It was Laboy Day of 2007, a Sunday. School had begun for me so this was my last gasp of Summer and I was looking forward to the ride. I was riding with about 6 other friends. Some were two up and two of us were riding solo. I was riding my 2001 BMW K1200RS, a very fast bike and one that was clearly not for beginners. I bought this bike to replace my 2004 Honda VFR which was destroyed when I was hit head on in an intersection by an uninsured driver on Goodale Blvd near the new hockey arena in the summer of 2006. I really loved that bike but I really now was beginning to love my new BMW too.

We were traveling in Choschocton County near Mohawk Dam. The two of us riding solo were having fun and were leading the others most of the day. We stopped on the Dam to relax a moment and for one of the group to head in another direction toward home. So again, the two of us riding solo began to lead and in a few miles were ahead of the group by about a half mile.

At the time of the accident we were going about 40 to 45 mph since the road was very curvy and that was a safe speed since the road was smooth, clear and clean…….I thought.. My friend Jonathon was ahead of me about 200 yards and had gone through the left hander without incident. When I began to enter the same corner, I began to drift just a little right of the center line when, suddenly, I saw that the road was covered with gravel which had been washed down from another road which intersected at the apex of the curve. I began to quickly slow but by the time I did the front wheel had begun to slide. I tried to straighten the front end but just then I hit a signpost near the edge of the road on the left side of the bike and was then into the grass covered ditch and then into a fence.

Hitting the signpost may have actually helped since I was ripped off the bike
before it went straight into a fence post and was totally destroyed. I never lost consciousness but I was bruised, scraped and bleading. I knew I was hurt but mostly, I was mad that I wrecked my new bike. I ended up on my back in the grassy part of the ditch. By the time Johnathan realized what had happened and had returned, I had removed my helmet and by that time my other friends were at the scene. I knew only that my little finger of my left hand was seriously broken and my left leg was scraped and hurting. Just then, a car drove up and simply by luck, the driver was a paramedic from the area. He called the squad and the next thing I remember I was in the squad and on my way to the hospital. I believe I went into a form of shock since I do not recall much from the time after the accident.

I was taken to Knox Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon. Ironically, while I was in the emergency room being treated for my injuries, a highway patrolman came to see me….I thought he was there to see how I was doing. He actually came to give me a $100 ticket for failure to control my vehicle. I DO remember that much. I was soon transported by ambulance to Riverside Hospital in order to have my finger repaired/reattached. As I recall, I was taken home by my sister the following morning.

School began the following Tuesday and I knew I would need to miss at least the rest of the week since I couldn’t walk and I was in great pain. As the week went on, I began to feel worse and started to get sicker and sicker. My friend Ron, a researcher/Veterinarian at Battelle came to see me and immediately knew something was wrong. He told me to go to the emergency room and on Friday evening I did. I was quickly admitted and it was found that the road rash on my leg was infected with Cellulitus. I spent the next 6 days at Riverside on IV antibiotics.

I missed a total of 10 days from school but I should have stayed out much longer. After about two weeks since leaving the hospital I could walk without a cane. Other than some lack of feeling in my finger, I am fully recovered from that accident.

I fully believe I am alive today because I was wearing a helmet and a good riding jacket. Both items were destroyed in the accident but they did their job. If I had been wearing good riding pants (as I do now) I feel the only issue physically I would have had from this accident would be from a broken finger.

For a time…..I nearly stopped riding. It took many weeks for me to decide to ride again. I am riding again now but I am much more cautious on the road. I am always looking for road debris and keeping my speed lower in the corners of unfamiliar roads.

My advice to all folks out their who think it’s just too hot to wear their jacket or it’s not “cool” to wear a helmet. Think again. Trust me on this…….you’ll be glad you put them on if you ever come upon some gravel as you enter a corner at speed.

Stephen Newton
Grandview EURO Bike Night