St. Patty's Day Smack Down

I think I am ready to write about one of the scariest days of my life.  Funny thing is that I do not remember the horrific details, but I will write what my friends tell me what happened when I was unconscious or just do not remember.

On Monday morning March 17, 2014 I put on my #Bicycle Commuter Cabal green jersey and  headed to work. It was drizzling slightly, but it was warm.  I had my yellow rain jacket on and three tail flashers on my bike, two red and one white. I left my house about 6:15 AM and started my 25 mile commute to work.  This commute takes me about one hour and thirty minutes.


I was taking an easy pace because I had just finished a big 145 mile ride to St. Mark's on Friday so I jut wanted to relax today. Everything went as usually until I was riding on the short stretch of Newton Road (HWY 91).  I do not remember turning on to HWY 91 so everything that I write from here on is from what my friends have told me.



I was struck from behind by a middle aged motorist on her way to the Albany Marine Corps Logistics Base.  She hit me with such a force that my body smashed her windshield into her car.  When she applied her brakes the police report says I was then thrown about 100 feet sliding along a guard rail that eventually gouged into my back and broke my ilium.  There is some evidence that my helmet slide along the guardrail before I came to rest with punctures from the rail.  I do not remember any of this.  My next thoughts I remember are being on a board with my neck strapped down and being loaded into an ambulance. I showed a medic how to unlock my phone so he could call my boss and tell him that I would be late. I have three pins holding my fractured Ilium in place



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I am a very aware rider and I did everything by the book and I still got smacked.  If she had drove way I would have bled out on the spot, so I am grateful that she called 911.  I am recovering four days after this incident.  I appreciate all of the well wishes and flowers sent to my home.  I will write more about this later, but for now I am relieved that I am alive, but I am angry that motorist have such an advantage over cyclists on the road.  I have not seen my crushed Serotta yet, so I have lost a really close friend.  My BCC jersey was cut off of me, but I asked my wife to save it.  My BCC cyclist all over the world have really inspired me to ride these past few years.  I will be back on the road as soon as the doctor says it is OK for me to ride again.

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Comments

  1. Jeff HendricksMarch 21, 2014 at 9:33 PM

    We're here for you, man. Rest up and get well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownMarch 22, 2014 at 2:07 AM

    I have always loved reading about your riding adventures and challenges. I wish one day to get at a level of commitment and love for riding as you are. Always... ride on!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ms.ChiefMarch 28, 2014 at 3:46 PM

    Terrifying story. It is good to see you standing up. I look forward to a photo where you are holding bicycle bars instead of a walker. Warm wishes for a thorough and fast recovery, Lonnie.

    ReplyDelete

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