Monday, September 19, 2016

we lost William yesterday


Those are the words my neighbor Leonard greeted me with when I was walking Minnie Saturday evening.

William was another neighbor who lived next door to Leonard and Judy. I would often stop and chat with William when I was walking the dog and he was out, sometimes with his dog, sometimes not. I've only known William for about a year, maybe a little longer. His house was at the other end of the block and I only met him once I started walking Minnie regularly. He lived with his partner Edith. They had been together for 9 years.

William was a big rig trucker who got laid off his regular run last December as the pick-up point for his load was moved further away and the company hired drivers that were closer. He picked up another run soon after. He was an excellent driver, having just received an award for driving a million miles without a single accident or ticket.

Last Friday, William was on his way to Rosenberg on his motorcycle when the traffic had come to a stop because of all the construction on the highway that is being upgraded from a state highway to an interstate. Unfortunately, the 18 wheeler behind him did not stop in time and William was crushed between the truck and the car in front of him.

I can't help but think that had he been in his pick-up or a car he would have survived. It doesn't matter how good a motorcycle driver you are, how safe you drive, how alert you are, how careful you may be. None of that matters when someone plows into you and the only thing between your body and 2,000+ pounds of steel, your body and the pavement, is the clothes you are wearing.

Rescue workers have a term for motorcycle drivers. They're called 'organ donors'.




18 comments:

  1. That's horrible. I am so sorry. But it's true, what you said about motorcycle riders.
    Tragic.

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  2. Oh my, you never know how you're going to end up.

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  3. My oldest brother died in a motorcycle accident. He was only 32 years old. All these years later I still get sick when I think of what happened.

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  4. So sad to hear that. My friends husband died when his motorcycle hit some gravel as he was going around a corner. They are so vulnerable.

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  5. I'm always afraid for motorcyclists - they're so vulnerable! And so many of them drive like maniacs. So sorry about your neighbor...

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  6. It's true Ellen. My husband sees people from all professions that have TBI from motorcycles; the survivors will never be the same afterward. Everytime you hear about not wearing helmets, remember, we all pay for those who won't. Sounds like William didn't have that choice anyway.

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  7. Awful, Awful. The only serious accident my husband ever had was when someone who was drinking hit him head on while he was riding his motorcycle. He was younger and more agile and actually pushed off the motorcycle and flew over the car landing on the back side only slightly injured.

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  8. And I'll bet he was one of those careful and sensible motorcyclists, considering what he did for a living.

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  9. Very sad. Motorcycles are death machines.

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  10. Sorry about the tragic news... Had a motorcycle once, traded it for a guitar and some cash before I got hurt on the thing...although the guitar put me into a lot of places where I could get hurt,,,but alas only my ego got injured form time to time...seriously sorry about the bad news.

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  11. What an awful end. I know some cyclists he's probably riding with now. When I gave up my bike in favor of four wheels on the ground, I gave my Captain America helmet to a friend. It didn't save his life. I am so sorry for William's partner.

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  12. Tough to been part of, those accidents are always around us.

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  13. So sorry for the loss of your neighbour. How sad. I dislike motorcycles for that very reason. Best thoughts for his partner and family.

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  14. We were terrified when our son bought a motorcycle. He survived an accident and we sighed with relief when he got rid of the darn hing.

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  15. I worry so about the motorcyclists around Houston. No one seems willing to cut them even a bit of slack. It sounds like your neighbor was a responsible rider and a good guy. I'm really sorry it happened -- for his family, and for the whole neighborhood.

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  16. My son has mentioned, on occasion, that he would like to own a bike. I shiver in my shoes when he says that. He is a grown man and will do what he wants to do, but I hope he doesn't tell me if he does.

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  17. Oh, Lord. How terrible. I wouldn't get on a motorcycle for anything in the world.

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I opened my big mouth, now it's your turn.