Micheal Lee Shackelford -- RIP
Quote: Las Vegas Review JournalMotorcyclist who died in crash Tuesday identified
The man who died in a motorcycle accident Tuesday night has been identified by the Clark County coroner’s office.
Micheal Lee Shackelford, 41, was riding his Honda motorcycle on Silverado Ranch near Maryland Parkway around 5:30 p.m. at what Las Vegas police said was a high rate of speed according to evidence at the scene.
Full article at https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/motorcyclist-who-died-crash-tuesday-identified.
Not long after moving to Las Vegas, I heard through a few people that there was somebody with my same first and last name who worked at Bally Gaming as a slot machine software engineer. As someone who designs slot machines myself on a consultancy basis, this was quite a coincidence. He does reverse a couple letters in both his first and last name, compared to my spelling, however.
I met Michael at the Global Gaming Expo several years ago and continued to ask for him subsequent years. Once we saw each other at his office at Bally when I went to a meeting there.
Having seen Micheal only a few times, I can't say that I know him very well. He seemed like a very happy guy. I'm told through mutual friends he liked to party and live life in the fast lane (given how he died, I'm sorry for the pun). He remarked that he was sometimes mistaken for me, and usually by somebody angry at me. I think he got the worst of it after I published my slot machine rankings, and some people incorrectly thought he did it.
I have a picture of myself with Micheal somewhere. If I can find it; I'll post it.
Sorry to see him go, and at just the age of 41. He had a lot of great years to look forward to.
Quote: BuzzardSad for him and his family. Forgive me for asking, but was he wearing a helmet ?
I don't know. I think there is a helmet law in Nevada, so I would assume he probably did.
Didn't wanna hijack the thread. 41 and gone. And I'm still here at 73. Who said life was fair ? ? ?
It is very sad for someone to die at such a young age, and it should remind us all how fleeting life really is.
I actually only know one other Shackleford (not Michael, though), and he used to be a test engineer at GLI in Vegas.
Quote: CrystalMath
Here is a scan of his business card.
Quote: WizardI don't know. I think there is a helmet law in Nevada, so I would assume he probably did.
That's like assuming everyone drives the speed limit, 'cuz it's the law, but okay. Sad indeed nevertheless.
Quote: wudgedI'd say it's more in line with assuming everyone wears a seat belt.
Much better analogy...thanks.
Quote: wudgedI'd say it's more in line with assuming everyone wears a seat belt.
The police can't tell if you're wearing a seat belt unless you get pulled over, unlike riding a motorcycle without a helmet. Riding without a helmet is just asking to get a ticket if the police enforce that law. Knowing Las Vegas, they probably do. That is why I think it is safe to assume he was wearing one.
Quote:The Kia rotated as a result of the impact, and hit another vehicle that was leaving the parking lot, police said.
They make it sound like he hit the car hard enough to change its direction. Helmet won't do much if you hit something like a cruise missile.
Quote: rxwineThey make it sound like he hit the car hard enough to change its direction. Helmet won't do much if you hit something like a cruise missile.
Yup. He hit the Kia so hard that it collided with a second car. A helmet will help only so much.
Quote: WizardYup. He hit the Kia so hard that it collided with a second car. A helmet will help only so much.
I agree. But in many cases it does. I remember when they first put seat belts in cars in the 60's. And guys would ask, what if I run off the road, land in a creek upside down and drown because I can't get the seat belt undone ?
Anyway, he ill be missed by his family and friends. Gone at 41. Yesterday my Uncle Tom Bailey died at age 100. Hope Mom passed some of those longevity genes to me.
Quote: BuzzardI agree. But in many cases it does.
It does, but you really can't afford to take an impact much harder than a NFL player. Of course they get hit pretty hard, but generally not with concrete or steel.
Here is that picture of the two of us.
Rest in Peace - Mike of Bally's.
I am always extra cautious and courteous when someone on a motorbike is anywhere near my car when driving - blind spot, or when I wish to make a left turn.
