Thief takes custom-made bike made for double amputee veteran

UPDATE
Double-amputee vet's bike found two days after it was stolen

Thief takes custom-made bike made for double amputee veteran
NBC News
By Elisha Fieldstadt
June 26, 2013

Tiffini Skuce

Matt Dewitt's mountain bike was custom-made for him by the Ride 2 Recovery organization.
Dewitt lost both of his arms while serving in the Army in Afghanistan.

A bicycle that was custom-made for a wounded U.S Army veteran was callously stolen in Alaska on Monday night — along with the bikes of four other vets who were in a challenge with an organization that helps service members recover from war injuries through bike riding, a representative for the organization said.

California-based "Ride 2 Recovery" has given out over 5,000 bikes for returning soldiers to ride in their everyday lives but also holds “challenge” trips for members all over the world. Often, these trips include a few days of rides, upwards of 70 miles each. A group of 50 rode one of three challenges in Anchorage on Monday, said Alison Valenziano, R2R's director for administration operations.
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War-zone accidents down; off-duty wrecks rise

War-zone accidents down; off-duty wrecks rise


By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Nov 29, 2008 7:15:20 EST

Fatal accidents in the war zone declined sharply and claimed fewer soldiers’ lives in fiscal 2008, but the number of soldiers dying in off-duty accidents back home continues to creep up.

Motorcycle accidents once again top the list of off-duty killers, followed by accidents in sedans and other privately owned vehicles, according to data compiled by the Combat Readiness/Safety Center at Fort Rucker, Ala.

Of the 130 soldiers who died in privately owned vehicle accidents in fiscal 2008, 48 were in sedans, compared with 38 last year, and 51 were on motorcycles, up from 38 in fiscal 2007.

Sport bikes — lighter, more powerful motorcycles that accelerate faster and cost less than heavier cruisers — are the most popular motorcycles among soldiers, according to Army safety experts.

Of the 51 motorcycle accident fatalities, 37 occurred on sport bikes, compared with 29 in fiscal 2007.

Soldiers receive free basic and experienced rider courses through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and dozens of rider mentorship courses have sprung up across the Army. A new sport-bike course was launched May 30 and motorcycle simulators are being installed at several posts.
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Marine motorcycle deaths top their Iraq combat fatalities

picture from Sportbike.net

Marine motorcycle deaths top their Iraq combat fatalities
Story Highlights
25 Marines killed on motorcycles in past 12 months, compared with 20 killed in Iraq

Top Marine official: "The Marines are very serious about" addressing problem

All but one of the deaths have involved super-fast sport bikes

Marines have recently implemented a mandatory sport-bike course

From Larry Shaughnessy
CNN Pentagon Producer

About 18,000 of the nearly 200,000 Marines are believed to own motorcycles, Amos said.

QUANTICO, Virginia (CNN) -- Motorcycle accidents have killed more Marines in the past 12 months than enemy fire in Iraq, a rate that's so alarming it has prompted top brass to call a meeting to address the issue, officials say. Twenty-five Marines have died in motorcycle crashes since last November -- all but one of them involving sport bikes that can reach speeds of well over 100 mph, according to Marine officials. In that same period, 20 Marines have been killed in action in Iraq.

The 25 deaths are the highest motorcycle death toll ever for the Marine Corps.

Gen. James Amos, the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, told CNN that commanders are trying to drill down on what "we need to do to help our Marines survive on these sport bikes."

"The Marines are very serious about it," he said.
Watch these aren't your father's Harleys »
Marine Gunnery Sgt. Art Tucker knows all too well about the dangers of sport bikes. An owner of a Kawasaki Ninja, Tucker has had two crashes, and the second one nearly killed him.
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http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/30/marine.motorcycles/index.html