went down (and not in a good way) - Page 4

Seahawk · 08-20-2006, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by trap
That you both walked away means you did a great job handling the crisis - there is no "what if" about it.

Mitch is right...your experience and amount of "seat time" surely made the difference in your accident, in both seeing the animal and reacting to the impact.

There is no, "what if" about it.

All the best.

Wrecked944 · 08-20-2006, 08:24 AM

Todd, I'm very glad to hear you are both okay. You have a lot of friends on this BBS - most of whom you've never met. And I am sure we all breathed a collective sigh of relief when you said no-one was seriously harmed!

jbryant · 08:40 AM

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to you and your girlfriend Todd.

Jim

jriera · 08-20-2006, 09:09 AM

Sorry to hear Todd, glad to hear you and g/f are on the way to recovery ...

Get well soon

Don Ro · 08-20-2006, 09:53 AM

Frightful event!, Todd. 'Sure got *my* attention.

I would guess that you feel both out-gunned and smiled upon by the Universe, considering...
going down at 65 mph...
on asphalt...
in traffic...
at night...
w/minimum gear.
I sure would.
That could have been soooo much worse!

"When you lose, don't lose the lesson."
Heal quickly and well...both within and without.

Best,
.
.
ps Thanks for the medical info, Tobra.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 08-20-2006, 09:59 AM

there's a reason I walk with a slight limp.

Heal fast.

Hugh R · 08-20-2006, 10:15 AM

Wow Todd, I'm so sorry, but glad to hear your OK. Like Speeder, I'll PM you my cell # if you need take out, a ride somewhere, just let me know. 31 years ago, I got t-boned by a Taxi in Boston and it shoved the right handle bar into my scrotum and it came out just below my navel. Lost my right nut, and a couple of feet of intestine. I was out of it, and don't remember, but I was taken to a catholic teaching hospital associated with Harvard, I'm told I was giiven the last rites. Also told I'd never have kids, I have two of my own thank you very much. Any way, get well soon.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

For lessons learned, the only thing I could have done differently would have been to have my proper bike pants on (and had some for the g/f too). My boots were Triumph bike boots, but in retrospect I don't think I'd ride in anything but Sidis. I knew I was taking a risk with the pants, but I didn't want to be more geared up than my g/f...stupid maybe but if I had been wearing all my stuff and got away scott free and she had a ton of road rash I couldn't have lived with that. Again, in retrospect, I should have bought her pants and boots and had her head to toe also. Lessons learned, but in this case I got the worst of it so at least I owned the lesson. Hey, I make plenty of mistakes in life and will continue to. The key is not making the same ones over and over again.

As for the actual accident, I don't know that there was anything I could have done differently. Believe me I've run it through my head a thousand times already. But I was doing 65mph at night on a stretch that didn't have great lighting. The coyote bolted from the shoulder of the freeway running a straight line towards the center divide. By the time I saw him in my peripheral vision he was on me. I didn't have target fixation...he didn't stop in front of me. I was steering straight and I broadsided him at a full run. Just very bad luck. And amazingly GOOD luck on everything that happened afterwards. I know we've had the god/no god argument many times, and I've always maintained that I believe there is a higher power and She looks out for me from time to time. This is one of those times. At least that's my take on it. And that's the only one that counts.

Icemaster · Icemaster's Garage

I sat there reading the first post with my jaw falling further and further open each line I read.

You're in teh situation, you know whats the best take on it. Don't second guess yourself, what is now is what will be. Unless you wanted to stay home that night or drive a 4 wheeler, there's nothing else you could have done.

All the best to you and your girlfriend, speedy recovery.

BlueSkyJaunte · 08-20-2006, 11:57 AM

DAYAMN. Sorry to read this, though I'm certainly glad it wasn't worse.

I've been spooked about riding since my son was born. Only made a few trips so far, and never at night. I've always hated night riding.

Again, sounds like things could've been much much worse...I'm glad they're not!

Don Ro · 08-20-2006, 12:22 PM

Yes, we all know that riding motorcycles is inherently dangerous...made more so by being surprised as you were (coyote)...made even more so by wearing minimum gear.

Not "...stupid...", IMO. I've done the same (as an adult, I've always worn a helmet/gear).
I'd give my helmet - and gloves - to my passenger...same reasoning - I'd feel horrible is she/he came out in worse condition than I.

