In one of the most ironic news stories in decades, a 55-year-old New York man died on a group motorcycle ride to protest helmet laws. He was tossed over his handlebars and his head struck the pavement. His family said he wouldn’t have wanted to go out any other way. His final words suggest that he might have rather made it home alive.

Phil A. Contos woke up on July 2nd, 2011, in the house he had built with his own hands, his dog Buck by his side. He lived on 40 wooded acres in rural Williamstown, N.Y. He’d never owned a computer, but by the end of the day he would be one of the most viral memes in Internet history.

Contos was a truck driver by trade, and his pride and joy was his diesel 4WD tractor. But he also owned a 1978 Harley Davidson. During the summer of 2011 the bike was in pieces, mid-restoration. He knew there was a protest ride that afternoon, but didn’t plan to take part. When he and Buck stopped in to say hi to his friend Nick Chudyk, Chudyk insisted Contos come along and ride his spare bike: a 1983 Harley Superglide (Syracuse.com).

Contos said: “I can’t turn down a beautiful bike like that.”

Five hundred and fifty bikers showed up for the ride, organized by American Bikers Aimed Towards Education. ABATE says it urges all bikers to wear helmets, but is against the government requiring them by law. Its 11th annual 30-mile ride on Independence Day weekend was a protest against helmet laws, but many of the bikers chose to wear their helmets anyway. Not Contos.

Contos’ boot laces were flapping in the wind and got stuck in his motorcycle’s chain. He looked down to inspect the problem, and his laces came free. But when he looked back up, he was in trouble.

Contos had been riding over a blind rise. As he descended, he found the bikers ahead slowed down and bunched up because of a dead raccoon in the road. With a collision looming he hit his brakes. His rear wheel locked up and his motorcycle began to fishtail, the rear end sliding first to one side, then back to the other.

If you’re lucky, and know your bike well, you may be able to “low side” and lay a fishtailing bike on its side so it slides away ahead you. You still will slide to a stop on the pavement, but in proper riding gear a biker can survive. The first summer I was riding, I did exactly this after hydroplaning in the rain. Moto GP racers often walk away from this maneuver at 90 mph.

But despite Contos’ 30 years of riding experience, he “high sided” instead. This means he was flipped over his fishtailing motorcycle’s handlebars. He may have struck the bike on his way over. His head definitely struck the pavement. His head may or may not have also struck a guardrail.

At first, other riders didn’t deem it a deadly fall. Chudyk and company found Contos alive, a pulse in his temple. He was bleeding from his mouth, his nose, and even his ears. But it looked like he might pull through. By the time he reached the hospital, he was pronounced dead immediately.

The official cause was “blunt force injuries of the head and chest.”

When the story hit the news, its deep irony made it go absolutely viral. Both authorities and other protesters tried to capitalize on the publicity. State Trooper Jack Keller told ABC News, “The medical expert we discussed the case with who pronounced him deceased stated that he would’ve no doubt survived the accident had he been wearing a helmet.”

Phil Contos’ brother, Richard, argued that the crash would have killed the rider with or without a helmet. “His heart lining was punctured…He’d broken ribs and his shoulder. His chest was full of blood.”

Obviously Richard isn’t a medical professional. But his statement also goes against the entire dang point of the ride. Contos knew it was riskier to ride without a helmet, because a helmet will save your life in many types of minor crashes. In addition, a minor crash without a helmet can leave you able-bodied but brain dead. He chose to take this risk during that protest ride. Finally, the elder Contos said of Phil’s death, “He would have wanted it that way.”

How could Richard say this? He explained, “He’s a rebel…That’s what he felt like doing. He protested everything.” Other family members said of Phil, “His strongheadedness cost him a few opportunities in life.” They reveal that butting heads with management lost him multiple truck driving jobs.

Contos had complained to friends about government regulations, including helmet laws. He had ridden in helmet protests for decades, but friends say a chief draw was the excuse to feel some wind-through-your-hair freedom. He’d never joined ABATE. Joining an organization wasn’t his style anyway.

Perhaps riding a motorcycle through the Adirondacks without a helmet is a smidgen more fun than keeping your lid on. But if Contos had borrowed one of Chudyk’s helmets alongside the motorcycle, he might have made it home to Buck and his home in the woods. He might have finished his 1978 Harley’s restoration, and he might be riding it with his friends today.

If Contos had spent as much time discussing motorcycle safety with his friends as he spent discussing unfair regulations, he might have chosen safer boots. He might have left enough following room to survive an unexpected obstacle in the road. He might have taken his borrowed bike for a low-speed test ride to better prepare for the group ride.

Right before his final ride Contos said, “It’s a nice day. I just hope the ride doesn’t last too long. I want to get back to my land.” But he never made it home.

Chudyk never ever rode without a helmet, even before he watched his good friend die. Not even as a protest. Why? He said, “Statistics don’t lie.”

One final irony. This manner of fame would mortify Contos. Chudyk said, “If he’s looking down now, being the poster boy for helmet laws is making him sick to his stomach.”

I don’t doubt it’s true. Contos became the laughingstock of the Internet overnight. More people have mocked him in death than he likely ever met in life. He won the 2011 ‘Darwin Award’ for removing himself from the gene pool in spectacular fashion.

If Contos had chosen to wear a helmet, he wouldn’t have been mocked in death. He might be alive to steer the conversation on helmet laws. But he’s not. He chose freedom over survival. And he got his wish. Now he doesn’t get another one, ever again.