I hope this in in the right section.....


Hi all,

I wanted to post about my recent ordeal. On May 3rd, I was involved in a terrible accident on my 2018 Ultra Limited. I wish I could tell ya’ll that it was a spectacular, high speed crash, but it wasn't. It was a simple, 20 MPH low speed accident in a curve. I was rounding a curve, hit a patch of loose gravel, and down I went! The biggest factor is the mechanism of injury. On the down side of the curve was a 6 foot drop off. In a nutshell, I rode a 1000lb motorcycle off a small cliff. I came to a sudden and complete stop, and suffered serious injury.

The results of this little get off were nearly fatal. I remember everything right up until the accident, and I woke up in a helicopter being flown to a Level 1 trauma center in Mobile Alabama. My injuries were as follows: Bilateral pneumothoraxes, completely collapsed right lung, blood around my heart, a lacerated liver, lacerated kidney, lacerated spleen, 9 broken ribs ( some with multiple breaks to same rib ), and a broken left wrist.

I spent exactly two weeks in the hospital. 8 days in ICU, 3 days in PCU, and 3 days in a regular room. On Friday, the 17th, I was released to go home and begin my recovery. I have been home a little over a week now, and I am getting a little better everyday. It’ll take several more weeks for me to fully recover, but I’m not complaining......I nearly died.

I wanted to share my story, because we are all riders. I got my first bike ( a Sears mini-bike ), when I was 10 years old. I have had a motorcycle ever since. I have been riding 41 years, have had every type of bike out there: cruisers, crotch rockets, Harleys, and 4 wheelers. I raced motocross (amateur level) for about 15 years. It’s safe to say that I have probably a few thousand hours of experience on a bike. Even with all that experience, a minor accident nearly killed me.

What’s worse, my 14 year old daughter was on back of the bike. That’s our special Daddy/daughter time. She loves to ride even more than I do. We ride as often as possible. By the grace of God, she came out with only minor injuries. Adjacent to the curve where we crashed is a barb-wire fence and a big cluster of thorny type sticker bushes. We managed to mow ‘em all down! She was scraped and scratched up pretty bad, but no lasting issues. I took the brunt of the impact.

Looking back, and putting all the pieces together, it’s easy to see what happened: When we ran off the 6 foot drop off, we came to a sudden stop. I was thrown forward into to tank/dash area, and she was thrown into me. As I was compressed, when she hit me, my chest was crushed. Basically, my body cushioned her impact. Even though she is only 14, she is a full size person. She’s 5’7, about 140lbs.

So now what? Two weeks on your back in the hospital gives you a lot of time to reflect. A lot of time to take stock of your life and prioritize things. That said, I came up with one inevitable conclusion: I nearly died, and almost took my baby girl with me. After 41 good years, and a lifetime of good memories, friends, and all the things riding motorcycles give us, I’m done. It’s time for me to give up riding. I’m no longer willing to risk my life, or anyone else's for that matter, on a hobby.

I have made this decision as a personal choice, based on what I feel is best for my family. I want to see my kids grow up and have their own kids, and I want to grow old with my wife of 22 years. My wife, by the way, has been absolutely amazing during this whole ordeal. She never left my side. She slept on the floor next to my bed in ICU for the first two nights. The staff felt sorry for her and snagged a reclining hospital chair for her, which she slept in until I was moved to PCU.

Guys, if you have a woman who loves you....tell her everyday how much she means to you. Embrace your family, and hug your children ( even if they don’t want you to ). Appreciate your friends, especially the ones you can count on in a pinch, and make the most of every day.....you never know if it’ll be your last.

I’m lucky enough to have been given a second chance, and I damn sure ain’t gonna waste it.

Thanks for listening, and stay safe out there.

Mark. (Firemandiver)



More to follow....

 

I'm retired too....but not from riding..chit happens..

 

I didn't start riding until my youngest graduated high school, for exactly the reasons you're quitting. I think my family is priority number one. I have now reached the blessed status of grandfather of three, with 2 more on the way.

Sometimes I regret that I didn't start earlier, but I'm glad I was always there for my kids. Maybe when your youngest graduates high school you can resume riding.

Sorry you went through this trauma, but glad you made it through.

 

You've obviously known the risk of riding for nearly as long as you've been in the saddle. You probably know that old saying... there are riders who've wrecked and riders who haven't wrecked yet. It's part of the deal and a lot of the thrill. When you're just risking yourself out there, that's one thing... when you see loved ones hurt, that's the real kicker. I have no doubt, as a father... if you'd have had a choice, you'd have taken the brunt, exactly as you describe you did and probably more so. Be thankful and be very, very happy knowing you'll still make a decent recovery for yourself and your loved ones. One of the worst thoughts to me isn't dying on the bike, it's surviving just enough to where someone else would have to wipe my *** for me. Nobody wants to be a burden on the ones they dedicate their lives to protecting and providing for. I can't even imagine being responsible for the death or serious injury of my own child or my beloved lil' lady.

I've been riding one thing or another for over 41 yrs now myself and I'm beat to ****. I've been in more wrecks than I care to recount, with all the scars and ailments to show for it but I've been exceptionally lucky to have never been in a situation that directly put someone else's life in danger. If you're done... then you're done and it's best for you and the folks you care about to step away. Once something like that's in your head, you never know when/if it's going to hit you at the wrong time. I'm always sorry to hear stories like these but I do understand them, more than I'd like too. I've slowed down here and there over the years but I'll never quit. For me... it's never been just a hobby. Good luck to you and yours and may you both have a speedy recovery and a very "happily ever after".

 

I went down 2 years ago. Broke 4 ribs totalled my 17 Limited. Wife was fine, me not so much. At the scene I made the statement, " what scares me the most is this didn't scare me". I bought another bike and have had some memorible trips since then. Glad you are recovering without problems.

 

You've seen the elephant - it changes a person! Wishing u a speedy recovery!

https://www.wlox.com/2019/05/27/gulf...ycle-accident/

 

Your bike fell 6' and it's not totaled?

Terribly sorry about your ordeal. I've got half your riding experience and I've noticed as I get older I tend to reflect on my mortality more and more when I take the bike out. Not sure why, I just am.

 

Things like this will definitely change one's perspective. I wish you and your family the best.

 

I didn't have to go through what you have and thank goodness you are still around for your family.

Even though my bike was stored for the winter, I have been hesitant to ride the 25 mile commute to the office on my Softail Slim because it's mostly on I-87 and the drivers here are terrible. There's an accident every day. The resistance to riding to work paid off as I was rear ended on I-87 going home over a week ago. Just traffic coming to a stop in a construction zone, really not an emergency stop, and the young man behind me wasn't paying attention and ran into me. In my Expedition, no big deal, just some bumper damage and stiff neck & back. I can't help but think how different the story would have been on my motorcycle.

Been riding street bikes for 30 years and am giving serious consideration to picking up another hobby. Distracted drivers scare me more than any other hazard and there seems to be more and more of them every day.

 

Thank you everyone for the props. As was stated, you ride long enough, it’s gonna happen.....sooner or later.

I have zero regret about my decision to hang it up. Some people never know the thrill of riding a motorcycle. Nice , sunny, cool Spring day, all alone on some back road with no traffic, wind in your face.....can’t beat it. No doubt I’ll miss it, but at least I got to live it for over 40 years.

Assiniboine, thank you for finding the story the local news did about me.

Now y’all can have a face to go with my name. Not my most flattering picture, though....��