| Author | Message | ||
     Barker |
http://times-age.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm? storyid=3757961&thesection=localnews&thesubsection =&thesecondsubsection= Injured motorcyclist says hes hard to kill 10.12.2007 Crash survivor Matt Brunton counts himself "hard to kill" after colliding this week with a wandering cow that left the animal dead and his $20,000 motorcycle destroyed. Mr Brunton, speaking from his Wairarapa Hospital bed while awaiting surgery for a broken ankle, also broke a rib and a bone in his shoulder during the Tuesday night crash on State Highway 53 between Martinborough and Featherston. Mr Brunton, who lives and works in Featherston, said he had washed his prized Buell 1200 motorcycle on Tuesday about 9pm and was taking the machine for a ride to Martinborough and back to dry it off. "I was heading back home and was rounding a bend. The next thing I remember is waking up in hospital on Wednesday morning," he said. "I was told the cow died in the collision but I must be pretty hard to kill." He said he was travelling at open-road speeds at the time and had not seen the animal before the collision. "Half-a-ton of cow stops you fast but I am very lucky considering I never lost any limbs and I'm still alive." The motorcycle, which was written off in the collision, was towed to a Carterton yard. Mr Brunton bought the machine this year for $20,000. Featherston firefighters called to the scene said it would have been dark at the time of the collision and there were several cows on the road when they arrived. Featherston fire chief Colin McKenna said Mr Brunton was "lucky to be alive" and that a neighbouring farmer had disposed of the dead cow. The road was closed for about an hour while the area was cleared, he said. Mr Brunton said insurance on his motorcycle is "a grey area" and he is yet to speak with police or the animal owner about the incident. Masterton police traffic sergeant Chris Megaw said the owner of the wandering stock is liable to charges only if substantial negligence is proved. | ||
| Jimmy77 |
What Buell cost $20,000? | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
the one you are reporting as totaled to your insurance company! | ||
| Jackbequick |
I assume that is the value in New Zealand Dollars since that is where the accident happened. The current rate of exchange would put that at at US$15,674 or so. I think Buells are always more expensive overseas than they are here. Hope he makes out okay with the insurance company. Jack |
