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AlaskaVX
06/24/2004, 11:37 AM
This is one of the saddest stories I have ever heard.......


Around 1:30 am, on September 30th last year, while heading home to my girlfriends after work, I had just gotten on the interstate 101, northbound from mcdowell, and after a quick spool up to cruising speed (@70 indicated) -I realized it was too cold to be out in without leathers, especially to make a 25+ mile trek north especially with plans to return later still (I was glad the temp gave call for them.) So, I stayed in the on/off lane but noted headlights closing rapidly from the ramp behind me and figured it must be a cop enroute to a scene. Having decided to roll down to the next exit, take a cruise to my home (about 3 miles away) to suit up and get back on the road, I stayed in about the rightmost third of the far right lane and took the Thomas exit as while rolling off the gas, I noticed that the vehicle closing on me was coming across 2 or 3 lanes and attempting to exit as well, looking over my left shoulder I saw it was no cop car. I was hit when a brown, beat-to-sh#@T, early '80's Nissan screamed by me, passing me on a one-lane interstate offramp and clipping my left barend. The bike leapt to the right about a foot, landed in a path parallel to my chosen and the front end went nuts, my hands were thrown off the controls and I scrambled desperately to get ahold of the bars. The rear brake affect was weak but I managed not to skid. In less than an instant, my life was forever changed. The exit veered left and I was airborne as the gravel-covered embankment built up for the roadway sloped away towards a concrete lined drainage canal 30+ feet wide and 10+ feet deep. Thankfully, I don't recall the next two seconds, but Highway Patrol recreationalists say the bikes front dug into the embankment and I was catapulted over 250ft bouncing through gravel and finally into the empty canal. Upon being shot over the bars, the right mirror; like a mellon-baller, took a 5"+ diameter, 3/4" deep super scoop out of my right leg, just outside the knee, gouging and exposing the cap and knuckle of both bones. My clothes were tattered, as was the flesh beneath. My boot sole was separated. Both wrists were shattered as were most fingers, some partially amputated, my ankles were disjointed and my backside deeply gouged. Numerous other open injuries occured and I came to rest in a half inch or so of fertilizer/waste/mud with a tiny trickle of farm field run off water where I lay unconscious for a brief time. Upon awakening, I stood and staggered about briefly, looking for the bike before discovering the mangled remains of my hands and seeing fingers broken off sideways and hanging by tendons. Looking down my left forearm, 8+ inches of the ulna were exposed, I could see through my left palm, and the right hand was about the same, tendons and bones visible up and down the length of the arm. My right hand was 90 degrees out of line with the wrist and arm bones, blood flowed everywhere. I muttered, then yelled; "you gotta be kidding me!! YOU'VE GOT TO BE ******* KIDDING ME!!!" unable to exit the canal I began yelling for help. An older, mexican-looking fellow appeared after a few minutes and shouted down at me to "get the hell outta there!!" I yelled at him to call for help. He left, I tried to cop a squat on my helmet, missed, and lapsed in and out of consciousness a few times before an ambulance crew showed up. The crew reported my condition to the pd enroute to St Joes and DPS (Highway) sent a fatality specialist to the scene. They tried to get my name and such, but I wouldn't shut up about the brown nissan p/u. I remember wanting someone to make a note of it, and became angy when being asked other, insignificant (to me) questions instead of making that point. DPS sent a cop to do a dui/drug check on me and see how high I was, (not) then, finally, they gave me a shot of something that made everything below my neck disapear. Apparently, the cop then took a statement from me (now high as a kite) but somehow