I believe the majority of motorbike fatalities occur when a car driver makes a left "in front on the little guy" on a bike. It seems that oncoming traffic doesn't have the straight-through right-of-way if it's someone on a bike, and they turn right into him. Most other bike accidents are a "skid out survivable" instead of a head-on with a car like this.
Also, James Dean in his sports car suffered the same tragic type of accident.
Quote: paisielloFirst time I seen michael spelled micheal and not a spelling mistake.
Me too. Figures coming from a ShackELford.
Quote: paisielloFirst time I seen michael spelled micheal and not a spelling mistake.
There is actually a guy at my work with this same spelling of Micheal. Apparently it's an Irish spelling.
Quote: paisielloFirst time I seen michael spelled micheal and not a spelling mistake.
You guys don't watch enough sports. I am surprised someone over 40 had it spelled that way though.
My ex's sister and her g/f got killed on a motorcycle because a drunk without a license had already crashed his car beyond a hill. Although he did get 22 years for his 4th DUI and 2 counts of manslaughter, I can't help but think they may still be alive if they were in a car and wearing seat beats. RIP Micheal. :(
Quote: rxwineIs it my imagination or does he look a lot like Mission?
He sounds like he was a pretty cool guy, may he rest in peace. That said, I don't really see the resemblance.
Long story short be EXTRA careful when riding. Assume cars cannot see you coming even if you are in their rear view mirror.
Quote: djatcI used to ride motorcycles and probably never will again after all the close calls I've gotten into from my bad riding or other cars. I escaped death once when I took 2 vicodin and rode home on the highway. I slept for microseconds on the road and almost killed myself many times just in that one ride. An ER doc shouldn't be prescribing vicodin for headaches, and I shouldn't have taken it before operating a motorized vehicle. Looking back when I ran out of the medication I couldn't sleep and made my life hell until it flushed out of my system. Considering my low tolerance for drugs/alcohol (One drink gets me drunk, and tylenol is too strong for me sometimes) it was like getting a morphine shot. Luckily I escaped fate and probably took a few years off my life from this incident.
Long story short be EXTRA careful when riding. Assume cars cannot see you coming even if you are in their rear view mirror.
Closest I ever came to killing somebody was a guy on a crotch rocket. I was waiting for oncoming traffic on a narrow 2 lane road in order to make the left turn into my subdivision. There were 5 cars waiting behind me by the time I got to make the turn, because of the heavy oncoming traffic. I finally started my turn behind the last guy, and all I saw was a flash of yellow out of the left corner of my eye as I moved; it was a motorcycle riding the centerline who decided he could time it to pass our line of cars on the left before I made my turn, but he misjudged it. I slammed on the brakes as I caught the movement, and he laid it half over on his left as he veered around my bumper. He floored it at the same time (throttle on handlebar, I suppose, but still "floored" it) and his centrifugal force increased enough for him to stay on the bike as he rolled back upright out of the veer, then corrected back to the right before leaving the road. I couldn't believe he survived it; there were canal ditches on both sides and the road was extremely narrow.
I expect he's dead by now; that was several years ago, and someone who's willing to drive that badly on a vehicle that's going to lose in any collision won't be riding for long. Scared the bejeezus out of me; I could barely drive the last block home.
Quote: djatcI used to ride motorcycles and probably never will again after all the close calls I've gotten into from my bad riding or other cars. I escaped death once when I took 2 vicodin and rode home on the highway. I slept for microseconds on the road and almost killed myself many times just in that one ride. An ER doc shouldn't be prescribing vicodin for headaches, and I shouldn't have taken it before operating a motorized vehicle. Looking back when I ran out of the medication I couldn't sleep and made my life hell until it flushed out of my system. Considering my low tolerance for drugs/alcohol (One drink gets me drunk, and tylenol is too strong for me sometimes) it was like getting a morphine shot. Luckily I escaped fate and probably took a few years off my life from this incident.
Long story short be EXTRA careful when riding. Assume cars cannot see you coming even if you are in their rear view mirror.
