Many at Arizona Bike Week are in shock and deeply saddened by the death of Kimmy Chapman in a Right of Way violation crash yesterday in Arizona. She received the Arizona Hero Award in 2009 for her devotion to the rally. She was the founding owner of the Biker Information Guide. Her life companion Mark S Tapp was seriously injured. Kimmy was a passenger on their Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was traveling eastbound on Bell Road, according to Phoenix investigators. When they entered the intersection at 43rd Avenue the driver of a Nissan Rogue failed to yield and made a left turn in front of them. Tapper is in serious condition. There are plans underway to honor her during one or more events at Arizona Bike Week & WestWorld Cyclefest. - The bike community is also outraged because the 22-year old driver is not expected to be charged in the crash. There is currently only pending legislation (HB2523) that would create a vehicular manslaughter charge in Arizona. Under the current state law, Arizona drivers who cause fatal accidents can only be charged with a misdemeanor crime, even if they're supposed to be off the roadways due to a license suspension.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Arizona Bike Week "Hero" Kimmy Chapman Killed in Crash
Many at Arizona Bike Week are in shock and deeply saddened by the death of Kimmy Chapman in a Right of Way violation crash yesterday in Arizona. She received the Arizona Hero Award in 2009 for her devotion to the rally. She was the founding owner of the Biker Information Guide. Her life companion Mark S Tapp was seriously injured. Kimmy was a passenger on their Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was traveling eastbound on Bell Road, according to Phoenix investigators. When they entered the intersection at 43rd Avenue the driver of a Nissan Rogue failed to yield and made a left turn in front of them. Tapper is in serious condition. There are plans underway to honor her during one or more events at Arizona Bike Week & WestWorld Cyclefest. - The bike community is also outraged because the 22-year old driver is not expected to be charged in the crash. There is currently only pending legislation (HB2523) that would create a vehicular manslaughter charge in Arizona. Under the current state law, Arizona drivers who cause fatal accidents can only be charged with a misdemeanor crime, even if they're supposed to be off the roadways due to a license suspension.
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she will be sorely missed. she was a geat inspiration to the harley community. And a beautiful person inside and out.
ReplyDeleteTragic Loss to the Motorcycle Media and Press as well as all bikers who knew her.
ReplyDeleteKimmy and Mark were in Attendance during our show last January's Mid-America Motorcycle Expo. Her publication was one of our 2011 supporting media companies. Mark Tapp who is great friends with Tim Banks of Cycleworks Choppers/Promotions was honored to have Mark and Kimmy take part during the weekend. Mark is a USMC Veteran and was home to support the unveiling of Cycleworks Choppers USMC Toys for Tots tribute Bike
Our condolences to Kimmy’s family and her friends, and thoughts and prayers are with the Tapp family during these extremly Difficult times.
Owensboro Biker News
Can't believe it. I'm shocked. Any idea when there will be a funeral or memorial ride?
ReplyDeleteI understand that the 4th Annual Wildlife Ride during Arizona Bike Week will include a dedication. More announcements are sure to follow.
ReplyDeleteSunday night update posted on her company website says, "Tapper had his back fused today. He has a broken femur, ankle, and pelvis. No head trauma and he is in stable condition." He is at John C. Lincoln Hospital.
ReplyDelete"We want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughts and prayers," said Dave Shafer, media director for Biker Information Guide in a statement issued by her staff. "Kimmy had such a wonderful personality and everyone who knew her, loved her. She was someone that would bend over backward to help whenever she could. She was so full of life and it is so sad that we lost her. Her passion was Biker Information Guide and for that reason alone Kelly, Jim and I will continue to do what Kimmy loved doing. I’ve worked with Kimmy for over 12 years and there was never a better friend. I will truly miss her." Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
ReplyDeleteThis is a terrible accident. But chances are it was just that: an accident. I am not a biker, so there's that, but I understand neither Chapman nor Tapp were wearing a helmet. You guys fight for that right all the time. There are consequences to such choices. And as for being outraged that the Nissan driver will not be charged, unless there was alcohol involved or some similar "reckless" choice on the driver's part, this was an accident. I know you cannot fathom this, but it is very difficult to see a motorcyle coming directly at you in the opposite lane. The profile is very slim and blends in with anything in the background. Headlights help, but are rarely used in the daylight by bikers I see on the road.
ReplyDeleteUm SORRY TONY???? Our headlights are on AUTOMATICALLY every time we start our bikes! How can you say they are "rarely used in the daylight"? Glad you pointed out that you are not a biker since that's painfully obvious.
ReplyDeleteThere wouldn't be a need for helmets if the driver hadn't of broken the law and cut in front of them. Ever think of that?
