FHP investigates if 'death wobble' caused trooper's motorcycle crash

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A trooper, who was thrown from his motorcycle in a crash on State Road 417 on Friday, is still recovering from broken ribs and a punctured lung, officials said.
 
Witnesses said they noticed Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Jeff Williams' motorcycle start to wobble before he hit a pole and was thrown.
 
Channel 9 learned FHP is looking into whether the crash was a result of something known as the "death wobble" and accidents similar to it have happened all over the country.
 
Sources in the law enforcement community said most of them have experienced a wobble at high speeds from time to time.
 
Charles Paul, 30, from Raleigh, North Carolina, was thrown from his police issued motorcycle in 2002 and was killed. His family settled a wrongful death lawsuit in 2008.
 
In the same year, a former Orange County deputy who is in the middle of lawsuit claimed his accident was caused by a death wobble on his police-issued Harley Davidson.
 
Incidents like these have forced to California Highway patrol to no longer use bikes after tests showed them wobble around curves.
 
FHP would not discuss the wobble, but a spokesperson said anything could have cause the incident, including tire pressure.
 
Harley Davidson could not be reached for comment, but a mechanic for the bike, who asked not be identified, said a new part installed on the newer model helps prevent wobbling.

Cox Media Group