Booze, bikes and bricks = trouble

[cactusjack]

I don't mean to make light of this situation, just thought I'd share this. Timely reporting by the AZ Repugnant - this happened Friday night, didn't hit the paper until today.

Scottsdale motorcyclist hits wall, seriously injured

by Staci McCabe - Apr. 20, 2009 09:23 AM
The Arizona Republic

A Scottsdale man was seriously injured after losing control of his motorcycle and striking a wall, police said.

The 22-year-old man, whom police have not yet identified, suffered serious head injuries, including a fractured skull. He was not wearing a helmet, according to police.

The man was riding his 2007 Kawasaki motorcycle around 10:30 p.m. Friday in the south parking lot of Scottsdale Springs Apartments, 7701 E. Osborn Road, when he lost control and hit a wall on the west end of the apartment complex, police said.

The man was taken to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn in serious condition, police said.

Both alcohol and speed are believed to have been factors in the crash, police said.

[strobe]

This is likely one of the reports that the 'he was not wearing a helmet' comment may be very relevant, I don't imagine hitting your unprotected head on a wall would be a good thing.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by strobe

This is likely one of the reports that the 'he was not wearing a helmet' comment may be very relevant, I don't imagine hitting your unprotected head on a wall would be a good thing.

You're right. He might not have a fractured skull right now if he'd been wearing a lid. In this case the fact that the rider was or was not wearing a helmet is warranted.

[phenrichs]

"Ten feet tall and brick wall proof" according to the report. Funny how alcohol will make a person forget about safety equipment.

[Cajunrider]

Does Arizona require brain buckets?

[markusmaximus]

Let's see. No helmet-- check! Alcohol-- check! Full throttle-- check!

Reads like a recipe for disaster.

[ndbigfish]

See what happens when you remove the predators from the system........ ;)

Hopefully his brain will heal and he'll learn that booze and bikes don't mix.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by Cajunrider

Does Arizona require brain buckets?

Only if you're under 18.

[oldbikers]

I hate to read about this type of thing but it does make me realize how lucky I was in my younger days!

[ells]

Originally Posted by oldbikers

I hate to read about this type of thing but it does make me realize how lucky I was in my younger days!

Yeah, think about that a lot.

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by strobe

This is likely one of the reports that the 'he was not wearing a helmet' comment may be very relevant, I don't imagine hitting your unprotected head on a wall would be a good thing.

Just curious, when would that not be relevent.

[strobe]

Originally Posted by Top Cat (TC)

Just curious, when would that not be relevent.

When the rider gets hit by a train, large transport truck, etc, etc, etc. By all means always wear a helmet, I always do even when it is not required, but the media always puts that in there like it would make a difference...it is what they call news these days to sensationalize absolutely everything. Kind of like if they stated that people in an airplane that crashes into a mountain were not wearing their seat belts, at some point it just does not matter what safety items you have.

[dougster]

Originally Posted by strobe

When the rider gets hit by a train, large transport truck, etc, etc, etc. By all means always wear a helmet, I always do even when it is not required, but the media always puts that in there like it would make a difference...it is what they call news these days to sensationalize absolutely everything. Kind of like if they stated that people in an airplane that crashes into a mountain were not wearing their seat belts, at some point it just does not matter what safety items you have.

Yet, it is amazing what the human body can take, and still survive, so long as the cumulative injuries are not too severe. Wearing a helmet in a severe wreck could make the difference between the body being able to heal, and being unable to heal, because the cumulative injuries are just too much for the body to be able to deal with. So, in most accidents (except, of course, decapitations or a complete tearing in half, etc.) wearing protective gear probably makes the difference.

Of course, it is hard to say definitively whether or not it actually did make the difference because you cannot go back and recreate the accident exactly, and leave the helmet out of the equation the second time!

[unwind2]

Alcohol and bikes.....

I never will forget this dumb jerk brought into the ED by EMS one night. He was at home...drinking...got into an argument with his wife...so being mad .....went out, got on his bike wearing flip flops, shorts and sleeveless teeshirt......took a nice slide ending at a barbed wire fence . No fractures but covered in road rash....and the little bit of cloths he had on were torn. We cleaned and dressed the the road rash.....litterally kerlexed (wrapped bandaging) both legs ankles to thighs and both arms shoulder to wrist. Gave him a tetanus shot and doc was nice he got a mild pain shot. Gave him a set of our paper scrubs we give out to folks being discharged who don't have cloths.....and then the cops hauled him off to jail on an outstanding warrant. He should have stayed at the house and just ignored her. Duh.. ::)

[kawgirl]

Prescription drugs are just as bad. We had a local group get crashed into head on by a guy in a pick up truck this past Saturday who had taken a prescription med. No mention of the name of the med. Killed two of the riders and injured a few of the others. One of the survivors had his leg amputated below the knee yesterday.