OUCH!!!! My 1st motorcycle crash

I'e been a cop for 13 years, the last 6 in traffic. I love my job. I've avoided many crashes and had more close calls than I care to remember. With the extensive motorcycle training POST requires California motorcops to have I've been able to avoid most situations by staying alert. There was nothing I could to do to avoid this one. I anticipated a problem and started to slow, but the guy made his left turn at the last second and I had no time to get stopped. I think I got down to about 15-20 mph before we hit. The BMW is designed to throw the rider the help "ride down" the collision and increase survivability. I went for a short flight, hit a curb and landed in a dirt median. Fortunatley, the weather was cool, so I was wearing a leather coat and leather gloves.

I'm pretty beat up, but nothing in broken as of yet. My left hand is still too swollen to be sure at this point. The inpact broke the decocker off the inside of my H&K pistol, and ripped the cap off the bottom of my magazine. .45 rounds were all over the road. We just got new helmets 3 weeks ago, the full face/flip up version and it has afew scratches.

Overall I think I made out pretty well. I'm actually on the phone in the picture. My wife would probably faint if she heard I was in a crash and didnt hear my voice.

The nurse in the ER asked if I remembered her. "You wrote me a ticket on April 24th at 7:15 in the morning." I stoill had my sense of humor. I said, "Don't hate the player, hate the game." Then she gave me an I.V.

OUCH, is right! Hope you fell better.

Wow--glad to hear you're okay Craig. Got any pix of the damaged weapon? Hope you recover from it soon.

Originally Posted by Banzai88

Wow--glad to hear you're okay Craig. Got any pix of the damaged weapon? Hope you recover from it soon.

Neah, the armory guy has it. The impact broke the decocker off the inside, while it's in the holster. I'm right handed, must have been quite a hit. I know my right side hurts a lot.

the ticket part is great! hope you feel beter I know the guy is in ALOT of trouble DONT RUN OVER THE POLICE! great the leather kept you from any road rash too. hopefully this will be the 1st and LAST crash bro get well!

Wow..Glad you made out as well as you did...Thats why I prefer to drive the good old fashioned Police Cruiser....people are nuts when they get behind the wheel...Thank God for German engineering...and for guardian angels....
Best wishes as you recover Stay Safe!!

Mike Bryant

Nice weathering job on your gear!



...but in all seriousness, glad to hear you're in better shape than some of the alternatives. Rest up and hopefully you'll be good as new in no time!

Originally Posted by Cold

Nice weathering job on your gear!

LOL.....!

Glad to hear you are ok dude, falling off a bike is never good, looks like you have someone watching over you for sure, stay safe

Steve

Hey, we don't need another "Officer Down" thread, bud!

Seriously though, hope you are all right.

Man brutal, I am going through the CHP hiring process right now and am thinking of doing the motocycle training through them if I get into the academy.

Glad your ok

Having been a cop for 13 years myself this is precisely the reason I am not fond of the motorcycles. You can do everything right and still end up on the losing end. The margin for error by ANYONE is small. At least you were covered up with protection.

Now people say I am a hypocite because I ride bicycles on the same roads, with just spandex and bike helmet. Maybe I am.

Get healed up quick

Chris

Say........thats a nice bike.

Ok, sorry. - Hope you make a speedy recovery Bro.

Originally Posted by Bobby Fett UK

Say........thats a nice bike.

Ah, a good ol' T-1000 quote.

Since I've been in three totaled vehicles in 10 years (not ALL my fault, lol) I have to say that I like air bags, seat belts, and all that other good stuff.
Glad to hear you're okay.

I crashed and rolled a light Tank in Bosnia back in the day, Got covered in petrol (scimitars had 4.2 Jag petrol engins back then) Battery acid and HE ammo. But that's nothing to a lo-speed bike crash...No matter how right you are the car always wins AND IT HURTS LIKE HECK.
Get well and get back on the horse soon brother.

Sounds like you had someone watching over you, wearing the leather jacket and a new helmet.

I've a lot of respect for people in the police force, the world over, its a tough job.

All the best for a speeding recovery.

On a lighter note, good weathering on belt

Originally Posted by Jango 5204

YES!!! do it, best job in the world. Motor School is a kick in the rear, but if you pass, it's a ball. CHP is always short on motors. I think you can put in for motrs after you're done with your field training, depending on where there are openings.

Yeah I just got my Oral Board interview back, missed passing by 5 points so now have to wait until June to reapply and take the board again.

wow, hope you recover soon and glad to see your alright too.

Yeah I just got my Oral Board interview back, missed passing by 5 points so now have to wait until June to reapply and take the board again.

what kind of stuff they ask you on them things were they take points away " If you are in a bad mood would you take it out on a J walker???" lol

Haha, yeah unfortunately we signed papers saying were not allowed to discuss the interview process but lets just say it was the scariest interview ill ever have to take.

holy **** man! so glad you're okay!

And I thought my bicycle crash was bad...

Originally Posted by fil5117

On a lighter note, good weathering on belt

lol

Ouch! Craig, I'll bet that stung!

Having been the loser in bike accidents before, I can commiserate. Get well soon buddy.

Ow! Glad to hear you made it out ok. Even at lower speeds nasty things can happen. I'm happy you're still here and able to tell us all about it. Get lots of rest to heal up!

I've been riding motorcycles for 30+ years and have only wiped once on the road; probably only 15-20 mph for me too. I slipped through some gravel on a sharp corner and was thrown over the curb. I landed on my back on the grass thankfully, but it still kinda hurt.

Well, it only took 1 month, but I have surgery scheduled for June 7th. I have a completely torn supraspinatus muscle in my right shoulder. It runs from the shoulder blade to the top ball of the upper arm. Ribs still hurt, left hand still hurts. I was in the left straight lane, this guy came off the offramp and was trying to made a u-turn to go the opposite direction. If you look at the paint in the roadway, it shows his L/R left rear and L/F left front tires and the angle of his car. That's no lane change, that's a u-turn through that turnout. I landed in the dirt median close to that white barrier.

I'll be in a sling for 6 weeks and can't go back to full motor duty for up to 6 months.

Wow! Amazing how absent minded people can be. Hope everything turns out well with your surgery.

Jeez, man! that must have been scary as heck. Glad to hear you're Ok, and I hope your hand heals up.

It looks like you did an amazing job lessening the severity of the crash! Usualy when I see motorcycle crashes, there's almost nothing left of the bike, and the rider is almost always seriously injured or worse.

Again, We're all glad your OK, and I hope you can get your bike and .45 fixed up without too much hassel.

Got some actual pics from the scene on that day. Look at that silver car. I hit it on the front left tire. Look like that guy is making a ane change? I think not, that guy is making a u-turn through that median. Too bad he did it across my path.

I landed at the bottm left of the picture.


I know I'm smiling. I just happy to be alive and still moving.

Glad to see that you're ok. Having taken a spill myself I can sympathise.
A least it wasn't your fault, unlike my own crash. First week I had my first bike I took a corner too fast, clipped the kerbstone and was cattapulted into the air. I landed in a hedge and the bike landed on me (leg and foot). Fortunately the bike was light (a Honda XL 125) and I was wearing full protective clothing, inc a full face flip-front helmet. It was just round the corner from my house so I didn't have far to limp. Net result, a few scratches and dings in my bike (to match the scratches and dings in its owner).