Fort Hood Investigates Motorcyclist’s Death

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Reporter: By Matt Felder
Email Address: matt.felder@kwtx.com

31 comments

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(October 27, 2008)-- Fort Hood’s Criminal Investigation Division and Police are investigating the motorcycle accident that claimed the life of a civilian over the weekend.

The man, whose name was not released Monday, was riding the motorcycle at what authorities said was a high rate of speed around 2:30 a.m. Sunday on Ivy Mountain Road when he lost control of the bike.

The motorcycle shot off the east side of the road and struck a tree, Fort Hood said Monday.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: John on Nov 13, 2008 at 09:38 PM
Yes this was Travis Zweifelhofer, and yes he was in the Air Force. I served with him while he was at Luke AFB, and also went to Tech School together at NAS Pensacola Fl. I enjoyed his company, and I am sorry for his family. Please pray for his family and friends with me!

Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Oct 29, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Hey Ya - This is a forum for expressing opinions and speaking about the issues. Maybe a motorcycle rider who was previously riding recklessly will read them and change his habits. Maybe a car driver will read this and show more respect on the road. For those that wish to send condolences, they are welcome as well but dont start talking about restricting others rights just because you happened to know the person. Also, look up spell check.

Posted by: Carrie Location: Lampasas on Oct 29, 2008 at 09:01 AM
Anonymous, yes it was. I will be praying for the family and friends that knew him. So sorry for your loss.

Posted by: john Location: killeen on Oct 29, 2008 at 06:44 AM
well YA if we are all stupid why don't you educate us! so we can make an informed opinion

Posted by: none ya Location: Belton on Oct 29, 2008 at 06:31 AM
Ya: You are right! It should be to send condolencens to the family, not bicker back and forth! We may never know what really happened to bring an end to this young man's life, but we can all take a minute and say a prayer for his family in their time of loss! He was a GREAT person and will be missed dearly!

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 28, 2008 at 05:23 PM
Does anyone know if this was Travis? If so he was a member of our armed forces in the Air Force.

Posted by: ya Location: ft hood on Oct 28, 2008 at 05:09 PM
anyone that has posted any comments are stupid and know nothing about what happened i sure the comments are ment for you give your regrets to the family not give your oppion no one cares what you think

Posted by: Frank Location: CenTex on Oct 28, 2008 at 04:56 PM
To "bullcrap of killeen": there are some motorcylists who are in the minority who ruin the respectability of the normal average motorcycle rider. Personally, when I see these guys ride like FOOLS and intimidate people riding a vehicle with 4 wheels on the ground, it really gets to my blood pressure!...none of us riders can change them because I figure something is WRONG with their maturity. They know better, but are fools and don't care!...But bet assured, if I see one of them go down in flames; I will pull aside and be a character witness of who was at fault. As is simple as I can make it, motorcylists enjoy riding motorcyles and all those I know have a 4 wheeled vehicle as their primary mode to travel. Please don't condemn or stereotype all of us, because we have FOOLS riding in our midst. Thank you.

Posted by: ladyrider on Oct 28, 2008 at 03:48 PM
Bullcrap: I have nothing but respect for you. You are much bigger, and have much more protection. Surley there are motorcycle riders that ride like they are the only ones that matter. But not all riders act that way. I for one (believe it or not) never ride the speed limit, I ride well under, because I don't feel that I can ride safely at 70. And I know many many riders (not sportbikes) that ride the same way. Speed is not always the issue, I was talking about being pushed down the road, vehicles pulling out or turning in front of me when I have the right of way. You take my right of way, I get serouisly injured or worse. A motorcyle "on your butt" at a red light. That rider is beeing a jerk, but it is hardly going to injure you, is it Bullcrap?

Posted by: bullcrap Location: killeen on Oct 28, 2008 at 01:39 PM
Hey Ladyrider: What about you motorcycle riders that have no respect for the "other" drivers, you pass us doing 100 mph, and you are on our butts at red lights or stop signs, have some respect for us, and we will have it for you!

Posted by: John Location: Killeen on Oct 28, 2008 at 12:36 PM
It appears that everyone has a justification for this guy dying in a motorcycle wreck, .In most accident there are a series of mistakes made that lead to an end, usually bad. Break the chain of mistakes and prevent the accident, this is the root of the problem. No matter how much training,experience and or programs are put in place, until you change an individuals mind set ( doing the right thing and personal responsibility)this is the result. I agree with the fact that that motorcycles have a tough time on the mean streets of Killeen, but much is brought on themselvs by their own actions.

Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Oct 28, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Ladyrider. I am sorry if I was misunderstood. Your right, I dont ride but ALOT of my friends do. The main reason I dont ride one is due to the way motorcycles are treated on the road. Because I have so many friends that ride I am very aware when I see one and treat them with the same respect as I do any other vehicle. I was merely stating that I observe daily, motorcycle riders that drive way too aggresively, zipping between cars and speeding. And by speeding I mean passing cars already speeding. I didnt mean to disparage all motorcyclists.

Posted by: Mother of Three Location: Temple on Oct 28, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Ladyrider: it said he was traveling at a high rate of speed so that means he wasn't driving defensively. There are good drivers and bad drivers of EVERY type of vehicle. The rate of motorcycle deaths is increasing though, so they need to SLOW down. These stories should prove that it CAN happen to you. Prayers to the family in your loss.

Posted by: Lea Location: Copperas Cove on Oct 28, 2008 at 09:37 AM
I do know who this person was and he will be truly missed.He was struggling in his life and trying to go through many different obstacles. He still had a whole life to live and was finally doing something he enjoying which was racing.(not motorcycles) Not every accident is intentionally stupid. And knowing this person whom I used to work with..he was still very young and had a great heart!!!I will trully miss him!!So while everyone is goiong off on motorcycles,talking about soldiers...etc,think of his family and those who trully care that he is no longer with us!