missed the reference to, the brown nissan, instead concentrating on anything else in the roadway. A few hours later, my name still unknown, I lapsed into a coma, after a few days my identity was found and my sister (from FL) was contacted for permission to amputate my hands, she declined and got ahold of my girlfriend after recovering my cell phone. G/f is a nurse and had been mad that I hadn't called over a week, but sis filled her in and she saw me through the bulk of the following; coming out of a weeklong coma, coming off a ventilator, 17 or so hand surgeries; (whatever $1.3M buys) donor muscles/tendons bloodvessels transplanted from left leg, 2+ square feet of skin grafted from both legs to other sites, numerous debriedments, 8 or 9 transfusions, 3 times hearing; "he may not survive the next hour", weeks of seeing me shaking under a pile of blankets lapsing a month where I could keep nothing down, nightmares of penguins with bills like scissoring steak knives tearing apart my hands, hours of crying, screaming moaning in pain. I finally remembered the accident in early November. The bike is totalled, flipped through gravel, stopped on canals lip. My "hands" are a sick joke. Social security and welfare want me to fill out forms. Mortage is months behind, ditto bills, one creditor calls daily, even after I explained that I have no money for them, but they come right after the roof over my head, my sons stomach, the lights gas phone, the jeep, aol and the rest of $2700+ monthly bills short term disability (teamsters, disapointing) put $544 per month (not week) toward. Whats gonna be comical is the half-handed guy trying to move his sh#@T to storage via Uhaul when I get foreclosed/sellout. Over 17 years, I've dropped bikes, I've dumped, wiped out, been flung hiside and crushed under this and that. Never like this. I've heard numerous times that I'm lucky to be alive, but while I suppose I'm glad I'm not looking out of a vegetable, this isn't "luck" -quite the contrary, "lucky" is seeing me from the outside as perfectly healthy nurses have. Hell, "luck" would've been passing painlessly and in midair from this earth, before the combined forces of gravity and inertia deformed me and ground me to shreds. I just knew I had my gloves on, I always wore them... but, nope. Every day and night I pray and beg God for another chance, to live forward from Sept 29th, 2003, in this body and with all else as it was then, but knowing what I know now. I don't wanna win lotto, I don't need 3 wishes, I'd feel better if I could even have a few minutes to appear at the on ramp the minute before I shot up it, wave myself down if I have to scream at "me" and holding the helmet as it is now, briefly explain 100 reasons I should ease onto the highway... ..as that little nissan sings by... I'll likely never ride again. I have gained some insight regarding why some guys won't wear a helmet, they know they couldn't live like this... if it weren't for hoping I can still be there for and raise my son grows to be a smarter, healthier, happier man than me; I would've made myself some rat poison pancakes by now. My life isn't special, maybe I wasn't grateful when I was truly blessed, or maybe God is like a kid with a magnifying glass on an anthill on a sunny day, and if thats the case I hope he saw what he wanted happen. If there is a heaven, it will be like living forth from the day before, preventing the accident, and maybe kicking Gods *** in a boxing match because I couldn't see anyone in a position/condition praying to me and not getting my help asap... I wish all you who ride the best, I pray for you, and am grateful for any prayers you could find in your hearts for me. Maybe someday I'll get at least my sense of humor back. Sincerely, 03wadofZ1Rmetal.crybaby.com
ADMINS NOTE: Eric took his life on Friday, June 4, 2004 due to depression and hopelessness brought on by this accident. If you would like to contribute to his 7 year old son's trust fund, please see the details here: http://www.zrxoa.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57567 [/quote]

RIP

Dallas4u
06/24/2004, 11:57 AM
Yeah... read it a while ago. There were a lot of skeptics on this one, but it seems to be true. I believe they set up some trust for his kids or something.

There were a few issues with the story, but I think most believe it. Personally, I think driving in a car at 1:30 am on ANY given night is somewhat dangerous, much less a motorcycle.

Definitely a very sad tale to say the least.

Cyrk
06/24/2004, 12:03 PM
SO sad.. Please be careful out there.

I lost one of my best friends to a motorcycle accident.

azskyrider
06/24/2004, 01:14 PM
I remember that accident. I lived right next to it and remember going to work in the morning only to find out that they closed the whole freeway. The motorcycle however was in the middle of the freeway so it went to the left and not the right as he was going North bound. Regardless of the version of that story it did happen. The location was Scottsdale, Arizona.

I have been in many accidents and I know the pain of having flesh ripped from your body. The pain is so bad there is no words to describe it. The scoop in the leg? Yup got that too. I can not stress how important it is to own the best gear. When buying riding gear do NOT go cheap. I have since raced on the track and have crashed at over 120+ MPH and come out with only a scratch. That is where the money pays off. If you think you will never crash? Better think again because it WILL happen. How you come out depends on how you prepare yourself.

Not pertaining to this fellow but I have also seen people who have no experience and riding the MC beyond their capabilities. They rather buy some BLING, BLING, or go fast parts for their bikes than invest in gear. It is only 600cc they say but they couldn't handle a 50cc bike. I have been on a 250cc bike and have blown the pants off a person with a 1000cc. Their bike can go faster but their abilities will not allow them. They would crash for something that they could have easily gotten out of it if they were prepared mentally. They say… I have been riding for 10 years... but a person with 2 days of track lessons will blow the pants over that person with 10 years. I lived it first hand and tell all my friends who ride to take a track school. You will learn so much more and ride so much safer and better than years by yourself. In street riding you never know the limits of the bike and your mental brain function. At the track you learn to control the bike and know its limits while thinking ahead of what the bike will be doing in a split second. It is those reaction reflexes that allow you to stay calm and calculate your plan of attack mentally that greatly reduces the risk of severe outcomes. At your first get off you will realize how you react to situations and it doesn't have to be fast. The body freezes and your mind doesn't function and the inevitable happens. In a safe environment you learn from your mistakes and you learn how far you can push the limits of the bike before you can start to worry.

I am not saying he was one of those “bad” bikers and it is a tragedy of what became of him. I would not wish that to anyone. But this does not mean that bikes are bad. I think the poor fellow stated it well how important riding gear is and should always be used.

RIP my friend,

xdfarrx
06/24/2004, 04:20 PM
I ride an R1.... I read this post on the R1-Forum. Riding is not joke. I always get **** for riding in a full 2 pc suit with GP armour, and a dainese back protector... It is hot cause it is all black, and the ribbing I get for it matters not at all to me. I'd rather sweat like a pig, then get grated like soft cheese. I've seen fools go down, and asphalt pays no respect to flesh, and even less to stupidity. I ride around Mulholland all the time and I am constantly blown away by the number of jack asses in tea shirts and tennis shoes. I would be lying if I said I didn't hit it but I always do it in a place that what little odds we riders have are in my favor. God bless dude and his family...tragic stuff. r.i.p.....

azskyrider
06/24/2004, 06:22 PM
I am a member there as well ...Back when they first started and SANTOS was the Kingpin of the R1 world so he thought.

doubleadesign
06/24/2004, 07:12 PM
I am not allowed to own or ride a motorcycle. Last time I was on one was tooling around the mountains of Oreagon. I had a passenger in full leather and i was in summer cut offs. I hit gravel (cause i was a noobee) and he coasted on my body for about 10 yards. I was a human surfboard under gravel. Ouch.... So now I just get into accidents on my racing bike (with pedals).

EclipseGSX
06/24/2004, 09:45 PM
wow, that is a sad, sad story. Its the kind of tragedy that really makes you think twice about owning a bike. I used to ride a CBR F4i... would always wear my armored Alpinestars jacket, gloves and boots even if it was 95 degrees out.

azskyrider
06/24/2004, 10:13 PM
With the heat already here I see riders with tshirt, shorts and a helmut. I guess they think the lower body couldn't be hurt too bad on the freeway.:confused:

Dallas4u
06/25/2004, 08:09 AM
Yeah, I see riders of all ages wearing next to nothing when riding. It's amazing. I thought, well, maybe it's really the idiot punk kids who think they are indestructible... some people learn the hard way. Now that I think about it, I see older riders on their Harley's, and some on Goldwings, driving around with nothing on top but a leather vest... their fat arms up to their shoulders flappin' in the wind, and a (surely) non-DOT approved shorty helmets. It's their own life, and they should treat it as they see fit, as long as they aren't endangering others... but JEEZ!!!!

t2p
06/25/2004, 08:37 AM
Bummer for sure .....
.
However ........you will discover (during the first day or two) of the MSF safety course that many - the majority - of motorcycle accidents are actually preventable and/or avoidable ....... generally are the responsibility of the bike rider .......
.
'failure to negotiate curve' ........ may be the #1 ............
.
an intersection can not be approached in the same manner as many approach them in automobiles ......... basically, you need to approach an intesection with more caution ........ I approach them as if I am invisible ........... and before you proceed (after being stopped), you need to ensure you can make eye contact first with the driver(s) ......

Basically, I attempt to stay away from traffic ..... busy streets ....... the whole bit. I'm a back country road rider. I would much rather be in a car - than a motorcycle when on the highways. Highway riding is no fun for me - I find it extremely monotonous and BORING.
.

shoota77
06/25/2004, 10:37 AM
Read that story before...definitely a wake up to always wear gear, which I do happily. I have nice skin anyway, wouldn't want to mess that up :winky:

nater
06/25/2004, 04:35 PM
This may seem like an odd time to something like this, but I found it to be one of the most incredible things I had ever heard:

Studies have shown, again and again, that a person's happiness level is almost always the same one year after a life-altering event. Typically, this includes people suffering paralysis, death of a friend or spouse, winning the lottery, etc.

In otherwords, it turns out you make your own happiness in life. For me, I realized that no matter what life hands me, good or bad, I'll make the best of it.

For Eric, it appears he struggled with his circumstances. I wonder if his son will understand Eric's anguish. I wonder now if he had held out a while, if he could have found happiness in seeing his son grow up and enjoying what was there in his life. I guess we'll never know.

Nate

Hanalei
06/28/2004, 09:01 AM
What a tragic story. I went to visit Ohio recently and it's not against the law to ride without a helmet. Saw lots of bikers with no helmets. Unreal.

tomcat837
06/28/2004, 09:15 AM
Here in South Texas it is very rare to see anyone wearing a helmet!

It is Stupid if you ask me, oh well!

Raque Thomas
06/28/2004, 10:33 AM
So why is it that in Kentucky I can get a $150 ticket for not wearing my seatbelt in my car; but if I want to get on a motorcycle and not wear a helmet - that's fine?????? Guess the motorcycle lobby is stronger than the safety Nazi's lobby. My opinion is that no one should tell you whether you have to wear a seat belt or a helmet - it's your choice, who are you hurting? However, I would not get on a motorcycle without a helmet.

PeteVX
07/01/2004, 07:25 AM
Thats an incredibly sad story.

22 years ago i was 17 and living with my parents, we moved house from the place where i'd grown up. 6 months later my next door neighbour who was a great friend i'd grown up with but unexplicably i hadn't spoken to since we moved, took his own life.

22 years later it brings tears to my eyes thinking about it. Sure there is a lesson here about riding safely and defensively, being properly geared up but there is a bigger lesson about suicide not being the answer and about looking out for each other.

Losing someone to an accident or illness is hard enough, losing someone because they were in such despair that they took their own life is heartbreaking, i'm sure anyone else out there who has been touched by a suicide understands, and if you are lucky enough to have not been... i hope it stays that way.

Cherish life, however bad it might seem at times, it will get better.

Triathlete
07/01/2004, 09:21 AM
Originally posted by azskyrider
With the heat already here I see riders with tshirt, shorts and a helmut. I guess they think the lower body couldn't be hurt too bad on the freeway.:confused:

I saw a cartoon in an old easy rider magazine that showed a guy on a harley, fully dressed in all leather but no helmet next to this yuppie looking kid on a crotch rocket wearing shorts, sandals and a helmet telling the harley guy "you know, you really should wear a helmet".:homer: Doh!