My Favorite Ride (Miracles do Happen)

[kjelders]

The pilot lifted off the beach with the same precision as landing. The patient is on his way to Harberview Medical Center.

It took me at least 10 minutes before I could stand with help. People I didn't know or get their name brought us water, gatorade, and snacks. I'm a insulin dependant diabetic. So with the adrenaline rush, it dropped my blood sugar.

While sitting, another rider came up to me and said, "I'm with Ed, I'm his friend of 30 years and we have been riding together on this trip." He broke down and starting crying. I put my arm around him and told him, not knowing what happened, "Do not blame yourself. We all know when we throw our legs over a bike, ultimately we our responsible for our self, no one else. " Ian, is this guys name. They are both from Vancouver, BC. He told me they just left the lookout point 2 miles up the mountain and was heading down. The 2 mile stretch is very twisty. Ian was riding a 2012 BMW F1200 adventure bike. He got ahead of Ed. He thinks Ed was trying to catch up and saw that when Ian took the corner on a much lighter weight bike he didn't have to hit his brake, Ed must of thought the curve wasn't that bad.

The couple in the car told me that when they reach the corner going up and saw Ed, Ed was already over the center line. In fact they felt something hit the driver's side rear tire. The lady in the passenger seat of the car turn to look back at the time Ed's Harley struck the Gold Wing head on. She said she saw Ed's body doing a Superman flight over the guardrail and disappear. After sometime I walked over Ed's Road King. It was on it's left side. I looked at the right floorboard. The floorboard is attached with a spring loaded pin that allows the boards to fold up when dragged. Underneath the board is a solid piece of metal welded to the frame. On the outer corner of floor board bracket I see fresh shiny grind marks. I'm very certain when Ed tried taking the corner he didn't heed the warning of the floor board scraping and leaned too far over contacting the non movable metal which then would cause the bike to stand straight up. It was a head on collision with the Gold Wing. (pictures taken by my friend Clark)

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.....more to come

[kjelders]

I didn't get the gold wing riders name as others where tending to him. I understand he probably has a broken wrist. He was wearing a 3/4 helmet and had lacerations and road rash to the face. He was taken by ground ambulance and I'm not sure which hospital. When you look at the pictures of his bike, by all rights he shouldn't be alive. He was walking around and gathering up personal items from the wreck. They kept a close eye on him until the paramedic took over.

Ed, the Harley Rider:

I had Ian following me to Harbor View Medical Center. I didn't not want him riding alone. It took us 2.5 hours from where the accident was to the hospital. Upon our arrival, ED was getting another CT as the doctor discovered a small bleed in the head from the body CT done earlier. Ed's wife, son and son's girlfriend arrive at the hospital about 50 minutes after Ian and I did. They drove down from Vancouver, BC.

Ed was wearing a half helmet. It was still on his head and strapped when we got to him. PLEASE DO NOT remove a rider's helmet that has been in an accident. The paramedic and I have advance training to know how to remove a rider's helmet involved in an accident. ok, off my preaching.

As of this morning, ED is in ICU with a collapse right lung, multiple right rib fractures, and the small head bleed. The head bleed was determined to be stable so they operated on Ed's right leg. He has a right femur compound fracture, and fractured his Tibia which pushed up through his right knee and fractured his knee. He leg was operated on at midnight lasting 5 hours. This is the first surgery of many more to come to repair his leg. I'm not sure if he will be able to ever walk again. Ed is consider to be in a critical state but stable and on a ventilator for breathing. He has a long long way to recovery.

Ian is doing ok. That is expected. I talked with him this morning.

All I can say is God put us 3 together at the right place with perfecting time. All the training and experience the 3 of us have in the medical field was tested yesterday in extreme conditions with limited equipment.

Miracles still happen!

[opas ride]

Yes, miracles do happen everyday...I have witnessed similar situations in my life and my faith in the Lord as never let me down....You people will be blessed for helping and making personal sacrifices in what appeared to be a life threating and very dangerous ordeal to help out our fellow human beings.....The world needs more people like you and those that assisted in this accident!!!!...You will indeed find blessings down the road for your efforts......Regards

[Phantom]

Kevin, Kudos to you and everyone.

I said it before and I will say it again, I'm proud to be associated with this fine group of 1st class individuals.

I hope that everyone heals and are able to ride again, even if it is a trike.
Hoping that they get back on the saddle once again, it's the best therapy to a great recovery.

[Hornblower]

Wow, what a story! I'll keep Ed on the prayer list so definitely, keep us posted on his recovery. I am one who believes that it was no coincidence that you and the others were there to help save Ed's life.

[53driver]

Thanks for the update KJ. Prayers continuing......