Ex-Alabama Governor in Motorcycle Accident

[AlabamaNomadRider]

In my opinion this guy was a jerk and did nothing for the State of Alabama. The following is the story of his adventure and his accident.

MONTGOMERY — Former Gov. Bob Riley was in fair condition Monday after a Sunday motorcycle accident in Alaska, but is expected to fully recover, his son and hospital officials said.

Rob Riley said his 66-year-old father called him late Sunday night and surprised him because he didn’t call to relate how he was having a good time.

“I thought he was calling because he was having so much fun, and forgot what time it was,” Rob Riley said.

Alaska is three hours behind Alabama’s time zone.

“I said, ‘Hey buddy, how are you?’ and when he answered he said he had had an accident,” Rob Riley said.

“‘Well, I’m calling from the emergency room,’” the younger Riley repeated. “He’s pretty banged up.”

The call was from the emergency room of Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, where Bob Riley was being treated for seven broken ribs, a broken collarbone and a punctured lung, his son said.

A spokeswoman at the hospital, Lisa Johnson, said the former governor was awake, alert and in fair condition. His condition originally was listed as critical, she said.

“He’s stable ... the outlook is favorable,” Johnson said.

Rob Riley said his father is in intensive care.

“(A doctor) said, ‘Your father has had serious injuries, and it will take a lot of recovery time,’ but he didn’t think it was life-threatening,” he added.

Bob Riley, who left office in January after two terms as governor, said his goal was to ride his motorcycle north to Alaska and return. Former Chief of Staff Dave Stewart said the former governor plans to return to Alabama as soon as he’s cleared to travel.

“He’s had fun and has no regrets, but he regrets he won’t be able to finish the trip,” Rob Riley said.

He said his father told him that he was on a gravel road when it started to rain. He was trying to make it to a paved road about a mile away that wouldn’t have been as slick, but his tires hit a slick spot and he had to “lay the bike down.”

Bob Riley was wearing a helmet, his son said.

Rob Riley on Monday said he was about to leave for Alaska. His mother, former first lady Patsy Riley, was making plans to travel later.

Stewart released a statement from Patsy Riley: “God was watching out for him. We feel blessed because it could have been so much worse.”

Rob Riley said his family appreciates “all the prayers and support from so many people. People from Alabama are generous in their prayers.”

Gov. Robert Bentley expressed his sentiments in a statement: “I am relieved to hear that he is expected to make a complete recovery. He, Patsy and the rest of the Riley family are in the thoughts and prayers of all Alabamians today. Dianne (Bentley) and I wish only the best for him, and pray for the governor’s speedy recovery so that he can get back to the things he enjoys doing.”

House Speaker Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, a close ally of Bob Riley, released a statement.

“I was relieved to hear that my friend, former Gov. Riley, will make a full recovery,” Hubbard said. “Throughout his trip, he has been relaying to me some wonderful experiences of seeing different parts of our country, enjoying the beautiful landscape and visiting with all the cowboys, truck drivers, mechanics and waitresses he’s encountered on the road. I am disappointed he won’t be able to complete his trip as planned, but I am thankful that he will be OK.”