Reader comments
Cyclist in rage incident dies

All you littering smokers. . . | 10:24 a.m. Sept. 12, 2008

Please learn to use the ash trays in your cars. Yes, cigarette butts ARE litter.

rattler | 10:39 a.m. Sept. 12, 2008

It's very offensive to smell the smoke from a cigarette, dangerous to breath the second-hand smoke, and sickening to see someone throw a cigarette butt on the ground like it's their right. You smokers who behave so ignorantly are making it easier for the rest of us to back laws that are even more restricting.
I feel sad for the family of the man who lost his life in this incident. I too have been enraged on a few occasions when someone casually tosses their butt out the window.

All you road ragers... | 10:43 a.m. Sept. 12, 2008

Yes... throwing your cigarette butts out the window is littering but I'm more concerned with all the road rage going on out there.

Comments continue below

Aaron: Moto Head in PC | 10:51 a.m. Sept. 12, 2008

Don't litter. Share the road. Wear your safety gear. Calm down and think twice before entering an aggressive situation. It's all pretty simple, easy stuff that can make a huge difference. We are all human. This was an unfortunate but TOTALLY avoidable situation. All you Harley guys that keep telling me helmets only make a difference between an open and closed casket funeral need to read this story.

WOW | 11:01 a.m. Sept. 12, 2008

The previous comments make is sound as though the woman was responsible for Rakes' death. After all what options did he have? How about noting her license number and filing a complaint at the prosecutor's office?

Her crime? littering. Rakes chose to drive along side her in a left turn lane and yell at her. Not only was it dangerous, he had his son on board. Most law-enforcement officers would say this is reckless driving and would have cited him if they had observed it. Horrible that he died. Really good his son did not. Please don't justify Rakes' outrageous actions because somebody else littered.

Concerned | 11:02 a.m. Sept. 12, 2008

Someone else breaking the law (in this case littering) is no excuse for you to become enraged and endager your child. The woman driving the Mazda is in no way to blane for this accident. I become more "enraged" on the road when I see people on their cell phones or arguing with their van's full of children. This doesn't mean that they are responsible if I let my anger cause an accident.

Anonymous | 11:12 a.m. Sept. 12, 2008

I detest smokers too, but I can see how she could feel threatened by his rage. Too bad he died and his family had to witness this horrific incident. I hope she isn't charged with anything more than littering. After all, it sounds like witness accounts say she wasn't threatening him.

Anonymous | 11:14 a.m. Sept. 12, 2008

WHAAATTTT???? There are smokers in Centerville? I thought that Zion didn't have anything like that, or people who got angry. Man the way people let their tiny kids wander, I thought nothing bad could ever happen here.

Stupid | 11:19 a.m. Sept. 12, 2008

The bottom line here isn't that the driver of the black Mazda threw her butt out the window and littered, (its a minor thing even though it shows no class) its the fact that there are too many stupid people on the road. As much as I feel sorry for the family, it is the individual responsible of the vehicle to drive safely! With as many crazy people behind the wheel the best way to protect yourself and others is to drive defensively. This will not stop all accidents but can help prevent them. In all the places I've lived, I've never seen as many stupid people driving as I've seen here. This accident in particular could have been avoided in two ways.. The lady using her ash tray in the car or the man using common sense by ignoring his anger and driving sensibly to his destination. I don't even want to mention the fear his son must have gone through during this accident.. He was forced into that situation by his fater.

po'd motorcyclist | 11:29 a.m. Sept. 12, 2008

I have had cigarette butts hit the face shield on my helmet. Thank heaven it was closed or I might have crashed also. There are ash trays in cars for a reason. Before you flip that next butt out the window think how good it would feel to be sweating inside a helmet on a 95 degree day and have the cherry from a cigarette get stuck between your skin and helmet FUN HUH. I'm an ex-smoker and get really ticked off when I see people throw butts out the window. Not only because I ride but after all else WE LIVE IN A DESERT HERE fires people.

Anonymous | 12:02 p.m. Sept. 12, 2008

Its very sad that he died. Its very stupid that he chased her.

Anonymous | 1:15 p.m. Sept. 12, 2008

Quite frankly, I am very disappointed in the insipid and callous comments posted here. Michael Rakes; family are my neighbors and wonderful friends. Maybe you would not have done the same in his position or that of the car's driver, but I have wonder if you've ever heard of respect for the dead. What's done is done and could be argued about for years, but the truth of it is his family is heartbroken. Have some human compassion and empathy. Loss of life is never something to be taken lightly. Find something more worthwhile to do with your time than to debate on his actions rather than mourn with his family.

