Rusty McNeil
Well-Known Member
This write up is by Micheal Hansen, Gulf Coast Regional VMOA Director; I lifted it from our Houston Yahoo Group
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/V-Max_Houston/
It is from our Bandera run this last weekend.
The man he is writing about, Christian, while not on a Vmax, was a brother nontheless...
He'll be missed...please pray for his family.....
Rusty McNeil
..........................................................................................................................
Hey All. hope all made it home safely on sunday.
As word is probably getting around, our Bandera trip was met with an
unfortunate tragedy.
Friday we met with a small group of 8 bikes at denny's in cypress.
Included in this group was a new couple, Christian and Shawn who was
introduced to us through Joe Mueller. I never met them but talked to
him a couple of times on the phone and we exchanged a couple e-mails.
He and joe knew each other for a couple years thru his work. Joe
moved to dallas area and Christian moved to the houston area.
In Belleville, we met up with Kelly, Kim and his mom and dad, Mary
Lou and Buck, all on their bikes, so we ended up with 12 bikes going
to Bandera.
Sat morning we had our usual group safety meeting, talked about the
roads, passing, deer, faster groups, slower groups etc.
We leave Bandera with a group of 22 bikes. When we get to Medina, a
group of 12 bikes pulled over at 337 waiting for the remainder of the
bikes to catch up. Coming into medina we pass several emergency
vehicles going back the other way.
We waited about 5 minutes, then I headed back hoping that the group
maybe got slowed by traffic. After several miles i get a bad feeling
because they still didn't show.
Coming up towards a hill i see emergency people all over, warning
traffic. i come over the hill and see all the bikes parked and people
standing all around.
I get off mine and was told about the accident involving Christian
and Shawn. CPR was still being done on Christian, all to no avail,
and EMTS were working on Shawn.
I called the leading group to come back as the medical staff and
deputies were needing any personel info on Christian, and I thought
Joe would know more than any of us.
It was approx. 15 minutes since the accident.
In summary: The group was coming around a turn. In the middle of the
group were Christian and Shawn, followed by Kelly and Kim doubled up,
then FNG John and Trudy doubled up, and the rest of the group. From
the left, a deer jumped a fence, came across the road, missed a car,
and jumped directly into Christian. Both he and Shawn were wearing
full faced helmets.
The thinking is that the deer knocked out Christian, because Shawn
later said he was "unresponsive." The bike then veered into and rode
the guardrail and he either fell or was knocked of the bike, thrown
into the air and collided with a tree.
The bike with Shawn still on the passenger seat continued along to
the end of the guardrail for maybe another 80ft, then swerved to the
right into the grass and crashed.
Kelly called 911 within seconds and EMTS were there within just a
couple minutes. We were about 9 miles from bandera and 4 miles from
medina.
We think that Christian died instantly. Shawn was taken by ambulance
to San Antonio and luckily suffered only a small fracture of the
lower right leg. Gigi talked with her brother today and she is
awaiting results of an MRI on her knee, and now also her shoulder.
She may be released today.
Kelly's mom Mary Lou rode in the ambulance with Shawn and stayed with
her thru-out the day. Mary Lou, Shawn couldn't have asked for a
better surrogate momn than you! Later that evening, a few of us went
to the hospital to visit her and stayed until her family arrived,
followed a short while later by Christian's family. Needless to say,
words can't describe how heartbroken she is, but she was very
grateful and appreciative for Mary Lou's company, and the visit and
support from the group.
Everyone was shaken up with Kelly, Kim, John and Trudy directly
behind and seeing what was happening. It made all of us reflect on
how, through no fault of our own, things can go horribly wrong.
And just a few seconds can determine your fate.
It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. Never forget that
every time you get on your bike, it could be the last. It doesn't
matter how careful we are. This was in NO WAY the fault of the rider.
He wasn't being reckless, careless, or speeding. He was not riding
outside of his skill level, or was he not paying attention. The road
was not wet. The weather was not a factor. He was just riding.
Our thoughts and prayer are with their families. For those desiring,
we'll try to get an email address for Shawn so you can send her your
wishes.
