I was the chaplain on call for the evening. One of my last few shifts at the hospital. I finished up a rather uneventful Sunday night and slowly meandered to my car. As I approached the street, I heard a motorcycle engine rev up but then crash. I ran to see the crash and quickly called 911. I somehow did not know the street name but we were. We were literally yards from the hospital emergency room so it was pretty easy to explain where the crash occurred. The ambulance had to travel farther than I would have walked to get him there.
The motorcycle driver had revved his engine, but when he drove over the manhole cover he lost traction and tumbled. He had fallen and crashed his bike, lost a shoe, and was scraped up. I was glad for him that he was wearing a helmet. A nurse was also walking to her car at the same time. The two of us were the first responders. I was grateful she was the one to check him and see if he had any neck injuries. We were also interviewed for the Salem News before the night was out!
Accidents are scary. I picked up this scratched red and black piece of the motorcycle later that week. Possibly as a souvenir of the event. Maybe as a was to remember it all before I finished my time at the hospital. Maybe as a reminder to be thankful.
The man woke up shortly and was well cared for by both the nurse and the EMTs. The article from the Salem News reported the rider had been doing well in the hospital following the accident. I was glad to hear that. It was a surprising way to end the night. I went home thankful to return to my family in one piece.
Comments