miljeep
05-28-2008, 18:32
I did not know him personally, but he is an MP in the MDW area and I will be attending the Memorial Service on Monday at Fort Myer.
http://www.mdw.army.mil/content/articlefiles/2026-Finish.jpg
According to the news story he had "death wobble" and his bike went off the side of the road and over and embankment.
Here is the news story:
ARLINGTON, Va. -- Authorities recovered the body of a motorcyclist who drove off the George Washington Memorial Parkway near Arlington on Monday night.
U.S. Park Police Sgt. Robert Lachance said the biker's body was found at about 6 a.m. on Tuesday in a wooded area lining the bank of the Potomac River. Police identified the biker as Nathan Townsend, 22, of Alexandria.
Townsend was riding with a friend Monday at about 6:15 p.m. when Townsend's front wheel started shaking and he lost control, the friend told police. The friend called 911.
Authorities found a blue sports bike on Monday night on the embankment between the roadway and the river. Crews searched for Townsend until about 11 p.m. Monday, but couldn't find him. They suspended their search until Tuesday morning because of safety concerns.
The rough terrain made locating Townsend difficult, police said. His body was found more than 50 feet down a slope, covered by dense brush. It was about 20 feet from where his bike was found. Members of an Army search team rappelled down a slope shoulder to shoulder in a "line search" to find him.
"It's very difficult terrain to search," Lachance said. "It's a very steep embankment to start with. It's heavy on the brush, thick foliage. It just makes it very difficult. You have to rappel down there with ropes to stay safe."
Townsend's friend and some people who were passing by searched for Townsend immediately after the crash, but they could not find him.
The Military District of Washington confirmed that Townsend is a member of the Old Guard 289th Military Police Company based out of Fort Myer in Arlington.
The Old Guard performs a variety of high-profile duties, including escorting the president and guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, News4's Megan McGrath reported.
Sources told News4 Townsend was originally from Tennessee and that he was married and lived in Alexandria.
Northbound lanes of the parkway were closed Tuesday morning while police investigated. They were reopened at about 9:30 a.m.
http://www.mdw.army.mil/content/articlefiles/2026-Finish.jpg
According to the news story he had "death wobble" and his bike went off the side of the road and over and embankment.
Here is the news story:
ARLINGTON, Va. -- Authorities recovered the body of a motorcyclist who drove off the George Washington Memorial Parkway near Arlington on Monday night.
U.S. Park Police Sgt. Robert Lachance said the biker's body was found at about 6 a.m. on Tuesday in a wooded area lining the bank of the Potomac River. Police identified the biker as Nathan Townsend, 22, of Alexandria.
Townsend was riding with a friend Monday at about 6:15 p.m. when Townsend's front wheel started shaking and he lost control, the friend told police. The friend called 911.
Authorities found a blue sports bike on Monday night on the embankment between the roadway and the river. Crews searched for Townsend until about 11 p.m. Monday, but couldn't find him. They suspended their search until Tuesday morning because of safety concerns.
The rough terrain made locating Townsend difficult, police said. His body was found more than 50 feet down a slope, covered by dense brush. It was about 20 feet from where his bike was found. Members of an Army search team rappelled down a slope shoulder to shoulder in a "line search" to find him.
"It's very difficult terrain to search," Lachance said. "It's a very steep embankment to start with. It's heavy on the brush, thick foliage. It just makes it very difficult. You have to rappel down there with ropes to stay safe."
Townsend's friend and some people who were passing by searched for Townsend immediately after the crash, but they could not find him.
The Military District of Washington confirmed that Townsend is a member of the Old Guard 289th Military Police Company based out of Fort Myer in Arlington.
The Old Guard performs a variety of high-profile duties, including escorting the president and guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, News4's Megan McGrath reported.
Sources told News4 Townsend was originally from Tennessee and that he was married and lived in Alexandria.
Northbound lanes of the parkway were closed Tuesday morning while police investigated. They were reopened at about 9:30 a.m.