California motorcyclist sues Yukon Territory over road conditions in accident

By Jim Greene

Published on August 22, 2005

Philip Gable, in his filing before the Yukon Supreme Court, claims the Aug 8, 2004 crash of his Harley Davidson motorcycle was on the Alaska Highway was due to unstable road conditions and accuses the Department of Highways and Public Works of negligence for not upholding its responsibility to maintain safe roadways. He claims the condition of the road surface was a danger to the public.

Gable's suit says the road was impassable, consisting of large pieces of loose gravel that had not been packed for stability. The area in question was a signed construction zone, but the suit claims Gable passed through other identically signed construction areas without incident. The suit says the area could have been made safe for motorcycles during construction by placing steel plates or some similar protection over the affected areas.

Gable had to undergo knee replacement and other surgeries on his left leg, and claims in his suit to be permanently disabled by the injuries. He spent 16 days in the hospital as a result of the accident.

Gable's suit claims that immediately after his own accident, he saw two other motorcyclists crash in the same area.

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