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Fatal wreck shows that riders need to know their dirt bikes By Jessica Smith of the Mail Tribune A friend of an Eagle Point man says his death in a dirt bike crash was a "freak accident," but authorities say the incident shows the importance of trail and equipment familiarity. Glen L. Parker, 28, died Thursday afternoon after he ran his bike off a trail and hit a tree in Johns Peak, a wooded area that's popular with riders, according to a Jackson County Sheriff's Department report. Danny Brooks, a Medford man who was riding with Parker Thursday, said his friend was an experienced rider. "He'd been riding since he was in grade school. His experience had no effect on what happened. This was just a freak accident," Brooks said Saturday. However, Parker had recently bought the Kawasaki 250 dirt bike he was riding Thursday. Sheriff's deputies have said that may have contributed to the accident. "These things happen and usually people are just operating at a level above their experience," Sgt. John Atkins said. Those who deal with bikes say riders at any skill level need to be familiar with their own bike's power and its features. "You need to get to know the bike very well before you do any serious riding," said Kim Wentworth, a manager at Cycle Town in Medford, a company that sells dirt bikes and other recreation vehicles. "We really stress the importance of that ... because with dirt bikes, you're on your own." Motorcyclists are required to obtain licenses to operate their street bikes, and Wentworth said safety instruction is available for other types of recreation vehicles, such as snowmobiles. But there are no licensing requirements for dirt bike owners, and Wentworth said she knows of no safety classes offered locally. Wentworth, whose son races dirt bikes, said riders also can avoid accidents by riding on trails and tracks they know well. Johns Peak, a wooded area north of Jacksonville, has a wide variety of trails for all skill levels, Atkins said. However, the trails do not receive formal upkeep. "There have been occasional accidents there with four-wheelers, motorcycles and dirt bikes," he said. "But I wouldn't say it's overly common.' Brooks said he and Parker were riding in what appeared to be a natural wash with berms created by years of dirt bike use. Parker was killed after driving off the circuit. He apparently went over a berm and was thrown from his bike, hitting a tree about 25 feet away and breaking his neck. In March 1996, another experienced rider was paralyzed after he was thrown from a dirt bike he was riding in the area. Accidents are just that -- accidents -- but Atkins said riders should take care when they're on the trail. "Try and keep your senses about you and act in a manner where you're always thinking ahead," he said. It's also a good idea to ride in pairs or groups in the event someone is injured, Atkins and Wentworth said. Wentworth said she also advises riders to wear protective gear, which Parker was. He had a helmet and chest pad at the time of his death. "Glen was totally geared up ... he had every type of pad," Brooks said. "It was just his time. God was calling and he was obviously wanted somewhere else." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA