Witnessed an accident today

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by VFR Love, Jun 15, 2014.

  1. VFR Love

    VFR Love New Member

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    I went for a ride with 2 other guys. We pulled over for a break. As we're standing there chatting we hear a bike coming. We turn as he swerves, brakes hard, starts skidding with both wheels and this doctor driving a Volvo is in his path making a left turn right in front of him. (They were heading in opposite directions).

    The Volvo hits him and he does 2 somersaults narrowly missing a telephone pole and a street sign.

    By buddy starts running and I call 911.

    He traveled about 30 feet and landed in a grassy area, unconscious (eyes open) with a broken tibia/fibula and bone broken through the skin.

    As he comes to at first he doesn't know where he is or that he was on a motorcycle.

    In a few minutes he says hey that guy turned right in front if me why did he do that? There was nothing I could do!

    His left lower leg was broken at a right angle with a bone protrusion and he complained of low back pain.

    We comforted him and kept him from moving too much until help arrived.

    Scary.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


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    Last edited: Jun 17, 2014
  2. thegreatnobody

    thegreatnobody New Member

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    Holy crap is that an RC30? Yikes. Scary situation. Good job on the 1st responder business. Hope he heals up well.

    Sent from my fancy telly.
     
  3. VFR Love

    VFR Love New Member

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    His buddies arrived a short while later. They said he's a pretty well known collector. All older guys- he was maybe mid 50s.

    The bike was obviously well cared for. The frame and forks were polished to a bright luster.

    He kept saying "I wasn't even going fast".

    It was pretty surreal. Like he shouldn't have flown as far as he did for the speed at which it happened.

    He was at least fortunate that it rained a bunch this past week and that he landed on the grass and not the road.

    Either way he was pretty banged up.


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  4. Arnzinator

    Arnzinator New Member

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    Kudo's for helping. That had to be tough to watch. I hope the Volvo driver was cited.

    Not that it matters, it looks like the Volvo was turning left (?)
     
  5. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    One of the worst nightmares. Just below that would be having to witness it. :puke:
     
  6. pacemaker

    pacemaker New Member

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    Volvo drivers are well known pests on the road, well known as the car for people who don't know (or don't care) how to drive.
    [​IMG]

    Seeing someone have an accident is certainly a sobering experience. Job well done on the assistance you gave.
     
  7. hwyrogue

    hwyrogue New Member

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    That's the problem - people making a turn without looking ahead; it's the reason we should be permitted to have white strobe lights on the front of the bike; anything to grab people's attention.

    The biker was still lucky - he could have been killed. You say the driver of the Volvo was a doctor; a physician? I hope he rendered assistance and also hope he was ticketed for failing to yield; not to mention his insurance will be footing quite a bill.
     
  8. Scubalong

    Scubalong Official Greeter?

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    Sorry you have to witness a horrible moment :sad:
    Hope the rider speedy recovery. Ride safe everyone don't let your guard down stay ALERT.
     
  9. jugornot

    jugornot New Member

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    Education ain't gonna do it. I hope I live long enough for google to finish their self drive car. Then the pockets of the companies making them will be deep enough to compensate people for the lives they ruin. The witnesses said I flew about 100 feet. I landed very hard on pavement. All my serious injuries came from that impact. I had good first responders also. A nursing student was jogging at the scene. So to you sir and your friends I say thank you for all who are in need. I hope the offender has the resources to truely compensate the victim in this case.
     
    Last edited: Jun 16, 2014
  10. nearfreezing

    nearfreezing New Member

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    Wow, the dreaded left-hand turning car. Sounds like the rider ended up with (at least) an open tib/fib fracture, mild concussion, and back bruising. He'll be ok, but will definitely need surgery to wash out the open fracture and hammer a rod in the tibia.

    ATGATT.
     
  11. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    Hope he mends fast and fixes that Rothmans 250/400/750? I look at people that drive volvo's as sub-human drivers.
     
  12. VFR Love

    VFR Love New Member

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    It's a miracle my cell phone worked for the one call to 911. Every local that arrived after that said you have to go up the road for a signal.

    The first responders were excellent here. Not so much the driver for whatever reason- he did give a location when I handed him the phone but that's about it. I'm sure he was in shock.

    One woman heard the crash from her house and came running. She stabilized his head. My buddy is a lifeguard and kept talking to him, calming him. I thought he was excellent he said later he was shitting his pants the whole time.

    One of the first locals who happened by sped off up the road to summon an ambulance.

    Moments later a fire alarm went off.

    One Good Samaritan had obvious medical knowledge- the victim had his broken leg bent at the knee and he supported his knee as he lifted
    and extended his broken leg to lie flat on the ground.

    I held his hand and pressed an acupressure point to help calm him as I myself remembered to breathe deep and relax. The last thing the guy needed was nervous people ministering to him until the pros arrived.

    He really REALLY wanted his helmet off before that happened so one of the first responders bargained with him and said if he lied still we'd help him. The strap was carefully undone and his helmet gently removed.