Your vote was cancelled by the Universe via the coyote.
The good news is that you're still around to mull it all over in your mind.
I'm not sure what it would take for me to stop riding...hopefully I won't have to find out.
.
Here's another fellow whose vote was cancelled - one of my biggest fears. God help us!
.
http://clip.break.com/dnet/media/content/deervsmoto5.wmv

tabs · 08-20-2006, 01:26 PM

In CA I'm surprised that the CHP didn't cite you for killing a Coyote without a permit. Poor Wiley no more Road Runners for him. No body has said a word about the poor Coyote, it lost far more than Nostatus or his GF did... it lost everything, it lost its life.

Seahawk · 08-20-2006, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nostatic
And amazingly GOOD luck on everything that happened afterwards. I know we've had the god/no god argument many times, and I've always maintained that I believe there is a higher power and She looks out for me from time to time. This is one of those times. At least that's my take on it. And that's the only one that counts.

...the She is cool, as long as YOU are. Your take is what it is; valid, from my point of view.

Without her, from time to time, I'm a dot...

450knotOffice · 450knotOffice's Garage

Re: the coyote

I feel as bad as most anyone for the coyote, but damn, wtf was he thinking? Most plain old dogs have more street sense than that. There are at least five lanes he would've had to clear just to get to the center divider. His chances were not good. Not good at all.

Maybe he just helped cleanse the Coyote Gene pool of some stupidity.

I do feel bad for him though. The impact couldn't have felt good.

Todd, are you feeling a little better today? Get well soon buddy.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

well, if its any consolation, I think it was an "instant kill". As best as I can tell, my front wheel hit him right in the head or torso and crushed him fast. I saw the CHP officer pick it up and drag it off the road, and it was lying right to the edge of the #2 lane...pretty much where the impact was. It didn't wander around and die slowly...

I feel sorry for the wild life. We have encroached on all of *their* land, and they don't have much of a choice. When it is really hot sometimes they'll come out of the hills looking for water and/or food. When I lived in Pasadena I'd see them on my street every once in awhile...and I was a good 10 minutes from the foothills. We'd see them on the gold course at the Rose Bowl all the time, usually walking up and down the flood control channels.

My body is sore today and I'm noticing some new aches here and there. But the knee isn't throbbing as bad. I changed the dressing this morning and it was ugly but didn't look too bad. Sent email to a colleague who is head of plastic surgery at USC asking for a consult or referral. I'm still very hobbled (can't lift the left leg...just hurts too much) and can slowly get around with crutches. Main thing I'm worried about is infection but I've been on anibiotics since the accident and hopefully I'll get lucky and avoid staph. Rehab will suck, but it would be worse if I had broken bones in the knee. I don't think I can drive a clutch for awhile though...I'm going to either swap cars with the ex or rent an econo box. And who knows, if I really messed it up maybe I'll have to sell the SC and get a tip

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Well, we nearly did this to a homeless guy last night with the X5. He stepped out in front of us on I-10 and I had to swerve right to avoid him. The VW behind me nearly hit him as well.

Don't keep kicking yourself. $HIT happens!

williecoyote · 08-20-2006, 04:25 PM

Quote:

No body has said a word about the poor Coyote

Hush there Tabby, me and Mrs. Coyote are planning our revenge.

creaturecat · 08-20-2006, 04:32 PM

Have hit one myself....on a dirt field. He spun around and almost bit my nose.

Scary business - best wishes for a speedy recovery.

singpilot · 08-20-2006, 05:16 PM

Todd! Sorry I haven't been on here for a few days, just got back from a bike road trip 1277 miles in 3 days again...

Sorry to hear about the Duc, especially after all you have been thru with it.

Get you and the GF well. Call if I can help. You have the number.

Jeff Higgins · 08-20-2006, 06:34 PM

Wow Todd, I just read this. From a fellow rider - holy *****; am I glad to see you two are relatively alright. Take it easy and take the time you need to heal; us old bikers don't mend as fast as we used to. The truck taking out the bike is the scariest part; damn good thing you had parted company with it. I have been down on the freeway in heavy traffic in the past; all you can think about is the relative safety of that shoulder and getting the hell out of the way. Way to focus and keep your head there Todd; too many get hurt trying to save their bike. Drivers are in such a hurry; a dangerous combination of cluelessness, selfishness, and aggression; it's like a bad sequel to The Road Warrior out there. You are indeed a lucky man. Take care buddy, and I hope you heal up soon.