Well, it finally happened. We were putting around in a local neighborhood when I noticed some traffic catching us from behind. So....I told the wifey thru the helmet that I was going to pull off to the shoulder and let them pass because I knew, we would hold up traffic.
Like a typical drunk, he followed the lights. Steered right into us on the shoulder. We were sitting dead still and he put his F150 blue oval right in the middle of our third brake light at 30-40mph. Pushed us 30ft maybe?
At the last minute, I looked in my mirror to see a headlight RIGHT THERE but I thought it was his passenger side and he might clip us as he went by but, oh no, it was his driver's side and he squared us up and smacked us. I had enough time to say WTF in the mic.
Both saddlebags exploded, exhaust pushed up almost to the passenger's foot pegs, license plate holder was wedged in between the back tire and the shock, in front of the tire!
The wife is a little short so the top case and headrest kept her protected fairly well only suffering leg and abdominal strains. I had enough time to grip the handlebars but not enough to go full brace for impact so it pulled my arms out so dang hard it broke a bone in my right hand, tore my right rotator cuff and tore ligaments in my shoulder. I also got my left foot caught under the bike while sliding and the toe of my boot caught, which spun my foot around and broke my ankle.
A very, very nice couple was right behind this guy and came running up. They were very, upset also. They said he had been swerving all over for several blocks and they KNEW something was going to happen. We "assume" he was at a local watering hole and thought he could one-eye it home. People came from everywhere. All of the nearby houses cleared out because it was so loud. People brought my wife water, gave me a bag to collect all my stuff, it was nice.
The guy got out of his truck and walked up to us, he was smashed. Smelled of alcohol, staggered a little, but he obviously knew what happened because he snuck out of the crowd and got into his truck and took off. He laid rubber right thru the middle of our crowd as people dove out of the way. No one was hurt during the jettison. He didn't say a word.
The witness that was following was very upset and speaking with 911 when he drove off, I jumped on the running board but when he started to move I jumped off just yelling, turn your truck off, turn your truck off.
The operator was trying to get the witness to give any details as he drove off but it was really just too fast and we were simply not focused.
As we stood there wondering what the heck we were going to do and asking the crowd if anyone got any truck pictures I stumbled on something and realized...
He had knocked his front license plate off when he hit us, it was right there.
The police responded to our scene and also to his home where he had run inside and refused to come out. We had a relative pick us up and drive us to the ER and when we went past his house, the police had it totally lit up and were on a bullhorn yelling for him to come out.
We found out later they got tired of waiting and eventually just left, leaving him to sleep it off in his own house while we set in the ER until 2:45 am.
There is more to the story after this but I will wait for some resolve before spoiling it. But for now, I am officially in the bike buying market again. Luckily his insurance has been very receptive.
Like a typical drunk, he followed the lights. Steered right into us on the shoulder. We were sitting dead still and he put his F150 blue oval right in the middle of our third brake light at 30-40mph. Pushed us 30ft maybe?
At the last minute, I looked in my mirror to see a headlight RIGHT THERE but I thought it was his passenger side and he might clip us as he went by but, oh no, it was his driver's side and he squared us up and smacked us. I had enough time to say WTF in the mic.
Both saddlebags exploded, exhaust pushed up almost to the passenger's foot pegs, license plate holder was wedged in between the back tire and the shock, in front of the tire!
The wife is a little short so the top case and headrest kept her protected fairly well only suffering leg and abdominal strains. I had enough time to grip the handlebars but not enough to go full brace for impact so it pulled my arms out so dang hard it broke a bone in my right hand, tore my right rotator cuff and tore ligaments in my shoulder. I also got my left foot caught under the bike while sliding and the toe of my boot caught, which spun my foot around and broke my ankle.
A very, very nice couple was right behind this guy and came running up. They were very, upset also. They said he had been swerving all over for several blocks and they KNEW something was going to happen. We "assume" he was at a local watering hole and thought he could one-eye it home. People came from everywhere. All of the nearby houses cleared out because it was so loud. People brought my wife water, gave me a bag to collect all my stuff, it was nice.
The guy got out of his truck and walked up to us, he was smashed. Smelled of alcohol, staggered a little, but he obviously knew what happened because he snuck out of the crowd and got into his truck and took off. He laid rubber right thru the middle of our crowd as people dove out of the way. No one was hurt during the jettison. He didn't say a word.
The witness that was following was very upset and speaking with 911 when he drove off, I jumped on the running board but when he started to move I jumped off just yelling, turn your truck off, turn your truck off.
The operator was trying to get the witness to give any details as he drove off but it was really just too fast and we were simply not focused.
As we stood there wondering what the heck we were going to do and asking the crowd if anyone got any truck pictures I stumbled on something and realized...
He had knocked his front license plate off when he hit us, it was right there.
The police responded to our scene and also to his home where he had run inside and refused to come out. We had a relative pick us up and drive us to the ER and when we went past his house, the police had it totally lit up and were on a bullhorn yelling for him to come out.
We found out later they got tired of waiting and eventually just left, leaving him to sleep it off in his own house while we set in the ER until 2:45 am.
There is more to the story after this but I will wait for some resolve before spoiling it. But for now, I am officially in the bike buying market again. Luckily his insurance has been very receptive.