5, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The cell phone is not at fault. It was an inattentive driver. Please place the blame where it belongs. Trust me, if the driver hadn't been on the phone, something else would have caused the distraction. I wouldn't be surprised if the driver does try to blame the cell phone, because no one ever wants to take responsibility for their actions, and it is much easier to blame an inanimate object.

My thoughts and prayers are with this young man and his family.

Posted by bodine30 on October 5, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WELL SAID AHS98. Is there anything that can be done legally to ban cell phones while driving in Abilene? Dyess has banned cell phones while driving and if caught they lose their driving privledges for one year! I ask because I am also a motorcycle driver and have been cut off or turned in front of numerous times because someone has been on their cell phone. I prefer to return home to my family every day and not have APD come to my door to tell my wife that I was in an accident and didn't make it due to someones inatentiveness due to being on a cell phone. Next to the red light runners in this city, the inatentivness due to cell phones is quickly gaining ground.

Posted by ASlate on October 5, 2008 at 6:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

bodine30, I am addressing the issue about cell phones tomorrow during normal business hours. I am calling our congressman to see the entire process to submit a bill for vote.

Posted by apricottx on October 5, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ahs98 - wow. did you write that? if not, who did. It was very, very, deep and impacted me emotionally.

I have friends like, you, and I want them safe. I want all drivers safe.

Please everyone, look and actually turn your head to look into your vehicle's blind spot. Someone could be there. Leave on time and, if you can't, accept the fact your late and get there safe anyway.

Posted by wild_bill on October 5, 2008 at 7:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My prayers for Mr. Phillips and family. Good job ahs98. You don't have to be on a bike to be in danger from cell-phone using, inattentive idiots. Nor is everyone who runs over a rider using a cellphone. Some are changing a CD, tuning the radio or just too darn drunk to notice.

apricottx, you can find it here: http://www.abatega.org/just_a_biker.htm it's listed there as "author unknown" but obviously someone knows it.

Posted by bigalluvsu on October 5, 2008 at 7:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

AHS98:
You are right on. A wonderful eulogy for a lost friend. God Bless You and our biker friends....

Posted by ihaveanopinion on October 6, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

yesterday on my way home from work I saw a guy on a bike with no helmet with a cell phone to his ear going down Sayles

Posted by bikerchic on October 6, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

AHS98 - that was a great quote of a wonderful poem. I moved here from the Houston area. There are city ordinances that prohibit cell phone use unless using hands-free options. I agree that driver inattention is to blame, but that includes changing the CD, talking on the phone, fixing your make-up, yelling at the kids, or whatever you do that takes your eyes and ears off the road. I have lost several friends over the last year to "driver inattention", and it is sad. Unfortunately, when that distracted driver hits another car/truck, it does not generally create a serious or fatal injury. When they hit a bike, it does. And riders make mistakes as well. We have to remember to watch for those drivers that are not watching, and we must abide by the same rules. For anyone offended by someone on a motorcycle, I am sorry. But when something like this happens, remember, we are human too. We work beside you, volunteer at the church or charitable organization, we take our kids to school each day, and we have the same troubles as anyone else.

Mr. Phillip, may God be with you and watch over you. And for the driver, same wishes for you as well. I hope that someone reading the newspaper today learns from this and remembers "LOOK TWICE" to watch for motorcycles before changing lanes or turning.

Posted by Zoey on October 6, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

ahs98 you brought tears to my eyes. That was really cool. MY thoughts and prayers are with the family.

Posted by cement on October 6, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

That was a wonderful poem ahs98. It makes you think twice, no three times about your attention span while driving.

My prayers are with the Phillip's family.

I know about the cell phone distraction, Saturday over by Dyess (S. 7th and Arnold Blvd)I was turning left on a green light when a JERK on a cell phone ran the red light. When I pulled in to the Allsup's the same JERK was there and had the nerve to apoligize for running the light. Said he was talking to a friend. I politely explained that I could not help he was an idiot and needed to learn to drive and pick priorities before he killed someone.
He was standing in line with BEER. Not calling the kettle black here I drink too (at home).
Just pointing out the irronic.

It is people like him that will take some innocent mother, father, son, daughter, baby, friend, BIKER that we know and love.

Posted by nmdad on October 6, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank God the military makes all their riders, on and off duty, on and off base, use helmets and approved riding gear. Although they are not 100% effective in preventing fatalities I bet if Amn Phillips was riding without a helmet and gear the story could very likely read "Dyess Airman killed in a motorcycle vs. car accident". My prayers are with Airman Phillips and his Phillips family.

