Big Ben in Motorcycle Accident

[ember]

Thank goodness! Our boy Ben has been upgraded to fair condition and may even be able to play in the season opener. I'm just glad he's going to be OK.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/nfl/06/13/bc.fbn.roethlisberger.update.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

 

[Pandora]

My brother, who rides a bike, says that the word in motorcycle circles is that the laws are changing to allow helmetless riding in an effort to increase organ donations. Doctors have called motorcycles donorcycles for years.
Please don't shoot the messenger; this is just the word in the bike circuit. :truce:

 

[ember]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/nfl/06/15/bc.fbn.roethlisbergerac.ap/index.html?cnn=yes


So good to hear that he's coming out of this so well when it could have had a very tragic outcome instead. Maybe we should nickname him "the man of Steel"...it's a good pun on many levels ...he could have been dead or at least a little more seriously injured. Did anyone on here see the windshield after he hit it? I have to say it's a miracle. I wonder what he'll look like after he heals. He'd almost have to look different...

Best wishes for a quick recovery!

 

[Usher737]

Big Ben Releases Statement, Will Wear Helmet

KDKA) PITTSBURGH Ben Roethlisberger has released a statement on his motorcycle accident:

"In the past few days, I have gained new perspective on life. By the grace of God, I am fortunate to be alive, surrounded by loved ones and lifted by the prayers and support of so many. I am sorry for any anxiety and concern my actions have caused others, specifically my family, the Steelers organization, my teammates and our fans.

"I recognize that I have a responsibility to safeguard my health in the offseason so I can continue to lead our team effectively. I never meant any harm to others nor to break any laws. I was confident in my ability to ride a motorcycle and simply believed such an accident would not happen to me. If I ever ride again, it certainly will be with a helmet.

"My deepest appreciation goes out to the Steelers organization and my teammates for the compassion they have shown me. The physicians and support staff at Mercy Hospital were simply amazing, and I will forever be grateful for their caring treatment.

"I want to assure everyone I am committed to a complete and timely recovery. I look forward to being at training camp in Latrobe and to winning football games this season."

Roethlisberger is continuing his recuperation at home with his family at his side.

 

[ember]

Big Ben Releases Statement, Will Wear Helmet

KDKA) PITTSBURGH Ben Roethlisberger has released a statement on his motorcycle accident:

"In the past few days, I have gained new perspective on life. By the grace of God, I am fortunate to be alive, surrounded by loved ones and lifted by the prayers and support of so many. I am sorry for any anxiety and concern my actions have caused others, specifically my family, the Steelers organization, my teammates and our fans.

"I recognize that I have a responsibility to safeguard my health in the offseason so I can continue to lead our team effectively. I never meant any harm to others nor to break any laws. I was confident in my ability to ride a motorcycle and simply believed such an accident would not happen to me. If I ever ride again, it certainly will be with a helmet.

"My deepest appreciation goes out to the Steelers organization and my teammates for the compassion they have shown me. The physicians and support staff at Mercy Hospital were simply amazing, and I will forever be grateful for their caring treatment.

"I want to assure everyone I am committed to a complete and timely recovery. I look forward to being at training camp in Latrobe and to winning football games this season."

Roethlisberger is continuing his recuperation at home with his family at his side.

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
Good for you Ben! That made me tear up a little. He sounds very humbled by this. He is very lucky...:woohoo:

 

[Buzz Mills]

Big Ben Releases Statement, Will Wear Helmet

KDKA) PITTSBURGH Ben Roethlisberger has released a statement on his motorcycle accident:

"In the past few days, I have gained new perspective on life. By the grace of God, I am fortunate to be alive, surrounded by loved ones and lifted by the prayers and support of so many. I am sorry for any anxiety and concern my actions have caused others, specifically my family, the Steelers organization, my teammates and our fans.

"I recognize that I have a responsibility to safeguard my health in the offseason so I can continue to lead our team effectively. I never meant any harm to others nor to break any laws. I was confident in my ability to ride a motorcycle and simply believed such an accident would not happen to me. If I ever ride again, it certainly will be with a helmet.

"My deepest appreciation goes out to the Steelers organization and my teammates for the compassion they have shown me. The physicians and support staff at Mercy Hospital were simply amazing, and I will forever be grateful for their caring treatment.

"I want to assure everyone I am committed to a complete and timely recovery. I look forward to being at training camp in Latrobe and to winning football games this season."

Roethlisberger is continuing his recuperation at home with his family at his side.

That's our boy Ben; he's one lucky guy, and so are we. All of us fans almost saw a possible Steeler dynasty end with that crash. Take it easy Ben, some of us older fans can't take this kind of strain on our hearts.

 

[ember]

Look at thses pictures of the accident! I just can't believe that he has walked away from this so soon...

His bike is mangled and it looks like some of the handle bar is missing. This is the front of the bike that is closest to us...

