Date:         Wed, 24 Sep 2003 21:39:01 -0700
Reply-To:     Leon <korkwood@WSHOST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Leon <korkwood@WSHOST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Am stuck in a wheel chair (not a funny post and its not
              friday...)
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2003092323435642@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

Ben,
Sorry to hear about this, but glad you will be fine and functional.
Would like to make my own comment.
I myself enjoyed riding bikes and had a few.
Went down few times but never was hit by a car.
Couple of oil sliks and sand on the road at slow speed while making turn.
But 4 years ago i was going to work in the morning like i did for the last
15 years,
rain or shine, hot or cold. In traffic splitting lanes and almost hit by
last moment changing lane drivers or drivers that didn't see anything
around
accept the windshield...
that morning when i was going 75mph around long curve i noticed slightly
darker spot on the pavement just split second before i hit it dead on.
Didn't look like oil but it was, just covered with dust.
Immediately lost control but fortunately i went off the bike and started
rolling toward the wall outside last lane. By the time i hit the wall
i was still rolling but slow and it wasn't much of a hit.
Was dazed but not hurting much. Just road rash on my leg and some pain
in my wrist. Was wearing jeans and jacket. Helmet had some scratches.
That was it. Lucky! It was rush traffic and i could have easily been hit by
car or truck while rolling...
Was able to repair my bike(Honda Sabre V65 with Hondaline faring and
backrest)
and eventualy sold it. Not that i was afraid to ride it but soon after that
accident i had my both hips replaced after long history of pain and
suffering
and walking with cane. Hips were not result of bike riding, in fact i was
very
comfortable on my large bike. Just wore out my hips skiing steep and bumpy
slopes,
playing tennis, backpaking, hiking etc etc etc.
While i was riding bike i developed my own safe way to ride. Since i was
splitting lanes
i knew i could end up "squeezed" or under a car. So i made an effort to
look at
drivers and their movements inside a car and prevented vew potential falls
by reacting
before driver even did anything. There were 2 or 3 bikers killed around
intersection
next to my home, all hit by a car from behind while waiting to make left
turn. There is
no left turn pocket. What i did was look behind me all the time and if i
saw anxious
driver in a hurry while approaching this left turn i simply started braking
well before needed and prevented that driver from having enough time to
jump out in another lane and driver behind going fast would hit me.
It worked well for me as i exersised some control over traffic behind me.
I live in Los Angeles and it is full of irate and not very curteous drivers
so it
helps to have some defensive strategy to survive. Not to mention those
crazy ones like
you had misfortune to encounter.
While i drive my Vanagon in heavy traffic always look in sideview mirror
and leave more room
for bikers splitting lanes. Wish more drivers did that
Wish you the best and speedy recovery,
Leon
85 Subwagen


On Tue, 23 Sep 2003 23:37:38 -0400, Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA> wrote:

> Hey guys,
>
> Before you read my long post I invite you to look at one picture:
> http://www.desert2002.com/crash_moto/moto_crash3.jpg
>
> I got your attention now!
>
> Sad event for me last Friday, it's the nightmare of any motorcyclist. A
> stupid accident 2 miles from my home, under rainy condition, no alcohol
> involves, 25mph and vlannnn....
> A direct hit to the side of a car that was “stuck” transversally!! In the
> middle of a 3 lane boulevard, he was baking out of is driveway, instead
> of
> baking up in a "turn" like any other normal person would do, he went back
> straight crossing the 3 lanes, he stalled the car, restart, saw me
> coming,
> he tried to go out of my way forward but... went backward at the last
> instant, he taught he was in first gear...he was in reverse??? full
> blast,
> 25 feet from me as I was going slowly to pass him in the left lane.... I
> had
> no escape clause; I only could brace myself for impact.
>
> The impact was hard, even at only 20mph, I was scared and taught I would
> die
> for a second... I did cover my head, which is all I was thinking!!! I hit
> the car on my left side, my head and shoulder hit at the same time... no
> hard shock at the neck, but my lower body hit the lower part of the car
> and
> twisted on impact leaving me without strength and feeling on my left leg,
> I
> couldn't move and I was soaked in fuel (my fuel tank exploded on impact).
> To
> get things worse, the guys move his car forward just after the impact????
> I
> just had time to remove my arm from under the car, I was in shock and a
> bit
> dizzy/dazed. I was mad like hell.
>
> I always taught I was invincible, I've been driving motorcycle for 20
> years,
> I guess I was lucky... So now am stuck in a wheel chair and stuck in my
> room
> for at least 4 weeks (and I know am lucky), I won't be able to walk on y
> leg
> before 2 months. I have a broken hip (I hope you never get that, it hurt
> like hell!!!), a fissured knee and a few broken tows. Now, what use to be
> a
> simple and normal task in te house is a new adventure (like getting out
> of
> my bed to my wheel chair, 5 minutes)
>
> This is an "inevitable type" of accident, the one you couldn't do much
> about
> it or won't have remorse because you did all you can when it happen. It's
> a
> motorcyclist ultimate nightmare, with the "Going trough Red light" one.
>
> Am not here to complain, but only to create more awareness amongst
> drivers.
> PLEASE, look carefully when backing up / reverse, be very careful to
> check/look for dead angles when changing lane, be vigilant, and be
> courteous
> when driving. Especially around motorcycle, we maybe annoying and crazy
> around you sometime but that is NOT a reason for killing us!
>
> Maybe I should have stop all the way and wait that this dumb butt makes
> his
> mind, I was tired and I couldn't wait to get home, I made a very small
> mistake not stopping and I paid the price.
>
> I was scared of dying Friday... because of his ignorance, inaptitude, his
> inattention and his lack of experience. We all have moments of
> inattention
> when driving, so am posting here so maybe we will have less of those
> moments.
>
> More picture of the sad event:
> http://www.desert2002.com/moto.htm
>
> Be careful out there.
> Cheers, Ben
> http://www3.sympatico.ca/huotx/engine1.htm
> ps.: the good news for you guys it that I will have a lot of time to
> update
> my website.
>
>



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