Sorry but your comment here about the headlights especially reminds me of the old saying that says "It's better to have people think you are stupid then to open your mouth and dispel all doubts"
I noticed that AZfamily.com article that was quick to point out that neither rider was wearing a helmet before the statement about no charges being filed. In states where there is a vehiclular manslaughter charge, it would be a different story. BTW, a helmet would not have stopped them from being run over by the car. Mark Tapp "did not suffer any head trauma." !! His injuries are a broken pelvis, a broken leg.
ReplyDeleteHere are some comments that I've received on Facebook: "I see AZ is like Tx. It is ok to kill a biker. But if you do kill a biker and you have been drinking you get the book thrown at you. Not for killing the biker but for drinking. These jerks that violate our right of way need to pay. My condolenses to the family and friends"...."In WI if you pull out in front of or left turn and kill a biker and get charged its a $178.00 ticket unless your drunk or high. But God forgive you if you hit a bicycle rider,then its an average of two years in prison.even if its their fault. Some things got to change not only here but nationwide." .... NOTE: Lets honor kimmy and get vehicular manslaughter legislation passed in the AZ legislature. Dukane Abate is working hard for it. Lets all join forces. It starts in the courts. We are not organ donors we are strong group that needs to remember all the work it took by those before us and rise up to this challenge.... ALSO: I guess someone needs to show the authorities the defination of the word negligence...Rick Henry: See what I wrote to Gov Brewer. Be polite but to the point. Use this page to contact the governor: http://www.azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp
ReplyDeleteThere will be a memorial tribute to "Celebrate the Life of Kimmy Chapman" at 1pm Sunday at WestWorld - during the 15th Arizona Bike Week. And there are efforts underway to establish the "Kimmy Law" that would make it a felony with mandatory jail time when something like this happens.
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ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful person Kimmy must have been just by reading all the comments of the people who had the privilege of knowing her. I did not have that opportunity but the biker community is like a huge family and my condolences to Kimmy's family and to Mark's. I pray for Mark's recovery because his recovery will not only be physical but emotional as well. This accident is almost an exact carbon copy of an accident almost a year ago involving some friends of ours from Owensboro. And a message to Tony...... why don't you run a long because you obviously are completely clueless about many things which AZLadyRider pointed out.... How about you just B-Gone from this comments section.
ReplyDeleteTony said...
ReplyDeleteThis is a terrible accident. But chances are it was just that: an accident. I am not a biker, so there's that, but I understand neither Chapman nor Tapp were wearing a helmet. You guys fight for that right all the time. There are consequences to such choices. And as for being outraged that the Nissan driver will not be charged, unless there was alcohol involved or some similar "reckless" choice on the driver's part, this was an accident. I know you cannot fathom this, but it is very difficult to see a motorcyle coming directly at you in the opposite lane. The profile is very slim and blends in with anything in the background. Headlights help, but are rarely used in the daylight by bikers I see on the road.
Obviously, Tony has his head up his ass because this is in no way just an accident it is a blatant infringement of the motorcyclist right of way. People that do not observe the rights of motorcyclist as well as other drivers should be fined and in the case of this where the driver fatally injured there should be prison time perhaps with more consequences people will begin to WATCH FOR MOTORCYCLES
How can you not yield the right of way, Cause a fatal accident, and NOT BE CHARGED with ANYTHING??? That just doesn't make sense??? and as for Tony's comments it's obvious he doesn't have a clue what he's talking about!!! Headlights automatically come on everytime you start a bike ( and its the law) AND To discount it as "Just an accident" is outragious!! It was a failure to yield the right of way! (which is an offense) Kimmy will be missed
ReplyDeleteLook, I AM a biker and I also drive a car, if I should cause an accident and kill a motrocyclist, I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO JAIL! Are you people fucking stupid? If you cause an accident, BECAUSE YOU'RE A HUMAN and therefore susceptible to make mistakes, you think prison(where we keep murderers, theives and rapists) is the place for them? They're called accidents for a reason. Even if you're at fault, it was a split second error in judgement that caused it. I'd be willing to be my life, that no one who ever caused a fatal accident (while unimpared) MEANT to do kill anyone. And as much as it sucks to lose someone in an accident, its still just that, as accident. There are an awful lot of people on the road driving and we bound to smack into one another and if you're on a bike, you have less protection, IF YOU THINK YOU NEED TO PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL FOR IT, what if that was your mother who made that wront turn at the wrong time and killed your best friend. Put her in jail right? You're idiots!
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ReplyDelete...Furthermore, I see something that annoys me every day in my car and on my bike... its people who don't look both ways. You should have been taught to look both ways before crossing a street at some time in your life. Why should it be different in a motor vehicle? Next time you're at a red light and it turns green, look both ways before entering the intersection!
ReplyDeleteThen next time you're in an intersection and you're the second car in line and the light turns green, WATCH THE ZOMBIE IN FRONT OF YOU *not* look in either direction. They will enter the intersection blindly because a light changed color indicating their turn to press the accelerator.
Look both ways before entering an intersection while moving OR from a stop and you will save lives and probably the one you save will be your own!