The shatters in the windshield have to be where his face/head hit...ouch!

I just can't believe this he survived this with no helmet! He is out of the hospital today...WOW...no wonder his opinion has changed. He has definetley been given a second chance. Can't wait to see what he does with it!
Get well Ben!

 

[Usher737]

PITTSBURGH -- One week after Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger crashed his motorcycle in downtown Pittsburgh, police held a news conference Monday morning to release their findings into the accident.



Police said both drivers – Roethlisberger and the female operator of a Chrysler New Yorker -- had the green signal at the traffic light.



However, police said the driver of the car trying to make a left turn did not yield.



The car’s driver will be cited for failure to yield to oncoming traffic.



Roethlisberger will be cited for failure to drive in his class and for failure to wear a helmet.



Authorities said Roethlisberger did not have a valid permit or license to operate a motorcycle.



They added that any motorcycle driver must wear a helmet for the first two years of his license.



Police found no mechanical failures with either vehicle.



Officials reported that Roethlisberger was not speeding at the time of the crash.



Police reported on the impact to the car.



According to police, Roethlisberger’s hip dented the lower part of the car’s windshield



His shoulder hit the upper portion of the windshield and the dent on the roof of the car was caused by the impact with Roethlisberger’s head.



Police said he then tumbled over the roof, rolled onto the back of the trunk and landed on the asphalt.



Officials said while the media has stated the name of the female driver, they are not releasing her name because she has received threats.



Pittsburgh police Chief Dom Costa said that the woman was sorry and that both parties involved regret the accident happened.

 

[JBean]

Thanks for that article Usher..but do you have a link? I want to pass it on.
Thank you!

 

[Usher737]

Here you go! http://www.wpxi.com/sports/9390377/detail.html

 

[JBean]

Here you go! http://www.wpxi.com/sports/9390377/detail.html

Thanks!

 

[Buzz Mills]

Thanks!

Here's another article about no helmet:

Fla. motorcycle fatalities reportedly soar Sun Jun 18, 3:14 PM ET

MELBOURNE, Fla. - Motorcycle fatalities involving riders without helmets have soared in the nearly six years since Gov. Jeb Bush repealed the state's mandatory helmet law, a newspaper reported Sunday.

A Florida Today analysis of federal motorcycle crash statistics found "unhelmeted" deaths in Florida rose from 22 deaths in 1998 and 1999, the years before the helmet law repeal, to 250 deaths in 2004, the most recent data available.

By comparison, Florida logged 270 deaths of riders without helmets during the 1990s, when riding without a helmet was illegal, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports.

Total motorcycle deaths in the state have increased 67 percent from 259 in 2000 to 432 in 2004, statistics show.

Records also show a corresponding rise in the popularity of motorcycles in the Sunshine State. Motorcycle registrations have increased 87 percent in Florida since Bush signed the helmet law repeal on July 1, 2000.

The debate over motorcycle helmet safety resurfaced last week when Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, an advocate of helmet-free riding, broke his jaw, nose and several teeth in an accident. He underwent seven hours of surgery.

Merritt Island motorcyclist and helmet law opponent Dave Carroll said the helmet law debate is misguided.

"The media spent way too much time harping on the helmet issue and not enough on the cause of the accident," Carroll said. "What causes most of the crashes is cars. Usually, it's the car driver turning left at an intersection and causing an accident because they didn't see us coming."

Physicians and insurance companies say helmets are crucial safety gear.

"We used to call (helmetless riders) 'organ donors,' because they break their head and not their body," said Dr. David Harbour, who works in the emergency room at Wuesthoff Medical Center in Rockledge. "You can actually fix a broken bone. But if you hit your head and hurt your brain, there's little we can do to fix that."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060618/ap_on_re_us/motorcycle_helmets_3

 

[ember]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/nfl/07/13/roethlisberger.interview.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

He's lost some weight, but other than that, he still looks the same...miraculous considering what he did to his face!
He's gonna have to start bulking back up...it's about that time! Here We GO!

Sending Big Ben best blessings for a full recovery...and soon....

 

[Buzz Mills]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/nfl/07/13/roethlisberger.interview.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

I hadn't heard this before.

Ben, the Steelers, and the fans, need to give this paramedic, who saved Ben's life, season tickets on the 50 yard line. Lucky for Ben, phew, that was close. This paramedic must have hero status in Pittsburgh.

 

[ember]

I hadn't heard this before.

Ben, the Steelers, and the fans, need to give this paramedic, who saved Ben's life, season tickets on the 50 yard line. Lucky for Ben, phew, that was close. This paramedic must have hero status in Pittsburgh.

I totally agree Buzz. I didn't realize he was THAT close to death either. Thank God for a very well trained paramedic. Ben & the Steelers & Pittsburgh should recognize him in some way. He should be honored, you're right. Hopefully they will. He was Ben's angel....