This is certainly not a post we ever wanted to have to do, but circumstances arose over the weekend that we feel compelled to share with everyone. As many of you are probably aware, Dana’s husband was riding his bike on Saturday and was hit by a car. He did sustain 3 broken ribs, a fractured clavicle, broken finger (that they popped back in at the scene – big OW), and tons of road rash. (Bike not severely injured for those who are wondering).
He is having surgery today and will be feeling crappy for a long time. Dana wanted to get some information to everyone, so please read what she has to say and heed her advice. This is NOT an ad for RoadID and the eCrumb app at all. Dana is just so thrilled at how well it worked and is adamant that people “get it and use it”. Since she has been in contact with the company about the accident, they have offered our readers a 10% discount. Just put in code TriWives10 at check out. Read on…..
Saturday, May 31, started out as a normal day in our household. The kids were off doing their thing, David was off for a bike ride, and I was doing more preparations for the move. But, then I received this dreaded text.
I didn’t worry; 5 minutes could be a water bottle stop or pee break right? Then, came the next and so thinking this warranted checking out, I called his cell, but no answer. So, I picked up my keys and headed out. Then the call; oh, that call. “Hi. This is Karen and I am with your husband. He’s okay and is with the paramedics”. Wow, that was fast. An accident, 911 call, and paramedic arrival; all within two-5 minute RoadID e-Crumb messages.
Karen went on to tell me he was alert now (did you get the “now” reference, implying he wasn’t before) and they were taking him to 620 Round Rock Hospital. Where in the world was that? I googled the address and ended up in an empty parking lot and checked my phone again. Another e-Crumb alert came in that he was moving and I followed it to the correct hospital. It was the closest Level 1 or 2 trauma unit. Who knew a simple band around his wrist and an app were so powerful?
When I arrived at the hospital, they had him back from some tests and settled in. I was finally allowed back in the room to be with him. David was a mess and repeating himself. I was scared, but smiling, so not to worry him too much. He still had his RoadID on and his phone with him and mine kept beeping; more alerts were coming in. The hospital personnel asked what was going on with all the beeps and when I told them, they were all amazed.
The police officer came in to speak to David and had news about the guy who hit him; a 3+ DWI offender, with an unregistered car; uninsured, suspended license; and an open cold beer, and a gun! He was in jail.
What’s happening now? David’s having surgery this morning to repair the fractured clavicle. We will contact the DA and hope to keep this guy off the road. And, as my trihubby said last night, “if nothing else, you have really good blog content”. So happy to see he still has that sense of humor…..
So people, get a RoadID for you and all your loved ones and use the eCrumb app (of note – per RoadID, it’s coming out for android phones in the next month – only for iPhones currently). Our friend, Tara, even has them for her kids.
And please, always stay to assist when you witness an accident. David said having someone with him with their hand on him for comfort, made all the difference in the world. I just have to add a BIG thank you to those who helped during the accident and who checked on David to make sure how he was doing. No doubt there are kind, compassionate people out there. Will keep you updated…..
– DANA
Sherry is one of the TriWivesClub and LifeDoneWell co-founders and contributes to multiple blogs. She is a former co-owner of the California Apparel News and had a career in the healthcare industry. Her passions include traveling, real food, the environment, and animal rescue/welfare. She lives a healthy lifestyle and has been a vegetarian since 1987. She and her husband are parents to two rescue pups and reside in Connecticut.
Wow. ok I am getting this app and ID…..my boyfriend mentioned once that he realized that if I got hit or crashed he’d never know till I was conscious or worse….
David is living proof that it worked. Carl started using it a couple of weeks ago. I’m half serious when I say he’s just going to use a computrainer from now on….Hope all is well. Are you still racing Kansas?
Very sorry to hear about your husband. I too am a ‘crumb follower’ and love the app/road id. I will call my hubby and interrupt his bike/run if he forgets to send me one. It os an amazing tool. Sending thoughts and prayers for a quick recovery.
Thanks Kelly for the good thoughts. Glad to hear it works for you, too. My husband just downloaded the app a few weeks ago & I will make sure he ALWAYS uses it after this.
I am so sorry to hear. Unfortunately, you are not the first of my friends to have been hit. Cars and bikes need to respect each other out there. Good thoughts for a speedy recovery.
Thanks Anne. I’ve known several people too and it doesn’t make it easier when Carl goes out. The odds you know….
So happy he’s ok!! I never go out on a solo ride/run without my phone and my RoadID, for just this sort of worst-case-scenario. I might be turning on the eCrumb app now; though we do use Find My Friends and that has worked well in the past.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!!
Thanks John. We are too. Could have been so much worse. Use whatever works for you. The point is to just use something and eCrumb is what worked for Dana. Hope all is well.
Your post is shocking in it’s similarities to our current situation. My husband and his friend were hit by a woman who accelerated through a stop sign and t-boned them on 5/16. We have since learned that she doesn’t have insurance and will in no way be held liable for the damages she caused. The $160 ticket for failure to stop will be the extent of her consequences. My husband shares many of the same injuries as your husband – 11 broken ribs, broken clavicle (no surgery), broken C7 process vertebrae, broken finger, 2 collapsed lungs, etc.. Equally painful is the realization that their triathlon season is over before it began this year. His RoadID was a big help to the first responders and the hospital staff. And oh how I relive that shocking phone call! I wasn’t aware of the eCrumb App, but will be downloading it immediately. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you all recover from this nightmare.
Wow, is all I can say right now. And right back to you re thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. At least it looks like the person who struck David will have more consequences to pay. Really too bad in your husband’s case. Thanks so much, Michelle, for sharing your story and wishing you seriously, all the best.