Posted by onesmallvoice on October 6, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Fact is, children on the back of bikes are in more danger than those in the back of cars. However, I love motorcycles and actually came upon this wreck seconds after it happened. That's a bad intersection and maybe it should have a left on arrow only sign. The driver of the SUV certainly did not have any malicious intent, and made a mistake like anyone else, with disastrous consequences. I pray for the family and hope they will keep us updated on donation stations and how he is doing.

Posted by ASlate on October 6, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A donation account has been setup to help raise money for Mark Philipp's family to offset the dislocation cost. The Philipp family reside here in Abilene while Mark is in ICU in Dallas. Every cent counts for this family after their tragedy. If you can spare some change and would like to donate, you can make donations at any Abilene Teachers FCU branch. When make a donation just mention it is for Mark Philipp and the tellers will make sure it goes to the proper place. 100% of the monies raised will go directly to Mark's family. Please help if you can. Thank you all for the wonderful comments. I will be sure to pass them on to Mark when I visit him in Dallas Wed.

Posted by bodine30 on October 7, 2008 at 1:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Aslate, I also contacted via email Gov. Rick Perry, Senator Hutchison, Senator Cornyn, Congressman Randy Neugebauer, State senator Fraser and state representitive king with the following letter.

I am writing to you today to ask if you are currently or in the near future going to sponsor a bill to ban cell phone usage while driving in Texas? Mayor Norm Archibald of Abilene mentioned that you might be bringing it up in the spring. I ask this because we have had yet another accident here in Abilene at the intersection of South Treadway and South 27th street involving a motorcycle and a car. The car was at fault for turning in front of the motorcycle due to the inattentive driver of the SUV was on their cell phone. I ask because I am also a motorcycle rider and have been cut off or pulled in front of numerous times and I would guess that 90% of the time people were on their cell phones, you start noticing things like that more when you ride a motorcycle because your paying more attention to everything and everyone around you. There have been more motorcycle vs car accidents due to the high gas prices, most have been fatal, but this one will hopefully have a happy ending, at last check via Abilene Reporter News website opinion column a friend of the motorcycle driver said he was stable.
This leads me into another subject, (helmets) Texas needs to mandate the use of helmets while riding motorcycles. This individual was wearing one, hence his survival. There have been 6 motorcycle fatalities in or around Abilene this year, most if not all were not wearing helmets. All states mandate that when you are in a car that you must wear seatbelts, beacause they reduce fatalities, so why can't we mandate the usage of helmets no matter what when riding motorcycles? I don't care how much insurance i carry, the state minimums or a million dollars, I for one wear a helmet everytime when riding!

Posted by ASlate on October 7, 2008 at 5:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Very good Bodine30. I didn't get a chance to do up my letter yesterday as I was getting the donation centers up and running instead.

Posted by apricottx on October 7, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

There's an awesome PSA on TV that shows a driver of a car at a stop sign. The driver looks left, then right, then proceeds. WHAM, a motorcycle hits the car on the driver side, rider flips over vehicle. Then, the camera goes back to original spot: driver looks left, driver looks right, driver looks left AGAIN and sees motorcycle and does not proceed.

Look left, look right, look left again.... Key word here: LOOK!

Posted by ASlate on October 7, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We are looking into doing a donation only carwash here soon. Up at United on S. 14th and Willis. Please look for us and stop by, it will be held by several of his friends and co-workers. All donations are going to Mark and his family. Hopefully this Saturday. Also any donations can be made at any Abilene Teachers FCU by mentioning Mark Philipp.

Thank you again for your blessings and support.

Posted by apricottx on October 7, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ASlate, has anyone checked for the family what resources there are like a Ronald McDonald house (I know that's for parents of sick children), or gosh I don't know, there's not a base there, but any other military affiliated or hospital affiliated housing for family member of critically ill, injured?

Keep us posted on the carwash....

Posted by ASlate on October 7, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

apricottx, The housing issue is already setup. The biggest problem is Mark's family are unable to stay in Dallas because his wife works and his kids have school. His wife only has about a week of leave which is about up. This is why they have no choice but to go back and foth to see Mark. I am trying to offset that cost as much as possible. I will keep everyone posted on the carwash.

Posted by apricottx on October 8, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

ASlate, have her file for Family Medical Leave. Most employers have to offer it. I have never used it, so I am not sure if she would be paid as she would under Short Term Disability. But it might free her up to be with her husband.

Thanks for all you are doing for this family, and we, their community, await more news on what we can do to help.

Posted by ASlate on October 8, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

That is what she is on now. It is only paid the first week. The family cannot survive just on Mark's pay check. Unless I raise enough money for her she has no choice but to return to abilene to work.

Posted by ASlate on October 8, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The carwash will be at the IHOP on S. Clack this Saturday Oct. 11th from 8am - 4pm. The fee is strictly donation. Please come by and get your vehicle washed. Thank you everyone.