UPDATED – June 25, 2018: After an examination of the Victory, Richard Porter’s insurance company declared it totaled and issued a settlement check. He used it as down payment on a 2018 Indian Chieftain, which is expects to pick up later this week.

WOODBURY, CT – It was a step-off accident on Saturday afternoon for Richard Porter of Fairfield, CT, who riding on Route 6 here when an elderly driver ran into him; leaving his 2016 Victory Gunner embedded in the front end of the driver’s car. “I just stepped off the bike and it was perfectly perpendicular to the road,” he said in a Messenger explanation to RIDE-CT & RIDE-NewEngland this morning.

Porter wasn’t hurt but the Victory sustained rear-end damage. “The fire department and wrecker crew had a heck of a time getting the bike out of the car,” reported Porter, who explained that he had come to a stop on Route 6 because of a function at an antique shop. People were crossing the highway and a car was pulling out.

“About 10 seconds later, I heard the screeching brakes and basically braced for impact,” he said. “The driver was a nice enough old timer. I don’t believe he was distracted. He just couldn’t react quickly enough.”

While Porter is OK, the Victory isn’t. “The bike definitely has its issues, although it runs. Doesn’t sound good. Guess it jarred the exhaust. Its got a wobble to it,” he said. An insurance adjuster will look at it later this week. If it ends up being totaled, it will be difficult to replace as Polaris is no longer making Victory motorcycles, only Indians.

It’s easy to understand how the accident happened and how there was nothing Porter could do. That’s why they call it an accident, but he added, “I always leave myself an escape route when I come up to a light or another known stopping point. I wasn’t expecting to be stopping for a car pulling out in front of me and people crossing the road. I will definitely be more prepared the next time.”

Porter posted pictures on the Facebook page of New England Riders on Saturday where it has already resulted in the creation of a meme:

Pictures courtesy of Richard Porter

– By Bud Wilkinson