I have had some strange hobbies...including skydiving, spear fishing, motorcycle racing and triathlons...never thought I would have a brush with death while riding my bike, but that is exactly what happened. It was a beautiful day for a ride in a very scenic area through the East Bay Wine Country. I had justleveled out at 22-23 MPH when a white van made a quick left turn in front of me. I had no time to react and slammed into the front of the van at full speed, flying across his windshield and into the middle of a busy, 50 MPH, two lane highway.I remember the driver getting out of his van to see if I was all right. I was in so much pain I couldn't respond to his questions. I managed to roll over onto my back so I could better identify my injuries. One woman called an ambulance and another person used my Road ID to call my wife. Several firemen stopped and immediately started checking my vitals and strapped me to a backboard while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Thankfully, my wife was able to make it to the accident scene before I was transported to the hospital.
I arrived home to find that my bike was demolished and my helmet was cracked in two places. The driver was an unlicensed, uninsured 18 year old kid (lucky me). As I lay on my couch enjoying the warm summer breeze, I can't help but realize what a wonderful and exciting life I've had thus far, and I want to thank God for giving me another day. I have been running, but not seriously. I am still without a bike, but I'm alive...I survived.
- Benjamin .V from Pleasanton, CA
