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27 April 2011
I really hate "Cagers", especially
after last Monday's fiasco
0745 on the 18th of
April, I was trying to work my way over into the HOV lane on I-264, some little
jackass in a Cage cut me off and then slowed down. I have noticed this more and
more lately, the damn "Cagers" will force themselves into the lane, even though
I, and the motorcycle are already occupying that lane.
I grabbed the
brakes, did not hit the car, but lost control of the bike in a classic "Low
Side". In other words, the bike slid away from me. "low side" crashes are
usually less damaging to the rider than the opposite "high side" in which the
bike pivots and slams the rider onto the pavement and is sliding toward the
rider.
Anyway, there I was tumbling along the pavement with the bike
ahead of me, sliding on the crash bars. My main concern at that point was the
traffic that was behind me, I don't want to get run over by some "text
messager" in an SUV.
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We came to a stop in
a relatively short distance, still in the same lane. On rushing traffic was
still my main concern, and I managed to stand up and started checking the
situation out. I was actually surprised to see that most of them had stopped. A
guy in the next lane got out of his car and asked if there was anything he
could do. I told him to put his four way flashers on.
At this point, I
checked the bike, turned off the gas and ignition, and then sat down on it and
waited for help to arrive. One of the best features of the roadways here in
Virginia is the "Motorist Assistance Program".
The "assistors" are
generally former State Troopers. They drive cars very similar to the State
Police, but with Yellow light bars instead of Blue. They can help with changing
a flat, will provide gas or water, and are generally extremely helpful. This
gent was no exception; he did a quick Triage on me, and called for an
ambulance. He also put out orange cones and of course had the flashing lights
going before he stopped. He also asked if I wanted a tow truck and if there was
anyone I needed to call; as I mentioned before, "Extremely helpful".
Of course the State Trooper showed up; he took my license and took statements
from the witnesses. I did not get to thank these people, but it makes me feel
good that there are folks out there who are willing to help, even if it means
hanging around and being late to work.
The ambulance ride was
interesting, just getting in was interesting, apparently they don't deal with a
lot of folks that are my size. I got on to the stretcher un-aided, then they
strapped me down and rolled me over to the back door of the ambulance, the
front wheels folded up, and one of them tried to pick up the back end, hmmm . .
he got really red in the face . . all three of them got in on the project, and
managed to get me loaded in.
About a quarter of a mile down the road
they made another stop, a different altercation (between cages) and one of the
drivers had fallen down while standing by the side of his car. He said his butt
hurt, and he wanted a ride to the emergency room.
The ambulance got
off at Witchduck, and then headed south to Princess Anne, then west. I have no
idea why the driver would pick this route since all he/she needed to do was
stay on 264 and get off at the Newtown exit and take center drive across (The
destination was Sentara Leigh on Kempsville road). That route would have
eliminated crashing along for an extra six miles, most of it through the
construction zone with the ripped up pavement.
My left hand was
getting more and more swollen, and I had a flash of brilliance and removed my
wedding ring. That may not sound like much, but I had seen folks with their
fingers so swelled up that the ring had to be cut off.
OK we are at
the Emergency Room; the trick wheels worked much better during the unload
process, and I was rolled inside the hospital where they parked me next to one
of the hospital gurneys and asked if I could slide over, which I did.
The next couple of hours were spent with me getting X-rayed and CT scanned. My
wife and grandchildren showed up during that time, and I had company when I got
back to the cubicle.
The doc came in at one point and told me that the
CT scan showed that there was "Nothing going on inside your head" my wife got
semi-hysterical at that point. She has claimed for years that this was the
case, now modern science has confirmed it.
He told her there were no
broken bones or serious injuries. I was of course, glad to hear that. One of
the things that helped me was the Jacket I wear. It is a "Tourmaster Flex,
series two". The back, shoulders and elbows are heavily padded, and those pads
protected me during my encounter with the pavement.
My right shoulder
has "Road Rash", and my shirt was ripped in that area, but it was caused by the
jacket material, not the concrete. My right knee has "Road Rash" and swelling,
and my left hand swelled up due to a Hematoma which happened when my hand hit
the roadway.
All in all, I came through this without any serious
injury, I still can't close my hand properly, and it will be another week or so
before I can work the clutch, but that is "Piece of Cake".
I have
included some pictures of the jacket, the ripped material is hard to see
because of the color, the boots are a little more obvious, and of course if I
had been wearing sneakers or "Flip Flops" I may have lost a toe. Same with the
helmet, one of those "Novelty" brands would not have protected my head the way
this clunky looking "DOT" approved model did.
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Addendum for "S and G": CHAPTER 471 |
(as in Attila, not as in sweetie)
hun@bikerenews.com
