Thursday afternoon commute, Vasco Road from Livermore to Brentwood Ca.

Long, windy single lane (mostly) each direction. Very heavy typical commute traffic northbound. I happened to be in my car this time, usually am on my Limited. You get to kinda "know" the other bikers on the route... see them every day. As I sat in my car at yet another endless light I saw William (as I came to find out) filtering up to the front of the line.... nothing special.

A few miles up the road...

Debris field starts... a little farther there he is laying flat out on the shoulder, 30 yards later the bike on it's side, been down hard on both sides. Road at this point is straight as an arrow.

I pull over with a couple of other cars already stopped, no one saw anything, speed at the time couldn't have been much given traffic, William, although alert had absolutely no memory of the event. He was pretty busted up, road rash, broken ankle, FF helmet chewed on pretty much everywhere. Sat there with him talking & holding his head/helmet still until the EMTs arrived, which took FOREVER it seemed. It's really in the middle of nowhere. Couple of other drivers found a blanket & stood providing shade.

A real mystery. Hopefully he'll regain some recollection of the event.

William, you have ***** of steel my friend. What you went through would have me squealing like a schoolgirl, you were a rock. Hope to see you back on the road soon.

 

GWS William!

 

Maybe a wheel locked up or another case of "bagger wobble"? Best wishes to William for a quick recovery.

 

I've ridden that road many times. Must have been some kind of mechanical failure. Get well soon, William.

 

If it was a bike without ABS, maybe the car in front of him slowed and he didn't see it and then slammed on the brakes and locked the front wheel. That could explain it.

 

Seven years ago I hit a deer and went down. I still have a black spot in my memory. I couldn't begin to tell you what happened between "oh sh*t" and my first conscious memory of feeling like I was in a dryer being rolled and tumbled as I did the rag doll down the road. I have no idea how I parted ways with the bike or whether I rode right over the deer thereby loosing contact between the wheels and the pavement or what??? The mind is an amazing thing.

 

I travel that road quite often myself, it is pretty easy road to navigate at speed. In traffic and filtering it is a bit easier, unless he was nudged by a car inadvertently or unknowingly, perhaps a medical incident etc. It is a shame.

William, I hope you recover soon.

 

I'm guessing they'll do a workup on his brain. He might have blacked out for some unknown reason prior to the crash.

 

Post-traumatic amnesia. Fairly common in these types of incidents. Hope he's alright and is back riding soon!

 

I've ridden Vasco hundreds of times. I'm guessing inattention, loss of consciousness, medical mystery, or DUI allowed the bike to drift into the shoulder. Debris field and dirt residue at POR indicates a shoulder ride.
How old is William? No recollection could be momentary epilepsy or a low blood sugar event. Could be heat exhaustion too since that area is 100 everyday.