Ever seen a motorcycle accident? / New Bench Press Record
This is going to be interesting…
On the way to the gym I see a guy on a sweet motorcycle in the turn lane across an intersection from me. I see him hit some gravel and lose control of the bike (later found out that his throttle stuck). He was working hard to save it but it was too out of control and the poor guy slammed into a metal post sign in the median. His bike slid past me (I’m in the mustang) about 35 yards from the sign he just hit. I quickly pulled over and ran over to the dude who is now lying in the intersection. A sweet lady and another guy are holding his head and trying to keep him from moving. I see that his left leg is just about amputated about 7 inches up from his ankle. The tibia and fibula bones are completly severed as well as the artery and as you might imagine he is in some kind of pain. A couple of folks are standing around making 911 calls and seem a little dazed. The guy is bleeding out pretty badly so I wrapped both hands just below his left knee and put pressure on the artery and got the bleeding stopped (as long as I kept pressure behind his knee). The paramedics finally show up about 4-5 mins later and we get him on the board and into the ambulance. About 4 mins after that, the lifeflight helicopter shows up and flew the guy off to the hospital. So I say all that to remind all of you motorcycle riders to be extremely careful on those most powerful machines…and all you four wheel drivers (like me), to watch out for our motorcycle brothers out there.
So I finally get to the gym (adrenline already pumping) and do a bench presss warm-up set of 135X10, then 225X7, then I put on 315 lbs and benched it 6 times. So 315X6 is a new personal best for me. So it was a good workout day for me but it did not have the luster it normally has after witnessing what I had just seen. I hope the guy is OK. I might try to go see him in a day or so to see how he is doing. I hope all of you are doing well. If you have a motorcycle…drive carefully. My kids will NEVER ride them…I just made a new rule today 
February 24, 2008 at 3:09 pm
it’s tragic I know.. I broad sided a van head first at 50 mph.. no helmet.. covered up for dead.. yeah.. pain was my middle name and has been ever since.. I still have nagging injuries that remind me of that day. I think that everyone who is legal to drive should also take a motorcycle safety course.. not road test.. but serious training to show them just how vulnerable we are. BTW? Not trying to pat myself on the back.. but.. I was told I would never be able to lift over 15 lbs with my left arm.. HA..! How I survived? spent years in the military (82 nd Airborne) and the gym. Training is essential for so many reasons.. Not so many are as fortunate, for them, my heart is heavy, but for anyone who says that weight training is a waste? come see me.. I’ll never be able to lift like I used too. but it will never keep me from the gym. ever…
February 24, 2008 at 7:52 pm
You are a hero man - what you did could have saved his life else he could have bled to death! You should definitely follow up on him. Good job on 315 x 6 - you are way stronger than me right now! I am dropping my weight like crazy - down to 194.6 this morning and I am not gonna stop until I hit the magical 10% body fat and then it will be time to add some lean mass. Keep up the strong work man and I hope your wife and kids are proud of their good samaritan!
February 25, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Well, I appreciate that asm, but I know the true heros are the guys/ladies like you that do those things on a daily basis. I have tons of respect for you guys in the medical field. You guys and the troops serving overseas in harms way are the real heros. Thanks for doing what you do. I appreciate the very kind words, Doc.