She threw a butt at him... | 2:22 p.m. Sept. 12, 2008

Now throw her butt in jail.

Another rider | 2:23 p.m. Sept. 12, 2008

Sure no one likes having cigarettes thrown in their general direction but intentionally endangering the life of a child, especially your own just because someone annoyed you is just insane. I don't feel sorry for the fool who got himself killed over that. I feel horrible for his wife who had to witness it and his young son who had to endure it. But mostly I feel sorry for the driver of the Mazda. I know Kris Prinster and know that she must be going through hell right now knowing this man died. All evidence suggests that he was entirely in the wrong (her LITTERING aside) and now so many others have to suffer for his mistakes.
Hopefully, other Riders and Drivers, smokers and non will take this as a lesson learned.

put a Helmet on Soldier | 4:10 p.m. Sept. 12, 2008

So it is illegal to litter but even though it may not be illegal not to wear a helmet it should be, if he was smart enough to put one on his kid he should have been smart enough to wear one himself, Its too bad his temper caused him to loose his life, his family will have to live with that.... What a Sad deal all the way around....

rattler | 6:36 p.m. Sept. 12, 2008

I feel terrible for the Rakes family and I realize that Kris Prinster must also be suffering. I think both parties were wrong and I hope that people will learn to control their anger better on the roads; me included. I also hope that people who throw their butts (or any litter for that matter) out the window will learn that it makes other people angry.

to she threw a butt at him | 8:59 p.m. Sept. 12, 2008

reread the story, it said that the butt was not thrown at anyone nor did it hit anyone either.

Sarah | 11:37 p.m. Sept. 12, 2008

No one has the right to take the law into their own hands (except for when and as the law permits). And "road rage" is never ever an appropriate response! This man risked the life of his own child while trying to retaliate against someone who "littered". Not only was his response "over-the-top", but they "endangered" the life of his child. Fortunately, he only managed to kill himself and not any other innocent victim. Yes, I am sorry he is dead but he brought this upon himself and he chose to do it in the presence of his innocent family. He alone is responsible for this tragedy.

BTW, as for "respect for the dead", if that means sweeping this man's wrong actions under the carpet, no thank you. We need to use this man's death as a warning to all others who may experience "road rage" and desire to take the law into their own hands. If your anger gets out-of-control, then seek anger management...before it is too late! Or you too could end up dead!!!

Road rage? | 6:12 p.m. Sept. 13, 2008

Calling this "road rage" is a mischaracterization. I admire Mr Rakes for caring so deeply about his community and the environment that he would act to call attention to a citizen who trashes it. Flicking a cigarette butt is not simply "littering," frankly it's a piggish action. I hope she gets a ticket for "littering" because most cars are equipped with ashtrays. Unfortunately the victim used poor judgment and this resulted in a tragic accident. But my sense is that he's a good man who cares enough to be hurt by selfish pigs who don't want to get their car dirty but care nothing about the environment. She should feel guilt but that's not likely.

Anonymous | 9:25 a.m. Sept. 14, 2008

To "Another Rider",
Not sure where you got your information. From what I have read and from Mike's family, she swerved to hit him. Get your facts straight! That doesn't justify "why" Mike was there in the first place.
Things happen fast on a motorcycle. I have also reacted to stupid people while riding, only to think about it later and realize I was in the wrong for reacting at all. Mike was trying to right a wrong. Yes, he probably handled it the wrong way and it cost him his life and took him from his family.
We don't know the whole story, so nobody should be condemning anybody about what happened without the facts.
I knew Mike and know that he had great motorcycle skills and was a nice guy.

To Mike's family: My condolences for your lose of a great husband and father. He will be missed greatly.

Julie | 12:10 p.m. Sept. 15, 2008

I am shocked that people can be so cold in this situation. God help those people, that they should never feel or know the pain, that this family and poor little boy are going thru right now. As if any of these OPINIONS will do any good right now!

Cheryl | 7:23 p.m. Sept. 18, 2008

My cousin is gone and I read all these things saying what if. It was words being shouted not weapons. How can someone justify an SUV vs a motorcyle. Why would she be so scared if a man has his a boy on the back of the motorcyle. Her brother was in the car. What pain could she be possible going through. Mike was a good man and a good father. I loved him and those who knew him loved him also.Now he is gone. Lesson learned. What lesson? That a SUV is going to win over a motorcyle. Why would she think he could hurt her inside a car traveling down the road. It was words. Not a weapon. Mike we will miss you and your laughter and your smiling and thoughtfulness for others. Your children and wife will miss you. CJ

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