Even the best made plans go a little crazy sometimes, don’t they?
I began my Saturday by attending a meeting for an upcoming Tres Dias weekend while W took our motorcycle group out for a typical monthly ride. While I sat in the church fellowship hall during this meeting, I could hear rumblings of thunder but after the summer we’ve had, I barely even acknowledge rain anymore. Impending rain did threaten the motorcycle route though, so my husband who strives to keep everyone DRY and safe from harm, changed the direction from north to south and they took off.
Unfortunately, they did hit some showers despite the best made plans but it didn’t seem to damper anyone’s enthusiasm to ride and reach a lunch destination. At some point in my meeting, W texted me that there had been an accident involving Mark and MaryLou and that they had been taken to Tampa General. They were going to be “okay”.
“Were they wearing helmets?” I asked.
“No.” was the answer and my concern grew exponentially. 
According to the other riders who witnessed the accident, an SUV had been aggressively trying to get in front of this particular group of about 10 riders. HUGE hurry~ probably trying to get to a Starbucks or maybe home to cut the lawn. The SUV had 4 people inside and what happened next makes you wonder how some people can live with themselves~ how they can continue to function as if all is right with their moral compass.
They hit a motorcyclist carrying a passenger and they fled.
Mark’s face and shoulder absorbed the impact upon landing on the road while Marylou appears to have landed on her forearms, the burns of road rash evident from wrist to elbow. Some may say they were incredibly “lucky” that this didn’t result in a fatality~ others will say it was the grace of God. Whatever you choose to believe, know this. Not one single statistic ever gathered about motorcyclists involved in a tangle with a 5,000 pound vehicle favors the motorcyclist surviving. You take that knowledge and couple it with the lack of head protection? Exactly. Recipe for complete disaster.
My son-in-law rides a motorcycle and he carries my pride and joy daughter on the back. Neither of them wear helmets and watching them pull away, unprotected and vulnerable, leaves me feeling sick every time. If they don’t care enough to protect themselves, can’t they at least care enough for each other? I know there isn’t a law and it’s a personal choice….what I don’t understand is why. We have laws that force us to wear seatbelts in vehicles but we don’t have a law in Florida (and many other states) that require protecting your head on a motorcycle?? This is just ludicrous to me….and believe me, on those beautiful days when the sun is warm and the air is cool, I WANT to leave my helmet at home, too. I WANT to feel the beauty of the day, unencumbered by a heavy full face helmet. But you know what I want even more? I want to keep my head and face intact should some idiot driver clip us or if we hit a slick spot on the road.
I’m so thankful that Marylou was spared more serious injury and will only have minor scars on her arms as a physical reminder. I’m so thankful that Mark had a plastic surgeon who sewed up lacerations in the operating room following an orthopedic repairing his shoulder and that he didn’t suffer life threatening injuries. I pray that they will be advocates and examples for wearing helmets to others who don’t see the importance and I pray for the very soul of each and every person in that SUV who made a choice not to stop.
No one ever plans to find themselves in the ER on a Saturday afternoon. Our best made plans sometimes go awry and we find ourselves smack dab in the middle of whole different fork in the road. I implore you…don’t be caught with your pants down, my friends. Is everything ok between you and your loved ones? Is everything ok with your relationship with God? Should you maybe be a little more careful with things in your life in case of an emergency?
What a wake up call. What a testimony to God’s grace and protection. What a horribly frightening scenario and a miracle that this wasn’t so much worse. What an opportunity to learn and share what we have learned.
God bless.
Amy
Amy- About 8 months ago, I was on my way to work, behind a motorcyclist who was traveling fast enough that he didn’t allow time to stop safely at a light. I watched in horror as he initially tried to run the light but then changed his mind and attempted to stop. We’ll never know if that was, in fact, his thinking because he wasn’t wearing a helmet. When he slammed on his brakes, he skidded halfway through the intersection, landing on the pavement, his bike mangled next to him. I had to make the call to 911, and I stood there and watched the expression on the paramedics’ faces when they realized there was nothing they could do for this guy. I still relive those 45 minutes in my sleep about once a week. SC has no helmet law either, and I just cannot understand why.
I’m praying for your friends as they recover, and I’ll find a way to pray for the idiots who hit them and did not stop. Hopefully, they’ll realize how irresponsible their actions were before this happens again.
Yikes. Thanks so much for this, Amy! Dave got a motorcycle a couple years ago and thank God he wears a helmet. But even so, I feel sick with worry often. A friend of ours back in Oregon just lost his son in a crash–he died despite the helmet. It was a big deal for me to finally say yes to Dave having a bike. I had to let go of fear and decide to trust God, not even to keep Dave safe, necessarily, but to hold our entire lives in his hands. And here’s what I told Dave about owning a bike: “Fine. But if you get in a wreck, I won’t change your diapers.” Of course, I don’t mean it. Or maybe I do. 🙂 The point is that I pray it would never come to that. He is my life and soulmate and my heart. Thanks for posting this in the hopes it could save a life. You just never know. Love to you, Heather
I’m shaking. I saw the posts about the accident but didn’t know the details. I just don’t understand either why there is no helmet law. I am a brand new rider and I will AlWAYS WEAR MY HELMET. Praying for safety of us all.
when i was 21, just returned home from failing to complete basic training in the Air Force, when i was at someone’s house getting a car title notarized when standing in the front yard talking, we heard a motorcyle coming our way. The cat was crossing the street and he tried to miss the cat and ended up in a pine needle covered ditch, as he tried ti regain control, he couldnt and he flew into the air, smacking into a tree upside down. From across the street i heard his neck snap. Yes, he was wearing a helmet. This young man died 2 minutes later. To this day i recall the entire incident very clearly. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN TO YOU ON A MOTORCYCLE, HELMET OR NOT. PLEASE RIDE DEFENSIVELY NOT OFFENSIVELY.
Yet despite all this, I still love riding motorcycles. GOD BLESS US ALL.