I came to this blog via Twitter from Road ID. I was just teaching my co-worker how to use it today. I’m a lawyer when I’m not running and just want to offer a friendly bit of life advice. Even though your husband/friend were pedestrians/bikers when they were hit, your uninsured or underinsured coverage will likely still apply. They step into the shoes of the negligent driver and act essentially as their insurer in this type of case to get your a potential recovery. You likely also have medpay coverage on your insurance you can access. I’m not trying to get a client here, just let you know there are options. Few people understand their own policies. Consult a lawyer! Best wishes for a speedy recovery for everyone.
Thanks so much for the information and the best wishes. Always good to know.
I don’t understand. How can someone who was violating the law by not having insurance suffer no consequences.
As for being liable for the harm she caused others, her having or not having insurance is not relevant. She owes the people she’s harmed; her ability to pay that debt is her problem, not theirs.
You’ve shown how vital this app is for safety. I’m terribly sorry that you had to learn it the hard way. I’m sharing this so others can learn about it as well.
That’s one of the best things that could come out of this tragedy and what Dana is hoping to achieve. Thanks so much Connie.
Dana, So sorry to read about your husband’s accident. My husband got each member of our family a Road ID’s for Christmas. Your story highlight a great benefit of Road ID. To those unfamiliar, the Road ID also has keeps the user’s entire self-reported medical record accessible online to assist emt/hospital providers in case the patient is unresponsive. Allergies, medical conditions, emergency contacts, insurance info, etc., are instantly attainable. Speedy healing to David. Jodi’s friend, Ann
Thanks so much, Anne. Hope you never need to use the RoadID, but good to know it’s there. Nice husband to get them as gifts!!!!
What a scary text and phone call to get! Glad to hear that your husband is recuperating and appreciate you sharing RoadID- I’d never heard of it.
Thanks so much, Tonya. Dana’s goal now is to spread the word as she knows first hand that it works.
I never leave home without my RoadID, but had never heard of the ecrumb app. Thanks for sharing David’s story (although I’m mad as hell you had a story like that to share). Hope David is healing well. I’ve had too many cyclist friends hit by cars or in bike accidents. Thanks for sharing your story.
Thanks Helen. So have I and I’m getting worried about the odds!!! Check into the eCrumb seriously.
So glad your husband is okay. Nothing worse than getting a call. Been there!! I promote bike races and give out Road ID’s as prizes. They are great to have. I hope the guy is put behind bars for a long time. Too many riders getting hurt or killed by them.
Thanks Monica. Hate to hear anyone else has “been there” but know there are a lot out there. Make sure people know about eCrumb when you hand out the RoadID’s!!!
Thank you!!! I heard about this horrible accident. What a great app!
Thanks Tonya for reading. I hope you or a loved one use the app!!!!
Fellow cyclist wish David the best recovery. Great app, I use RoadID but do not own a smartphone so no app for me, sounds like a great tool though. When I ride and it is 99% solo, I’m always looking out for rogue drivers, some “@#!***” will put cyclist in danger purposely to make things worst, hope this guy is never allowed to drive a motor vehicle ever for the rest of his life and does some time in the shade. Take care.
Thanks so much Guillaume. The eCrumb app for android phones should be out this month. We will certainly let people know when this happens.
My husband was hit by a car a few three days ago while out on his bike. He is okay, nothing broken, just road rash and soreness. Maybe we will get this app for when he goes mountain biking off road. He is swearing off road biking from now on. There are too many people out there driving distracted or impaired. It isn’t worth the risk.
I’m so sorry to hear, but so happy he’s okay. Definitely get the app if he does off road biking!!!!! I’m thinking of telling my husband it’s a Computrainer from now on….
Both my husband and I have the app on our iPhones, but have gotten more laxed about using them. This is a good reminder to start again. I’m glad that David wasn’t hurt any worse, hopefully his recovery is quick and complication-free.
Thanks so much Amanda. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated. USE the app……
Wow is all I can say. Android hurry up as I will have thus app. Have road IDs already and swear by them but this is awesome to see for cyclists.
Hi Judy. It really should be coming out very soon – this month- and by the response we’ve gotten, RoadID needs to speed it up.
My husband is an avid cyclist, and was hit by a car two years ago. We didn’t have RoadID or eCrumbs then, but we do now, and it has brought me great peace of mind. Thanks for raising awareness for this great product.
Hi Molli. I hate hearing these stories about cyclists getting hit. I trust he is okay! Dana is adamant about spreading the word since it worked so well for her. My husband just starting using it a few weeks ago, but will not go out without it turned on from now on.
I came across this on FB and am glad that your husband is doing well. Horrified to read that he was hit by a drunk driver with an open beer and a gun! When, for the love of all that is holy, will accidents involving cyclists be taken seriously in this country? And the fact that the unlicensed driver was drunk and driving with an open beer and a gun . . . I’m starting to realize how blessed I am as a 51 yo life long cyclist. Of course I was hit by a car, on my bike, when I was 14, but I admit that was entirely my fault. :-/ Thank you for sharing your story, I will be sharing it further out into the world, hopefully things will change. I wish your husband a full and speedy recovery.
Thanks so much Tara. I think most of us have stories these days about someone we know who got hit by a car and it’s very scary. Dana’s case is just unreal re the driver. So glad you’ve been safe all these years. All the best.
May I share this on my running club’s FB page?
Hi Teri. Yes, feel free to share and thanks.
I just downloaded this app for myself and will be having my husband download it this evening as well. Thanks for sharing about the app. My husband has a RoadID since most of his riding and running are on open roads in rural areas. I make sure he never leaves home without it!
Thanks Becky. Glad you are going to use this. There’s no downside and a lot of upside!!! We all use it and feel a bit more secure.