Posted by: ladyrider on Oct 28, 2008 at 09:33 AM
Saying is all: It is very clear from your posts on every story that involves a motorcycle that you don't like motorcycles and their riders. Since, as you state, you do not own or ride one, you have no idea what is involved in riding a bike. Yet you seem to think you are in authority to judge how one should be driven. I do ride one, and let me tell you, the greatest danger to riders is other vehicles acting like we don't exist, cutting us off, tailgating us and trying to force us to go faster, or get off the road, which by the way is very dangerous to us, because if we run up on a dead animal or a blown tire, we have no where to go to avoid it. You run over it and feel a bump. We go down and possibly die. I do not know what happend in this accident any more than you. But I believe that there could be many other reasons for it besides the rider not driving defensively. Don't be so quit to judge when you don't have any facts. RIP brother

Posted by: Steve Location: Killeen on Oct 28, 2008 at 09:12 AM
Geez I thought all of the great new restriction Ft Hood has implemented to fix this mess was the cure all, classes, cards, reflective vests, helmets...Etc....Yeah whatever...

Posted by: Frank Location: CenTex on Oct 28, 2008 at 07:55 AM
Speaking as a seasoned motorcycle rider for over 30 years, I would say that there might be more to the story that we will never know. I ride those back roads in that area and will say that when I ride the speed limit, there are always SOME people in such a hurry that they want to drive right up on the motorcyclist and try to push them to go faster. Given the turns on that road and being past midnight, no one will know if the accident was caused by someone driving drunk and being stupid and wanting to mess with a motorcycle rider. There is not any enforcement of speed limits back there and there are a few drinking establishments near there in which their clients take the back roads...just follow the trail of beer cans on the side of the road.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 28, 2008 at 07:48 AM
He's not even a soldier. I wish people wouldn't always think that soldiers are the only ones who die, speed, etc.

Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Oct 28, 2008 at 07:19 AM
CID is involved because this is ANOTHER motorcycle death of a young soldier (or soldier period). When are these guys gonna start driving defensively? Did you buy that motorcycle to save gas money or to zip in and out and around traffic. Not a single day goes by that I dont see a motorcyclist, military AND civilian, drving dangerously. It is why I never got one. I know I would probably do the same.

Posted by: none ya Location: Belton on Oct 27, 2008 at 10:09 PM
I do know who this person was although they have not released the info yet and therefore I will not say. He will be truly missed! Please say a prayer for his family!

Posted by: Corey Location: Temple on Oct 27, 2008 at 07:46 PM
This is sad but why is it being looked into by the criminal investigation team? From what the story says he was just going to fast and lost control of his bike...well no matter, prayers are with the family. Its a terrible thing to lose a family member period, and even worse when it is accidents like this.

Posted by: Joe Location: Temple on Oct 27, 2008 at 01:24 PM
Hey anonymous, you are an idiot. They didn't release the name of the person involved so how do you know they were a Yankee from NYC or the east coast? Being an inexperienced motorcycle rider isn't related to where you are from.

Posted by: Concerned Location: Kempner on Oct 27, 2008 at 12:40 PM
TadK, I misunderstood where the accident occured. It sure is 50 mph on that road. There are a few curves that sneak up on you if you are unaware of them. I have seen those "donuts" also. Crazy stuff.....on top of it all, there are cattle roaming the area, thus the cattle guards on each end of the road! People really have to slow down and pay attention. RIP to the person who died. I hope people slow down and pay attention!

Posted by: john Location: killeen on Oct 27, 2008 at 09:23 AM
bottom line i drive that road every day there is a blaten disreguard for the posted speed limit 50 mph and by the way the speed around that curve is 30 mph, its also a no passing zone on the entire road, I get passed daily by motorcycles, cars,and pickup trucks pulling trailers, a little personal responsibility and some law enforcementgoes a long in preventing accidents. All preventable loss is a tradegdy, Still not a consolation for the family and friends.

Posted by: TadK Location: Killeen on Oct 27, 2008 at 08:22 AM
I drive that way alot. The posted speed limit is 50 mph. The only way to slow em down is speed bumps or Fort Hood close it off to traffic other than the military. The people just do not get it. I felt my life has been threatened several times when meeting the big gravity feed trucks driving like idiots. Go look at the road on the corner there is at least 25 donuts that a motorcycle left behind. I am sorry for the loss of life but it is a good thing no one else was injured.

Posted by: CONCERNED Location: Kempner on Oct 26, 2008 at 08:27 PM
We travel this way all the time to cut through to Killeen. At night, one of the fire hydrants is on cleanout mode. Sometimes the water moves so fast across that part of the road by the airport that we thought there must have been a water main break. I certainly hope that this is not the reason for the accident. That much water on the road has to be more dangerous with only 2 wheels going 60 mph (the posted speedlimit). Especially if you are new to the road and did not know that this area is sometimes very wet.

Posted by: GI Mike Location: In ur 'hood on Oct 26, 2008 at 06:59 PM
While, I am sorry for the loss of life. A young person lost their life due to their own actions, ( I believe). Know your limitations! R.I.P.

Posted by: Joh Location: Waco on Oct 26, 2008 at 06:54 PM
Oh my goodness,Ft.Hood again, ok let's get it together

Posted by: Jimmie Location: Temple on Oct 26, 2008 at 03:59 PM
I know that spot in the road. If a vehicle is westbound, because of the slope and right downward curve in the road, it's hard to stay in the lane if a driver is not watching their speed-and it doesn't take too much. I hope through the investigation one conclusion will be the need of warning signs for that road section. There are too many young GIs that come to this area that are not familar with the roads and don't slow down.

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