Brief by Central Staff
Local Events – May 2005 – Colorado Central Magazine
Expect to see a lot of motorcycles around Salida this summer. The Rocky Mountain Iron rally is scheduled for July 1-5 at the Chaffee County Fairgrounds, and this month will bring us the Fallen Bikers Memorial Day Rally, May 27-30, also at the fairgrounds next to Poncha Springs.
FBMDR is planned, in part, to make auto drivers more aware of cyclists, and as a protest against the judicial system in New Mexico. On that account, cyclists are being asked to boycott the Red River (N.M.) Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally and come to Chaffee County instead.
Why? It starts with two tragic deaths at last year’s Red River Rally. Leslie “Dancer” Walker was with passenger Kathleen Pullara, and Timothy Serles was with his wife, Jennifer. They cycled off after attending the day’s events on May 30.
They were then hit head-on by a pickup in the wrong lane driven by 15-year-old Gerald Bailon of Questa, N.M. Walker died at the scene. Tim Serles died several days later. Both women sustained severe injuries requiring extensive treatment and rehabilitation, and one lost part of one leg.
Bailon was initially charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in children’s court, and District Attorney Donald Gallegos petitioned the court for Bailon to receive counseling and no other punishment – his driving permit was not even suspended.
The two survivors say that they were not contacted until five months later, and that was after repeated calls to the governor’s office, for witness statements. FBMDR asks “Why were no charges filed against him [Bailon] for the serious injuries and permanent disabilities inflicted upon the surviving victims? Why have no charges been filed against Bailon’s guardians who allowed the use of their vehicle without adult accompaniment as required for a permit holder under New Mexico law? … In our view, the pursuit of justice in this matter has been at best grossly inadequate. The deceased and surviving victims deserve much better.”
Thus the call for a boycott of motorcycle events in Taos County, and the organization of a rally here to help raise money “to help fallen and injured motorcyclists” as well as to “focus the public’s attention on the light sentences handed to drivers who seriously injure or kill motorcyclists.”
For more information about the Memorial Day rally, which includes entertainment, look for posters or go to memorialdayrally.com; the July rally’s particulars are starting to appear on www.rockymountainiron.com
