red diver
Member
Hi Everybody - this is my first chance to really post - I see J Willy and others have given an update on their condition, and Wayne's always strong sense-of-humor shining through.
I was riding with them on Monday when the accident happened. We wanted to get in one more day of riding, and were on our way out to Burke's Garden - EOM 3, on rte 61, maybe 20 miles from Bluefield. As those who have ridden this route - it barely counts to be called twisties. Slow turns along a tree lined river bank. Perfect weather, road conditions great.
As always, Wayne was probably 2 turns in front of me (or maybe 4...). Slow lazy left-hander which opens up into a straightaway. Absolutely nothing remarkable about this curve. Trees and stream on left hand side, right hand side has about a 4 foot shoulder, then drops off about 10 feet - steeply - into a large level field of tall grass. Some 1-2 foot boulders line the drop off. The bike shows tracking off to the right, with about 1 foot of braking prior to hitting the shoulder. After about 5 feet along the track the tires begin to show separation, and then deep gouges in the soil on the right side. Both Wayne and Annette were at the bottom of the incline, the bike about 30 feet beyond in the field. They were both beyond the boulders, but likely they hit them going down.
I came up to the corner seeing a man waving his arms to me, my heart sinking, then saw the site. It took well over an hour before Wayne and Annette were loaded into an ambulance - closer to 1H 30M. It was a pretty tough wait. The EMTs arrived about 20 minutes into the accident, requested a helo immediately, and it was about 20 minutes later that the helo said they were still waiting for confirmation to come to the scene... No bad actors here, but that miscue, and then the pilot decision not to land in what could be a football field was pretty disconcerting. During this time Annette is telling me she cant breathe, (punctured lung and 4 ribs broken) and Wayne's vitals keep dropping. He kept saying to me over and over, "Annette first." "Charlie, when they come, Annette first." "Yes Wayne, Annette first." We repeated this dialogue about 15 times.
So his vitals are dropping, and the helo is still flying around first trying to find us, (I am attempting to signal with a broken mirror in my hand), and then making a decision to land or not, when the EMT looks at Wayne and says, "He has to go now!" Terrific - I am thinking, "You dont need to say it, you can think it, but dont say it outloud standing over him." I was pretty helpless because none of their injuries were external - no bleeding to stop, everything was internal. The suits did not have but scratches, nothing was torn through. But it was evident both had internal injuries, and both were in terrific back pain. I just tried to keep looking them both in the eye telling them the helo was coming, etc... "Keep your eyes open Marine!"
They both were taken to Bluefield initially. From there Wayne was flown to Roanoke. Several hours later they did the same for Annette because the hospital did not have anyone available for her broken wrist surgery. - Which is a small blessing in disguise as it put them in the same hospital together.
Cause of accident: Wayne remembers the curve completely, but told me he thinks something happened to the bike. He remembers trying to lean the bike but it would not, and he felt the front tire wash out. I did not check to see if the front tire closely - not sure if flat or not. I'd be guessing about anything further.
I visited both of them in the hospital in Roanoke yesterday before driving back home. Very happy to report that Annette is strong and recovering well. Perhaps today or tomorrow she will be able to get into a wheelchair and visit Wayne on his floor.
Wayne has all the Wayne light in his eyes. It may be a long recovery because the extent of the injuries to his back are still being determined. But they both have very strong will and that makes a big difference.
I did not take any pics from the site, I had my own issues that day dealing with the post-accident, and then the interesting drive back to Lewisberg in the dark with my presciption sunglasses on. "Hello Mr. Deer, please keep munching on the side of the road and dont cross in front me...That's a good deer..."
I brought Wayne his laptop to the hospital - who knows, we may see him posting in the next few days.
Only recommendation for folks is to contact Annette and not Wayne if you want to reach out to them. He cannot hold the phone very well, and Annette can pass info to him. Hospital # 540 981 7000.
Charlie
I was riding with them on Monday when the accident happened. We wanted to get in one more day of riding, and were on our way out to Burke's Garden - EOM 3, on rte 61, maybe 20 miles from Bluefield. As those who have ridden this route - it barely counts to be called twisties. Slow turns along a tree lined river bank. Perfect weather, road conditions great.
As always, Wayne was probably 2 turns in front of me (or maybe 4...). Slow lazy left-hander which opens up into a straightaway. Absolutely nothing remarkable about this curve. Trees and stream on left hand side, right hand side has about a 4 foot shoulder, then drops off about 10 feet - steeply - into a large level field of tall grass. Some 1-2 foot boulders line the drop off. The bike shows tracking off to the right, with about 1 foot of braking prior to hitting the shoulder. After about 5 feet along the track the tires begin to show separation, and then deep gouges in the soil on the right side. Both Wayne and Annette were at the bottom of the incline, the bike about 30 feet beyond in the field. They were both beyond the boulders, but likely they hit them going down.
I came up to the corner seeing a man waving his arms to me, my heart sinking, then saw the site. It took well over an hour before Wayne and Annette were loaded into an ambulance - closer to 1H 30M. It was a pretty tough wait. The EMTs arrived about 20 minutes into the accident, requested a helo immediately, and it was about 20 minutes later that the helo said they were still waiting for confirmation to come to the scene... No bad actors here, but that miscue, and then the pilot decision not to land in what could be a football field was pretty disconcerting. During this time Annette is telling me she cant breathe, (punctured lung and 4 ribs broken) and Wayne's vitals keep dropping. He kept saying to me over and over, "Annette first." "Charlie, when they come, Annette first." "Yes Wayne, Annette first." We repeated this dialogue about 15 times.
So his vitals are dropping, and the helo is still flying around first trying to find us, (I am attempting to signal with a broken mirror in my hand), and then making a decision to land or not, when the EMT looks at Wayne and says, "He has to go now!" Terrific - I am thinking, "You dont need to say it, you can think it, but dont say it outloud standing over him." I was pretty helpless because none of their injuries were external - no bleeding to stop, everything was internal. The suits did not have but scratches, nothing was torn through. But it was evident both had internal injuries, and both were in terrific back pain. I just tried to keep looking them both in the eye telling them the helo was coming, etc... "Keep your eyes open Marine!"
They both were taken to Bluefield initially. From there Wayne was flown to Roanoke. Several hours later they did the same for Annette because the hospital did not have anyone available for her broken wrist surgery. - Which is a small blessing in disguise as it put them in the same hospital together.
Cause of accident: Wayne remembers the curve completely, but told me he thinks something happened to the bike. He remembers trying to lean the bike but it would not, and he felt the front tire wash out. I did not check to see if the front tire closely - not sure if flat or not. I'd be guessing about anything further.
I visited both of them in the hospital in Roanoke yesterday before driving back home. Very happy to report that Annette is strong and recovering well. Perhaps today or tomorrow she will be able to get into a wheelchair and visit Wayne on his floor.
Wayne has all the Wayne light in his eyes. It may be a long recovery because the extent of the injuries to his back are still being determined. But they both have very strong will and that makes a big difference.
I did not take any pics from the site, I had my own issues that day dealing with the post-accident, and then the interesting drive back to Lewisberg in the dark with my presciption sunglasses on. "Hello Mr. Deer, please keep munching on the side of the road and dont cross in front me...That's a good deer..."
I brought Wayne his laptop to the hospital - who knows, we may see him posting in the next few days.
Only recommendation for folks is to contact Annette and not Wayne if you want to reach out to them. He cannot hold the phone very well, and Annette can pass info to him. Hospital # 540 981 7000.
Charlie
Sounds like you did your best for them, good for you Charlie
