IT WAS MAY 31, 1980 -  MOTORCYCLISTS FROM THROUGHOUT THE REGION CONVERGED ON DOWNTOWN BRISTOL AND THE POLICE/COURT COMPLEX. THERE TO PROTEST WHAT THEY CONSIDERED CORRUPTION CONCERNING A FATAL M/V ACCIDENT INVOLVING STATE LAWMAKER ANDY GRANDE AND MOTORCYCLIST THOMAS SWINGLE 24, OF BRISTOL.  SWINGLE WAS SOUTH ON MIDDLE ST WHEN GRANDE PULLED ONTO MIDDLE FROM A PRIVATE DRIVE IN FRONT OF SWINGLE AND THE TWO COLLIDED.  PTLMN. JOEL CHARETTE INVESTIGATED THE ACCIDENT AND THE CONCLUSION REACHED IN HIS 48 PAGE REPORT WAS THAT GRANDE FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY THUS CAUSING THE ACCIDENT THROUGH NEGLIGENCE. THE STATE'S ATTORNEYS OFFICE IN BRISTOL DID NOT FILE CHARGES AGAINST GRANDE.

HERE ARE SOME VARIOUS STREET SCENE PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DICK ROSS ON DUTY THAT DAY, ALONG WITH SOME COLOR PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MARK REDMAN, THEN WITH THE BRISTOL FIRE DEPT AND VARIOUS OTHER SOURCES AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE