Biker Injured at Sturgis Thanks Hospital with Badass Painting
Trip to 2008 Sturgis Rally took a scary turn for Steve Streeter and a pal. But thanks to some talented doctors, a major tragedy was avoided.
Things were going quite well for South Dakota native Steve Street back at the 2008 Sturgis Rally. But as the Harley-Davidson enthusiast headed back to his campground, with a friend following closely behind on another bike, things quickly took a turn for the worst. Streeter stopped to turn into the campground entrance but his friend didn’t. That sent his pal’s motorcycle crashing into Streeter’s leg, and his friend crashing into a nearby ditch.
Both were transported to nearby Regional Health Spearfish Hospital. Streeter’s leg was in bad shape, and his friend had suffered life-threatening injuries. But the advanced orthopedic surgeons on staff were able to save both. And Streeter didn’t want to let their good work go unappreciated. So he gave them a gift: a limited edition print of a very special painting.
The original painting, dubbed “Face to Face,” was created by Scott Jacobs, the first officially licensed Harley-Davidson artist. It depicts Jacob’s father sitting on a silver CVO as he sees Mount Rushmore for the first time. Unlike most prints, this reproduction features artist-added acrylic paint to make it look more like an original. Streeter, whose Harley is identical to the one in the painting, owns the original painting.
Clearly, the hospital staff was appreciative of the gift. Typically, doctors don’t even know the ultimate outcome of their work, as patients usually return home as quickly as possible following surgery. This time, a simple thank you wasn’t good enough in Streeter’s mind. “Frankly, they saved my leg and my friend’s life,” Streeter told the Rapid City Journal. “It’s good as new.” And at least, in this case, the doctors responsible for saving both received a bit of warm-hearted gratitude.
