Motorcyle, Helmets and a Deer, Please Read

I would like to ask anyone that rides a motorcycle or knows someone that rides a motorcycle to please wear a helmet and protective gear. My mother in law and father in law lives may have spared yesterday because of them.

My mother in law (Shelley) and father in law (Chuck) are currently in Regions Hospital (St. Paul) after hitting a deer while traveling east bound on I-94 near Roberts/Baldwin WI, 25 miles into Wisconsin Sunday morning, 7/8/07 at about 5:00 AM. They had left our home early to avoid the blistering heat and traffic and to make their journey home back to Elkhart, IN. This was following a trip they had made form Bismark, ND to our home in Mayer, MN in 95-97 degree temps.

Nothing like your wife getting a call at 5 AM from a stranger using your father’s cell phone stating her parents had been in an accident, but they were alright and that your mother says please come we need your help.

They were transported to a small hospital in Baldwin, WI, but Chuck was soon airlifted to Regions due to the facilities required, specifically trauma care. By this time Misty had driven to the hospital in WI and rode back to Regions with her mother in the ambulance.

Luckily they ride a large touring bike, Honda Goldwing GL1800, so I think the deer met his maker, but my in-laws injuries are pretty extensive. Shelley has a broken shoulder requiring surgery this Tuesday, a fractured ankle and road rash. Chuck has a broken shoulder, broken left index finger and ribs 2 through 9 are broken/fractured and extensive road rash.

Amazingly their spirits are quite high considering the situation.

Please keep my mother-in-law and father-in-law in your thoughts and prayers.

Lucky people. Prayers said for a speedy recovery. I never hit a deer on a bike but came close a few times. Did hit a car once though. Can’t imagine a deer would hurt any less.

My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

My wife and I were in the same boat a few years ago. We hit a deer on my Victory at about 12:00 am one night without helmets on. It was the first time my wife had ever riden without a helmet on, but you know, it was only to my sisters place for dinner

We made it out alright, but I will never forget picking my off the road, and the only thoughts in my head were I had just killed my wife. Very scary situation, and one that we learned a little something from

Sorry, didn’t mean to hijack your thread. Glad to hear they are alright, and a few minor things are not a big deal if they are alive and can heal.

I see no hijacking, just more knowledge and experiences to help save a few lives and prevent further grief for other families.

The toughest part of this is imagining my father in law all busted up dragging my mother in law off I-94 so that she didn’t get hit by other motorists. Sounds like human instincts took over and he was in auto pilot for a few moments.

Thank you for posting this thread. We all can learn from it.

Sorry to hear about your in-laws unfortunate accident. My prayers are with them and I hope they are on their way to a successful recovery.

I also think it’s pretty interesting that MN passed a law that you must wear a seat belt in your vehicle but you don’t have to wear a helmet on your motorcyle… This makes no sense to me.

Our prayers go out to your family.

My brother was just in a deer-motorcyle accident this last monday . Hit deer at 55 mph. Rolled the bike, deer is dead. He had his helmet on and leathers. Helmet was all busted up and the leathers were shredded. But he walked away with only road rash all over his body and knuckles He was very lucky to walk away from it.

Everyone, please use the safety devices that are out there to save your life……

And again, my families prayers will be with your family

I pray for their speedy recovery. I had a good friend who hit a deer on a seldom travelled gravel road back in the 80’s. He spent the night with his motorcycle pinning him underneith it in a ditch. He spent the next couple months in Iowa City with a broken spine. In his case I doubt if any safety equipment would have helped. Here in Iowa you do not need to wear a helmet when cycling which is something I’ve never understood.

My Prayers and Thoughts are with you. Hope they are back on the road soon.

My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family!

I found that your gear is replaceable , but just one accident can really screw you up for life , not worth it to me , I have seen one were this guy didnt buckle his helmet down , he T boned a bus thru a stop sign , doin well over the speed limit ,,not pretty…Learn from others mistakes it not worth it….
I am happy to hear that they will be OK.GOD BLESS

Sorry to hear about the familys accident and a good heads up when riding a motorcycle. My friend Dave and I had a friend who rode a bike for years, her name was Cathy. This Last spring while riding at night up by Guttenburg she rolled her motorcycle and died in the crash. No One knows why she dumped it because shes rode bikes for over 30 years and was as good a rider as anybody but she had a habit of not wearing her helmet. She always wore leathers but no helmet.

The area she was riding through is loaded with deer and people suspect a deer crossed her path and she eighter hit it or dumped her bike trying to avoid it. She was a very nice person and a heck of a cook and canner, its too bad shes gone now. I thought i’d tell this because she might have made it if she would have worn a helmet because of her massive head injuries.

Prayers going out for your family. The good Lord was watching put for them!!

Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. I am glad to hear your loved ones will recover from their injuries.

WI law says over 18, helmet is your option. It is stupifying why I am required to wear a seatbelt in a 7000 lb truck, yet you can ride 65 down the freeway without a helmet on a 300 lb motorcycle.

Thoughts and prayers go out from our family, not to change the subject but this is a sore one for me- Here in Wisconsin I can get pulled over as I drive safely and mostly protected in my pickup truck for not wearing a seatbelt, as I am being given a ticket I could have a gross of motorcycle drivers ride by me with nothing but a pair of sunglasses and shorts and flip flops for protection and they would be legal. What a strange world we live in……

In WI, if you are on a motorcycle it is a real good idea to not go over 60 mph, day or night. WI is loaded with deer everywhere.
My brother took out a deer at 65 mph on interstate 90. He was wearing a helmet that had a big chip out of it afterwards.

His son died when he hit a deer with his motorcycle by Eau Claire a few years ago.

If you are going 60 or less you have a chance to slow down a little bit in some cases. That helps a lot.

It still amazes me when I am looked at by other motorcycle riders as being uncool because I am wearing a helmet. That happens a lot. There is a lot of pressure on riders in that regard. That is why a lot of riders do not wear helmets, especially younger ones. Its not cool!!

Ask any doctor where most of the donated organs come from and they will tell you it is from motorcycle riders without helmets.

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

Just wanted to follow up and let everyone know how appreciative we are for your concern and thoughts.

My in laws our both having surgery this morning

I have attached a few pics (not gruesome, just mangled plastic and metal) we took yesterday to show the extent of the damage to the motorcycle and of their helmets.

The helmets show how they performed their tasks. These are open face helmets with sun shields. As simple as those sunshields were they prevented any injury from the pavement. Notice the scuffing from the pavement on the shield.

I have also attached a picture of Shelley’s wedding ring. Chuck’s belt buckle was also very similar, portions of it were ground down from the highway pavement.

It was very difficult unloading leather jackets and other items from my truck at home last night, knowing they were not being worn at the time. Would have helped tremendously with the road rash.

Take care.

Pic

shield pic

bike front pic

wedding ring

wedding ring pic

Update,

Wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers.

In-laws are healing up nicely and pending a Doctors clearing, they may be traveling home this weekend with the help of my wife and sister in law.

Just a reminder to please put where safety gear, put the odds in your favor. Think about your loved ones and not just yourself.

Jason