Virginia Motorcyclist Beats the Odds After Road Disaster
After colliding with a car, Cody Polk is counting his blessings — and counting the days until he can get back on a motorcycle.
It’s a dangerous world out there for us motorcyclists. When a two-wheeled vehicle meets a four-wheeled vehicle, the motorcycle almost always loses.
Usually, when we write about motorcycle accidents here on H-D Forums, the story has a bad ending, with the rider dying due to their injuries. Today is different. Today, we have an uplifting and inspiring story of survival.
In September, motorcyclist Cody Polk was riding his Harley-Davidson when he came across a notoriously dangerous intersection. A car pulled out in front of him, and Polk struck the car, sending him airborne.
According to the Winchester Star, Polk suffered a broken right arm, a fractured shoulder, and two broken ribs. Despite wearing a helmet, he also sustained a traumatic brain injury, as well as muscle damage on the left side of his face and partial hearing loss.
He was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital. Understandably, his prognosis immediately after the collision was pretty grim.
However, something amazing happened – Polk survived. With his condition improving, Polk returned home on Thursday, October 24. There, he was greeted by over 30 friends and family, who hosted a homecoming party.
Polk still has a very long road ahead of him. It will be months before he can return to his city job as a mechanic with the city of Winchester. It’ll probably be another year before he can go back to his other gig as a volunteer firefighter.
Still, the worst is over, and Polk is optimistic. He says, “I’ll eventually get back. It just takes time.” He also plans on pick up up another Harley-Davidson, although he acknowledges that it will be a long time before he can ride again. This time, he says, “I’ll have a better helmet.”
The community has rallied behind Polk, planning two fundraisers to help offset his medical bills. The first, a 14-team softball tournament, will take place on November 2. The second, a raffle and auction held by the Gainesboro Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company, will take place on December 14.
Photos: Winchester Star
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