Three weeks ago I had my worst motorcycle accident in 35 years of riding. In that time I have had a few minor offs resulting in bent levers and minor loss of skin but this time I was lucky to escape with my life.
I was doing my usual early morning 40km commute to work, I was tired, my mind was on other things and the road was wet. There is a section of this highway where a few other roads merge and the traffic slows considerably. Normally I ride with this in mind and there is no problem, even in the worst of weather conditions. This particular morning I must have been half asleep and when the traffic came to a dead stop I was slow to react. I hit the brakes to avoid piling into the car in front. My front wheel locked and realizing I wouldn't stop in time, I let off the brakes and aimed for the gap in between the two lanes. I thought I was going to make it when the rear end stepped out a little and I was hit by something from behind.
According to witnesses I went over the bars, slid down the road and my head went under the front wheels of a truck. I remember seeing the bike on its side and bits of plastic flying everywhere. When my world stopped spinning I half crawled to the side of the road, left arm hanging uselessly by my side. By that time a flock of car drivers had come to assist and after a few minutes I was able to get up off my knees and sit down on an up turned bucket. I was desperate to get my helmet off as I felt I was suffocating and aware of the risk of neck injury I managed with assistance to gently remove it. As usual the tow trucks arrived first, followed by police and then the ambulance. The paramedics gave me the green whistle to suck on and then cut off my jacket and pants. Nothing like being on the side of a busy highway in your underpants. My lower arm was hanging at a strange angle an there was a 5 cm gash in my upper arm. The ambo's were a bit puzzled by this until I explained that it was where I had a melanoma removed the previous week and the stitches had burst open. A shot of morphine and I was transported to emergency at RBWH.
A huge thank you to the people that stopped to assist, the paramedics and the emergency team. They were awesome.
The result was wrist broken in two places, fractured and dislocated elbow and the gash, at least 6 weeks off work and lots of physio. This will be followed by a 3 week holiday in Thailand to help the recovery process.
The bike also suffered. It must have somersaulted and landed squarely upside down, smashing the screen, fairing, gauges and givi wingrack. It then slid on its left side bending the footpeg and destroying the crankcase (oil pump) cover.
My jacket and helmet did their job and gloves and boots appeared untouched. A few days after the accident, one of the cops that attended contacted me and was surprised that I was out of hospital. He said that they got the call and from reports, were expecting the worst. I think the truck tyre must have hit my helmet and spat me out. There are only minor scrape marks on it.
I will soon be putting out the call to my FJ buddies for parts. I have a spare rough fairing but there are plenty of little bits I will need for the re build.
I have learnt a lot from this experience and I guess that it was a wake up call not to be complacent.
Looking forward to 3 weeks in Thailand and then getting back on the road.
Stay safe everyone
Wow, lucky escape. Nothing like a good reminder to keep your brain fully alert when on a bike, glad your ok of sorts. Ive hit a few cars up the back in my time just lucky i was going slow enough not to do to much damage.
Get well soon and good luck with the repairs!
It sounds like you used at least up 1 of your 9 lives. Congrats on that! Heal well and quickly!
Ed
Bloody hell Stu, your lucky to come out of that the way you did with relatively minor injuries. It's bad enough falling off as it is, worse being surrounded by peak hour traffic.
Your the second one now from the SE Qld crew that's had a prang, and I hope it stops there and doesn't do the rounds. You can't afford to be complacent these days with the amount of traffic on the roads and everyone out to get you.
Heal well and enjoy your time in Thailand, we're going there ourselves in September.
Tony.
bloody hell stu im glad your still with us, i hope you start to feel better, it took me 3 months before i could feel safe again after my accident at the start of January this year,, .
Quote from: stua1959 on June 15, 2014, 02:23:54 AM
Nothing like being on the side of a busy highway in your underpants.
Mama told you to wear clean underwear for days like this. :good2:
Good luck recooping and have a good vacation.
Glad you were wearing some gear, the helmet sounds like it probably saved your life. Rest and get well soon.
George
Stu, that is one Hell of a story.... Very happy you could tell it yourself. As mentioned, seems like your gear did its job in keeping you on the green side of the grass. Heal well for both you and your bike...
Sorry for your off bike adventure and glad to see your going to make a full recovery.
"This particular morning I must have been half asleep and when the traffic came to a dead stop I was slow to react. "
This is the very reason I don't ride to work. I'm just not 100% that early in the day. I'm sure the FJ brothers here will help you get rolling again.
Eric M
Scary story. Hope you heal well and quickly. Enjoy Thailand.
Let us know what bits are needed to repair the FJ.
I hate reading stories like that.
Arnie
Wow , glad to hear you got spat out and not crushed , the older i get the more I dislike traffic.
Heal well, take time to smell the roses . watch out for the yips after something like that , it may take some time before you are up to speed again.
Yeah Thailand's a great calming influence on the nerves after such a harrowing experience. Drink plenty of milk for the bones. Stay away from the Mekong whiskey - it's bad for the concentration and numerous other body parts.
Andy
Wow...I hate to hear of these things, but am glad you came out as well as you did!
On my big trip, I crossed the double yellow line three times over the course of three months...each one of those times was when my mind was somewhere other than where it was supposed to be...With the luck of timing, there weren't any incidents...just a nice wake up call to have my head in the ride at all times!
Thanks for the refresher...I think it helps us all to be cognitive of what can happen.
Heal well and quickly!
Hell Stu, that must have been just up the road from my place?.......heal well mate!
When you get back from Thailand, give me a holler.......I recon I've got enough here to get the FJ back together.
Later mate
Harvy
Thanks for all the good wishes and offers of help. I also posted the story on facebook and the FJ mob immediately jumped in with offers of help and support. It is amazing that such a loose knit group of people have become my friends in such a short time. A fantastic group of people.
Harvy, it was just before the Pine Rivers bridge where there is a nose to tail nearly every day. I should have known better. Will definitely give you a call when I get back, thanks
Wait?? So they cut off your pants? Best that I start wearing underwear as part of the ATGATT..
Good to hear that you are still getting email, if ya know what I mean..
Quote from: Joe Sull on June 15, 2014, 05:55:06 AM
Quote from: stua1959 on June 15, 2014, 02:23:54 AM
Nothing like being on the side of a busy highway in your underpants.
Mama told you to wear clean underwear for days like this. :good2:
Good luck recooping and have a good vacation.
My mom said that too. She just passed away 9 days ago...
Quote from: Bminder on June 16, 2014, 03:54:16 PM
My mom said that too. She just passed away 9 days ago...
Wow Billy...I'm very sorry to hear that. :empathy: I am not the least bit prepared for that event in my life.
Spend that time well recovering Stu, the FJ can be rebuilt easy as pie. :good2: Very scary incident though.
I agree with your thoughts Ron. Funnily enough Im at the hospital with my dad today getting heart tests etc, and my sister is with my mum getting some biopsies done, both are 83. Sorry for your loss Billy.
Best wishes on a complete and quick recovery Stu
Glad you are ok, and "I was tired, my mind was on other things" is a pretty common reason accidents occur.
Glad you're OK, glad you did not harm anyone else, time to get back in the saddle and ride on.....
Lesson learned, hopefully
Quote from: Capn Ron on June 16, 2014, 04:08:33 PM
Quote from: Bminder on June 16, 2014, 03:54:16 PM
My mom said that too. She just passed away 9 days ago...
Wow Billy...I'm very sorry to hear that. :empathy: I am not the least bit prepared for that event in my life.
Thanks Ron.
She had leukemia for almost 2 years. Thought we had it beat back last summer, then it came back and she finally lost the battle. It's tough to lose her (age 73) but she was suffering so much the last 2 weeks that it was also a bit of a relief her suffering was over.
Hoping for a speedy recovery, you and the bike.