| Author | Message | ||
     Jerry_haughton |
me 'n D are trying to lend a hand to a rider badly injured at about Milepost 230-235 on the Blue Ridge Parkway late Sunday afternoon. he was riding a BMW that was struck by another motorcycle. he was taken by ground ambulance to Hugh Chatham Hospital in Elkin, NC, then airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Memorial in Winston-Salem, NC. in spite of our best efforts with the two hospitals and with the National Park Service, we've been unable to get the rider's name, and hence have been unable to get any info from Baptist Memorial on the rider's condition. we want to help this rider if we can, but have run out of options from this distance. anyone have any ideas? FB&D (Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 16, 2007) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
bump | ||
| Mikej |
HIPPA regs will keep you flustered. Try contacting the local news people and see if they have any name or contact info, they can sometimes get info we as outsiders can't. Have you tried contacting someone on the local BMW owner's group? No direct help, just throwing out some thoughts. With HIPPA, if he was able to say to anyone on his way to the hospital not to call anyone then even if he's sitting right next to the registration desk they won't tell anyone who he is. Without his permission they might be limited to just immediate family members or emergency contact info if they can find any. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
hi Mike, thx for the input. Denise and i both do medical transcription, so we're familiar with HIPAA regs and knew we were in for a tough fight in regards to getting any info on these guys. i WAS able to find out from the Park Service yesterday that both riders are from North Carolina, so that takes away a *little* of my concern, in that they weren't on some kind of cross-country ride, a million miles away from their respective support networks. i sent an e-mail to the Carolinas BMW Motorcycle Owners Association this morning, and got a very quick reply back from their president. He is unaware of the incident, but is putting out some feelers. Rubberdown here on BadWeB has also posted this to ADVrider.com. i hope both riders are ok. the BMW took a beating, and it sounds like its rider did, too.  thx Mike! FB&D | ||
| Reepicheep |
Perhaps you could eliminate the "medical" aspect of it, and simply call the responding police department. You would then simply be asking for the names of the individuals involved in an accident, not the medical state of the riders. Seems to me like that ought to be a matter of public record (though probably not something the local PD is thrilled about chasing down). Once you have the names, I am guessing the rest would get easier... | ||
| Ulywife |
Reep has a good point. When I worked at Cincinnati and Kinston PDs, we used to have people from lawyer's offices come in at night and collect all the names, addy, etc. off of each accident report from the previous day. It's worth a shot. Then you could call the hospital with a name and they should be able to connect you to the floor/room, etc. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
the responding "police department" is the National Park Service, and i've been on the phone with them several times, including finally speaking with the second Ranger on-scene (Ranger #1 had already left), but they are unwilling to divulge any info of a "confidential" type, and i certainly understand their reasons. per Mike's suggestion above, i've left a voice mail and an e-mail with the Winston-Salem Journal (newspaper), and hope they may be able to help in some way. Denise is presently on the phone, pursuing another option... this is frustrating, wanting to offer a helping hand but not being able to do so. | ||
| Etennuly |
It is great to see someone with real concern for a fellow human being and a biker, even one outside the BadWeb. Good job Jerry!  | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Good job Jerry and Denise.  thx Vern. it's one thing to see pix online or hear about m/c crashes, but every time i see one with my own eyes, especially a "bad" one, it hurts. i was relieved to find out yesterday that both riders are from NC, so at least they've got family and other support relatively close. still, anyone who's been down knows how much it means to know that there are folks who care. thx again Vern, that was a very nice thing to say. FB&D | ||
| Etennuly |
You're welcome. | ||
| Tramp |
I'm confused- The rider is clearly being treated for all injuries, and was even airlifted. What further "help" can anyone provide, esp. in such a form that it requires ( ? ) the collection of confidential info regarding the individual's identification? Put a word in on BMW-MOA, and, If the individual chooses, he or she can contact you. Aside from this, it really isn't anyone else's business, no matter how noble the intent. | ||
| Tramp |
What do you know of the other involved motorcycle? It almost sounds like someone may have a bone (legal, or otherwise)to pick with the unsub rider who was " struck by another motorcycle" Mind you, I don't necessarily see it this way, but someone else might I'd caution anyone to be very careful about inquiring about this John Doe's ID on the www. (and, incidentally, NPS Rangers are federally-sworn Officers, which negates the need for quotes around "police" when they're discussed. most are military vets, by and large; FDR enacted legislation that made such service simpler for vets. they deserve at least as much respect as any officer of the law. (Message edited by tramp on October 16, 2007) | ||
| Jb2 |
