When you crash, you're not the only victim

I'm a cop. Fresh out of the academy and haven't grown bitter to the world yet. Yesterday afternoon I responded to my first motorcycle fatal.The rider and another bike were racing on one of the highways in my beat and took a turn too fast. The rider lost control and slammed into a guardrail, causing a compound fracture of his hip, and his right arm was dismembered and located approximately 25 yards from his body.I interviewed multiple witnesses, all saying the same thing. Two riders, weaving in and out of traffic, driving way too fast. Everyone I talked to got out of their cars and tried to help. The rider who wrecked was still alive when the witnesses tried to render aid. Still alive and clearly suffering with a hip outside of his body and an arm several yards away.This young man was wearing full gear, a nice jacket, boots and gloves (all of which had been flung from his body), and a very expensive helmet. It didn't make him invincible.I was thinking, damn, how fast could he have been going to do that to himself. The guy he was racing btw, just left. Never saw him.Then his family showed up. Mom and Dad. I wish, I truly wish that I could give enough detail into the pain and absolute anguish this man's father was going through. Myself and others had to restrain Mom and Dad from approaching their dead son. Tears, sobbing, wailing. Just an absolutely heartwrenching amount of pain I was witnessing in front of me. I will never, ever, forget this family showing up to the scene of their dead son and wanting nothing more than to hug him one last time. I wanted nothing more than to tell them their child did not suffer, but I couldn't bring myself to lie to them.The weather will be getting nicer here soon. More and more motorcyclists will be out on the road and wanting to push their skills and bike's limitations. Please, for your mother, father, family, and/or friends, do NOT make them go through something like what I witnessed yesterday. If you don't make it, you've left a gap in a loved-one's life that will never be filled.Slow down, drive safe, drive smart. via /r/motorcycles https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/fomdht/when_you_crash_youre_not_the_only_victim/?utm_source=ifttt