It's shocking to me how cavalier doctors are with prescribing opiate pain medication. I had a hellacious withdrawal after just 10 days of oxy after my knee surgery.
When I ride a bicycle I ride facing traffic. I never ride a motorcycle. NEVER. Can't say how many times I have stopped from changing lanes when remember that motorcycle a few miles back and sure enough, he was in my blind spot.
However one day I was envious of a biker. Was on I70 west, just past Lakeside amusement park. I am driving west and this bike is riding towards me with sunset and mountains behind him. Has big plexiglass screen and he is rolling a joint at 70 MPH.
My definition of Super Cool
Quote: AcesAndEightsIt's shocking to me how cavalier doctors are with prescribing opiate pain medication.
When was this? They aren't doing it anymore, a doc will
prescribe heroin before you get Vicadin out of him these
days.
Quote: rxwineIs it my imagination or does he look a lot like Mission?
Uh, it's just your imagination. You may as well have posted a pic of Morgan Freeman because Mission doesn't resemble either of them.
in the pic, I can't decide which.
He often spoke about the "Wizard" and I even found one of your books as I was cleaning out his office. It is very sad to have lost him, and many peoples lives will never be the same. Indeed RIP my wonderful friend!
Quote: mkcvegasI felt compelled to join and provide a little insight into an amazing man, I have worked with Micheal for years at Bally, in fact we spent most of Tuesday together before he left work to head home. I knew his route well as a couple of times we would go by his house to grab something. He drove Maryland Parkway and made a left on Silverado Ranch. For those familiar with the area, the accident took place about 250 feet after he would have turned and the speed limit on that road is 45mph. It is a shame that the news is making it look like Micheal's fault, when a 62 year old woman cut him off and made a left in front of him because she did not see him coming. Yes, he wore a helmet and did all the right things in trying to lay the bike down to avoid the collision, but he was at the losing end on the motorcycle and it is heart breaking. He was the happiest man I know, sometimes irritatingly so. He leaves behind two young amazing daughters and a wonderful new wife. He loved his job and slot machines were his passion. He was intrigued with all aspects of the slots and what made players play what they did. And yes, he did like to party and have a good time, but he never did anything stupid like drink and drive. His wife and kids were everything and he knew that. But, he loved his motorcycle it was the one thing he could not give up.
He often spoke about the "Wizard" and I even found one of your books as I was cleaning out his office. It is very sad to have lost him, and many peoples lives will never be the same. Indeed RIP my wonderful friend!
Haven't known quite what to say about this post, mkc; I'm feeling slightly ashamed at my relief that it wasn't the Wizard, because your Micheal was a good person from everything you say, and you lost him well before his time. Please accept my condolences on the loss of your friend; may he live on in the lives his daughters build for themselves.
Quote: mkcvegasI felt compelled to join and provide a little insight into an amazing man, ...
Thank you for your heartfelt comments about Micheal. It is nice to see someone who knew him well contribute. The time I visited him in his office he seemed very deeply involved in his work. He was courteous to me, but I got the impression he was in a "zone" and didn't want to be taken out of it.
My apologies for the joking around that went on this this thread.
Quote: WizardMe too. Figures coming from a ShackELford.
A quote from Val Greenwood's The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy:
"The lack of standardized spelling and the use of phonetic spellings can be very sticky problems. If you go back just 100 years you will find a large percentage could not read, more still could not write (and many people were able to write only their own names), and even more could not spell. Most people who did write did not concern themselves particularly with so-called standardized spelling, but rather spelled words just as they sounded--phonetically--with local accents. Also realize that the early settlers of America were immigrants from many foreign lands. There were many accents, and when records were made the scribe wrote what he heard, accent and all."
Quote: mkcvegasHe was the happiest man I know, sometimes irritatingly so.
As fine an epitaph as a Man could receive from a friend.
Glad he was happy and no doubt very happy with the wind in his face until he left this veil of tears all too suddenly.