Will post more info as we get it
Michael and Gigi
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/V-Max_Houston/
It is from our Bandera run this last weekend.
The man he is writing about, Christian, while not on a Vmax, was a brother nontheless...
He'll be missed...please pray for his family.....
Rusty McNeil
..........................................................................................................................
Hey All. hope all made it home safely on sunday.
As word is probably getting around, our Bandera trip was met with an
unfortunate tragedy.
Friday we met with a small group of 8 bikes at denny's in cypress.
Included in this group was a new couple, Christian and Shawn who was
introduced to us through Joe Mueller. I never met them but talked to
him a couple of times on the phone and we exchanged a couple e-mails.
He and joe knew each other for a couple years thru his work. Joe
moved to dallas area and Christian moved to the houston area.
In Belleville, we met up with Kelly, Kim and his mom and dad, Mary
Lou and Buck, all on their bikes, so we ended up with 12 bikes going
to Bandera.
Sat morning we had our usual group safety meeting, talked about the
roads, passing, deer, faster groups, slower groups etc.
We leave Bandera with a group of 22 bikes. When we get to Medina, a
group of 12 bikes pulled over at 337 waiting for the remainder of the
bikes to catch up. Coming into medina we pass several emergency
vehicles going back the other way.
We waited about 5 minutes, then I headed back hoping that the group
maybe got slowed by traffic. After several miles i get a bad feeling
because they still didn't show.
Coming up towards a hill i see emergency people all over, warning
traffic. i come over the hill and see all the bikes parked and people
standing all around.
I get off mine and was told about the accident involving Christian
and Shawn. CPR was still being done on Christian, all to no avail,
and EMTS were working on Shawn.
I called the leading group to come back as the medical staff and
deputies were needing any personel info on Christian, and I thought
Joe would know more than any of us.
It was approx. 15 minutes since the accident.
In summary: The group was coming around a turn. In the middle of the
group were Christian and Shawn, followed by Kelly and Kim doubled up,
then FNG John and Trudy doubled up, and the rest of the group. From
the left, a deer jumped a fence, came across the road, missed a car,
and jumped directly into Christian. Both he and Shawn were wearing
full faced helmets.
The thinking is that the deer knocked out Christian, because Shawn
later said he was "unresponsive." The bike then veered into and rode
the guardrail and he either fell or was knocked of the bike, thrown
into the air and collided with a tree.
The bike with Shawn still on the passenger seat continued along to
the end of the guardrail for maybe another 80ft, then swerved to the
right into the grass and crashed.
Kelly called 911 within seconds and EMTS were there within just a
couple minutes. We were about 9 miles from bandera and 4 miles from
medina.
We think that Christian died instantly. Shawn was taken by ambulance
to San Antonio and luckily suffered only a small fracture of the
lower right leg. Gigi talked with her brother today and she is
awaiting results of an MRI on her knee, and now also her shoulder.
She may be released today.
Kelly's mom Mary Lou rode in the ambulance with Shawn and stayed with
her thru-out the day. Mary Lou, Shawn couldn't have asked for a
better surrogate momn than you! Later that evening, a few of us went
to the hospital to visit her and stayed until her family arrived,
followed a short while later by Christian's family. Needless to say,
words can't describe how heartbroken she is, but she was very
grateful and appreciative for Mary Lou's company, and the visit and
support from the group.
Everyone was shaken up with Kelly, Kim, John and Trudy directly
behind and seeing what was happening. It made all of us reflect on
how, through no fault of our own, things can go horribly wrong.
And just a few seconds can determine your fate.
It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. Never forget that
every time you get on your bike, it could be the last. It doesn't
matter how careful we are. This was in NO WAY the fault of the rider.
He wasn't being reckless, careless, or speeding. He was not riding
outside of his skill level, or was he not paying attention. The road
was not wet. The weather was not a factor. He was just riding.
Our thoughts and prayer are with their families. For those desiring,
we'll try to get an email address for Shawn so you can send her your
wishes.
Will post more info as we get it
Michael and Gigi
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