When my pop died in Franklin I was there alone for the duration of the legal process. I didn't need any help. Every base was covered. Given that, a gentleman(now very good friend) named Mike Breedlove made an effort to contact me and offer his help if I needed it. He was a biker and was compelled by an urge to help an unknown brother of the road. The next day(Sunday) he contacted folks so that I could retrieve my father's belongings from his bike. When the teenager responsible for his death went to trial Mike took off everyday to sit with my Mother in the courtroom. I'm soo thankful for the friendship we have developed and that he let the passion to help a brother over-ride any legal issues that may have resulted. Thank you brother Mike. Good on you Ferris Bueller. You understand what some don't. | ||
| Rubberdown |
Jeeze Tramp, maybe Jerry has some of the guy's personal effects or wants to help out with the handling of the bike... | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
I'm confused... well, we agree on that, at least. since you asked: we just wanted to offer a hand, if needed, if wanted, simple as that. all of my efforts have been to do just as you suggest: trying to get my name and contact info to the riders, to offer any help or moral support they might need, and if they chose to contact me in return, well, i'd be a happy camper. in fact, i feel pretty spiffy for just having the decency to care about two guys i've never met, just because they ride. heavy sigh. FB | ||
| Nevrenuf |
maybe some people just care tramp. just knowing that someone you don't know went out of their way to find out how you were doing, could mean a lot toward recovery. i've been in the hospital, hundreds of miles away from friends and family. it's quite depressing, to say the less. i was only 18, stationed in charleston sc and from pittsburgh pa. i was hit on my motorcycle. FB-if you get his name and address and want to send him a get well card, please put my name on it along with my email address for me please. thanks for caring. | ||
| Sleez |
good on ya ferris! | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
...they deserve at least as much respect as any officer of the law. holy cow, we agree on TWO things! we had a nice visit with the Ranger at the scene, and i spent another ten minutes or so on the phone with him yesterday. good guy, motorcycle-friendly, and when i was wrapping up my conversation with him yesterday i invited him to drop by any time he was in the neighborhood for a cup of coffee or glass of cold water. in fact, we hit it off so well that he offered to trade me his pick-up for my Harley. thanks for the education on respect. | ||
| Reepicheep |
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| Jb2 |
Reep, Definitely a story worth repeating but the look an that lawyer's face when the State Policeman uttered that statement had to have been priceless. | ||
| Tramp |
I'm sure we're all impressed with the internet Billy Jack histrionics. My point was simply that the rider is likely in the hands of qualified medical personnel, and is unlikely to require any further assistance from any strangers on the scene- the statement that another motorcycle hit the rider in question, and the lack of response as to whether or not anyone knows who that operator was, certainly adds an element to the desire to ID the unsub. Feel free to drop by your nearest VA hospital with some good magazines (porn's always appreciated) and maybe a cheapass CD player from wal-mart, along with some nice CDs, and lay those gifts on a wounded vet. You might still "feel pretty spiffy for just having the decency to care about two guys I've never met" ...even if they don't "ride". just because you weren't there to witness their injuries, ( and just because they might not 'ride") I'm certain they'll certainly appreciate your efforts. If the BMW John Doe wants yyour assitance, he'll know about you, soon enough, through the Beemer-boards. Feel like doing some real good? thousands of severely wounded vets to be found- drop by your VA today. ...and, as to the Park rangers, you put the quotes around "police", not me. perhaps the check in respect was in order. | ||
| Rubberdown |
Gadfly  | ||
| Tramp |
douchebag  | ||
| Rubberdown |
Numbnuts  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Note to self: Plan serious accidents to be near Ferris, not near Tramp. But continue to plan the bar brawls to be near Tramp. | ||
| Sleez |
reep, i can't place that quote???? DSM? i know i've heard it recently!!!??? aaarrrgghh! | ||
| Nevrenuf |
i am a vet and always try to contribute something to help another vet out. but i dodn't limit myself to one cattagory. i have done work at the va hospital in gainesville fl for one year and during that time i made it a point to get to know some of the people who were stuck in the retirement home for one reason or another. one lady in particular was a nurse during the korean war. she was stuck there because they amputated the wrong leg and was left in a wheel chair. she had no immediate family there cause she also happened to be from the pittsburgh area.i spent time having dinner,lunch and even breakfast with her. there's more to this story than just this but the sad thing is after the job was over and i happened to be passing by about 4 months later, i found out that she had passed away. the only reason i did it was because she was always by herself. i think most of the people on this board are going to help someone out without asking themselves why they should. (sometimes i tend to ramble on to much,sorry) | ||
| Oldskoolef |
I don't know what I have to offer but I live in Winston-Salem and am familiar with NC Baptist Hospital. (Message edited by OldSkoolEF on October 16, 2007) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Oldskoolef, you'll soon have mail - thank you! Tramp, your words sure show your true colors. i'm trying to be nice, since i know your "secret." thanks for all the things you have taught me during your time on BadWeB. FB | ||
| Blake |
You are class exemplified FB. I'm proud to know you. Billy Jack rules. (Message edited by blake on October 17, 2007) |