    When you are in shock you don't feel like you can breathe. He didn't want a blanket someone offered but once he was told "no you need to keep your core warm it's a cool day" he accepted.

    The scariest part for me was arriving moments after the accident and seeing him with his eyes open in a thousand yard stare and for lack of a better term babbling non words/ baby noises.

    I'm not providing details here to be ghoulish but to inform should you ever happen across a situation.

    Here's the accident pic before the car was towed:

    [​IMG]


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  13. VFR Love

    VFR Love New Member

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    There was no real reason for the driver to not see him- it's a clear line of sight up the road. The driver made the left turn early too. He was too busy looking where he wanted to go.

    As it was happening my mind was racing "why is the car trying to go around the motorcycle on the wrong side?...wow the bike is skidding sideways oh shit I hope he can keep it upright... Wow what a stupid thing to happen... Why is that guy flying through the air... Go go go make sure the driver doesn't flee... Get his plate....

    Mid stream of thought my buddy is running as it's all happening yelling call 911. My hand is on my phone and I'm running to make sure I get the plate as I'm dialing.

    In other words I was functioning but my brain was scattered and looking for a way to deny it all. A moment later I'm at this guys side swearing this was from another accident. I suddenly realize I don't know what just happened with this odd feeling that of course I do.

    In a few moments I begin to recall pieces and then after the ambulance has left I begin to acknowledge and recall the whole thing as a linear temporal experience.

    This was just like being in a dream where you are aware that it's all happening but not sure why it's happening or what you're supposed to do.

    I hope my recollection helps others know what to do in a crises or at least what not to be surprised by.

    We don't live in deep recognition of our mortality. We are cushioned from shocking images on TV despite incessant war. Funerals are always filled with all kinds of dressing from flowers and satin lining to makeup and repose.

    In contrast reality isn't so accommodating to comforts. It's a rough road out there- focus, be present and be a real friend.

    Peace brothers.


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    Last edited: Jun 17, 2014
  14. Pliskin

    Pliskin New Member

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    Wow, that's scary stuff. I saw a guy do down and over a guardrail at about 25, but nothing like that.

    I see you are in NY - can I ask where this occurred?
     
  15. goinphaster

    goinphaster New Member

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    Any one who needs to call 911 should do so with out worying about signal. Once you hit send on 911 your phone will broadcast, and use your battery with little regard to longevity. When my buddy went down on the Lost Coast Highway in california, I was able to even send a text message out. It took a minute, and nearly killed my battery, but the message got out. If your phone acts like it has connected to the call, but you cant hear anything, START TALKING ANYWAYS. Say your location, the injuries, your phone number, three times before you hang up. You never know if they can hear you, and its better to take the chance than to not do anything.

    As for being prepared to respond to an accident- you never will be unless its what you do every day. What will help you and someone your trying to save, is to decide that you will be a responder, and then play out an accident in your mind. Play the what if game, and think about your priorities in terms of safety for you and victim, the medical attention they will need. This wont make you a professional by any means, but the will to act and the forethought will make allow you to respond faster, and clearly in the order nessasary.
     
  16. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    Here in Cali if ya call 911 on a cell you have to put a 1 in front of 911

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  17. Hey its me

    Hey its me New Member

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    Jesus, that's sobering just reading this. I can't imagine seeing an accident like that. I'm always weirdly calm/collected in dangerous situations but it's reflecting on it afterwards that can freak me out.
     
  18. jugornot

    jugornot New Member

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    Best emergency advice "Never stop thinking, Its what separates us from animals."
     
  19. VFR Love

    VFR Love New Member

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    We were on our way to Bear Mountain about 40 min north of the Bronx. Not exactly sure but just off of 9W.


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  20. Meatloaf

    Meatloaf New Member

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    I watched one on the 15th over the weekend too. Scary and nasty stuff. Younger couple on an 09 ninja 650. No gear. The guy at least had on jeans. His girl had on a halter top, shorts, and open toed sandals. He fairs alright minus a few scrapes and a puncture wound in the knee. It will heal just fine. She didn't fair so well as she flew over him and tried to stop her fall on the asphalt at 65MPH with her bare hands. She was rashed up bad on the hands, rough on both legs, and some random rash here and there. Her feet took a beating too with at least one broken toe and many others bleeding.

    I stopped the same time two others did. The real shitter of it all was that nobody along the road was slowing down or stopping to give us time to get them and the bike out of the middle of the road. I had to pull my pistol and then traffic noticed real fast that something was going on and let us get them outta the way. EMT's showed up and took over from there.

    I will say that it brings back some not so fond memories and I made sure to let the dude know how lucky they were. He wanted to know my story and I was able to show him pictures along with it. Needless to say, I bet that if he ever gets back on a bike, it will surely be with gear. Judging by the woman's type and attitude, I would doubt she will ever get back on anything with less than four wheels.
     
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