I was out for my typical 6am Sat morning ride on my Trek road bicycle. I have a bright red shirt on and a flashing red light on my bike....it's still kinda dark out but there are even streetlights on this section of road. I'm riding along about 18-20mph on a very short section of the route I always ride that doesn't have a bike lane or shoulder. It's only about a tenth of a mile and the speed limit is 35mph but I'm always uncomfortable until I get through it.
I hear a car coming up behind me but there is no cars coming towards me so he has plenty of room to get over. The next thing I knew, I was sliding down the road on my head and shoulder for about 20 feet. Then I went off into the dirt like a rag doll. I look over to see the white car keep going. His mirror is laying next to me (my body tore it off). I rolled around for a couple of minutes to calm down and figure out how bad I was hurt. Then I see the guy pull up on the other side of the road. He says "what happened?" I say "You took me out, that's what happened" He says "It wasn't me" Then he grabbed his mirror and started heading for his car. I jumped up (pain and all) and said I'm getting your plate number.....He said "no your not" and then he bent his plate up fromn the bottom so it couldn't be read.....TOO LATE, I got it. I called the cops, Alabama tag # came back to a 97 ford taurus....yep, thats it.....they are still looking for him, said it's felony hit and run with injuries.
I took myself to the hospital, I didn't want the wife and kids to have to wait in the ER. I have major road rash on my shoulder and both legs and my left arm has a fracture at the elbow that will require surgery to repair. I have to see an orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday. They suspect I have torn the ligaments in my wrist. I took 2 nurses, one to hold me and one to turn my forearm, just to splint my arm...... luckily they gave me a lot of morphine, but that meant Laura had to come and get me to go home.
I won't be riding anything for a long time.
Guess I'm stuck with the doc bills too, unless they find the guy....even then, he prob has no ins.
(takes a long time to type with one hand)
be safe out there....It could have been a lot worse, my helmet is cracked in 4 places and has a flat spot from sliding.
Rides:
2003 Suzuki Volusia 800 (too small, sold)
2005 Yamaha Road Star Warrior 1700 (Awesome - medical reason forced sale
(Unfortunate, Unscheduled, Car Induced, Violent Bicycle Dismount)clicky details)
2006 Suzuki VStrom 1000 (GREAT deal forced trade)
2007 Yamaha FJR AE 1300 (FJR: Freakin Japanese Rocket)
"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'"
Ronald Reagan Go STEELERS
(and anyone playing the cowboys)