The Motorcycle Crash
I have no memory of the crash itself. There were a few brief moments in the hospital when I was told by family that I woke up and said, “It wasn’t my fault, it wasn’t my fault. The guy with dreads was in my lane. 45 degrees, 45 degrees.” I have no memory of this nor of the moments right before the crash or right after even after watching video footage taken minutes after the crash by bystanders.
Based on eyewitness reports, the medical crews on scene, the damage to my bike as well as my multiple injuries I will attempt to describe what happened next.
I truly have no idea if I was at fault or the young man in the SUV. Regardless, we impacted in a corner with the speed limit at 35 mph. My front tire and his passenger headlight made contact. At the same time, his bumper and my hip collided. I was thrown through the air as my motorcycle caught on fire. My motorcycle came to rest in the ditch with my body lying right next to it.
The people in the car behind me told the police they saw my body flying through the air but did not witness the accident. They debated amongst themselves if they should move my body as the bike was on fire only inches away from me. They began dragging me away from my motorcycle. Approximately 30 seconds later the gas tank erupted in a ball of flames.
A few minutes later the trees along the side of the road caught fire and began to spread. In the end 5 acres were burned before the fire was finally extinguished by 3 helicopters dumping water from above while a 4th helicopter arrived to medivac me to the hospital after the ground crew did what they could to take care of me.
I was flown to Asante Hospital in Medford Oregon where they began running tests to determine all of my injuries when they discovered my most critical injury. My aorta had ruptured and I needed immediate life saving surgery. The only 2 surgeons that are skilled in that type of surgery were not available and I was immediately put back on the helicopter and flown up north to OHSU (Oregon Health & Science University) in Portland Oregon where I underwent 8 surgeries.
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