Austin Medics See Uptick In Motorcycle Accidents Amid ROT Rally

AUSTIN, TX — With the Republic of Texas bike rally in town for their annual meet-up — a gathering of thousands of motorcyclists from all over the world getting together for bonding, camaraderie, music and fun — there is one inevitability: There will be traffic accidents.

Indeed, there have been.

The second day of the four-day event has resulted in six incidents so far, resulting in eight patients, according to Austin-Travis County EMS medics who keep a running tally of ROT-rally-originated emergencies each year of the congregation. Of those eight patients so far, seven required transport to the hospital, medics said.

By day three on Sunday, June 9, medics reported another half-dozen incidents requiring their attention that resulted in seven patients and six hospital transports.

One incident alone accounted for half of the patients requiring medical attention. On Friday night, four motorcycles with two people on each bike crashed into each other at the 7800 block of Decker Lane, near the Travis County Expo Center — the epicenter of the ROT rally. Three of the four people involved required hospitalization, including a woman in her 50s who suffered critical, life-threatening injuries, medics said.

The incident occurred along the 7800 block of Decker Lane, medics said. In addition to the critically injured woman, one man sustained serious injuries; another woman had minor injuries; a second man was treated at the scene.

Early Saturday, another major incident was reported in Northeast Austin along the 7400 block of Cameron Drive where another biker in his 60s was hospitalized with potentially life-threatening injuries. The seasoned biker was injured after a crash involving a car, according to information provided by medics.

In the early hours on Sunday, yet another incident on Decker Lane — near the Travis County Expo Center — occurred. A man in his 50s sustained critical, life-threatening injuries along the 7400 block of Decker Lane, requiring hospitalization at the Dell Seton Medical Center, after being hit by a car. The incident occurred just after 3 a.m. on Sunday.

The city braces itself each year for the huge gathering, shutting down 50 downtown city blocks to accommodate the throngs. Natives and visitors alike not up on ROT-time protocol learn the hard way that parking along Congress Avenue is not allowed along the key artery (again, to accommodate ROT rally participants), faced with the realization their cars have been towed for violating this seasonal rule.

Given crowds, 6th Street is normally closed to traffic on weekends but ROT attendees are allowed a skinny lane all their own to get to and fro between venues.

The final tally for last year's version of the event was grim: Fourteen motorcycle crashes, seven hospitalized, one death and 166 DWI arrests. The fatality last year occurred on a Saturday along FM 973 in eastern Travis County, resulting when a motorcycle crashed with a pickup truck. The collision left Raul Diaz Jr., 28, dead. His pregnant passenger was critically injured, and she lost her unborn child as a result. The truck's driver was arrested for intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault, law enforcement officials said at the time.

Still, the tally of casualties is far less than past years. According to records, ten people died on bikes in and around Austin during the ROT rally from 2010 to 2013—half of those deaths in 2012 alone. One ROT organizer attributed the drop to enhanced safety awareness campaigns in tandem with the law enforcement agencies.

The four-day ROT Rally, as it's known in the nomenclature, is the largest motorcycle rally in Texas, and the largest turnstile (ticketed admission) bike rally in the U.S. The lion's share of participants roll into town on Harley-Davidson bikes, but motorcyclists of all stripes and brand preferences are welcome. Some participants arrive in motor homes to stay on the premises in lieu of traditional lodging for the event that runs from June 7-10.

ROT rally participants' bikes lined up in front of Bikini's on 6th Street, a popular downtown sports bar.

An annual gathering since 1995, the gathering has lured as many as 35,000 paying attendees to the event grounds, and officials estimate the Friday night street party/bike parade in downtown Austin draws as many as 200,000 spectators. This year's music headliners include Texas-based band ZZ Top and Shooter Jennings, but in past years performers have run the gamut from the iconic (Willie Nelson) to the notorious (Ted Nugent).

While a logistical nightmare for downtown motorists, challenging enforcement period for police and taxing weekend for medics, the convention is also a big money maker for the city. One of the largest annual tourist events in Central Texas, the rally generates an economic impact of up to $35 million each year given its massive scale, according to some estimates.

Merchants along 6th Street put out the welcome mat — and signage to capitalize on ROT rally crowds.

Money's being made in towing fees as well. Towing trucks were out in full force Saturday afternoon, hauling off vehicles of motorists who failed to heed the no-parking decree to accommodate the convention or who were unaware of the bolstered parking enforcement measures.

Cars being towed downtown, where parking is banned between 5th and 7th streets for ROT rally.

In a wide downtown expanse, it was easy pickings for tow truck operators, like shooting fish in the proverbial barrel. Given steep impounding fees to secure their cars, many motorists will have ended the weekend with the unplanned expense of fees.

Related stories:

Huge Biker Rally To Close 50 City Blocks In Downtown Austin

ROT Tally: 4 Bike Crashes, 7 Hospitalized, 1 Death, 166 DWIs

Which brings us to the other inevitability stemming from the annual wheeled convention: Traffic issues. Residents are highly urged to be vigilant for the bolstered presence of motorcyclists on the road given the arrival of the ROT rally. Until Sunday, the roads will be shared with motorcyclists exponentially more than usual, and drivers should be extra watchful for them to avoid collisions.

Unfortunately, there will more than likely be more incidents involving motorcycles before the gathering rolls out of town on Sunday. In the meantime, vigilance and precaution from both perspectives — bikers and conventional vehicle drivers — are highly urged.

With alertness (and, it goes without saying, an absence of blood alcohol content when driving), accidents and potential tragedy can be averted. While judiciously updating their emergency tally, medics said it best: "Have fun, but be safe!"

Motorists are urged to heed the advice. And it goes without saying: Don't drink and drive. Fun, even when safely conducted, is still fun after all.

>>> Photos by Tony Cantú