On Sunday, Sept. 25, I was involved in a motorcycle accident at the corner of Main Street and Nelson Avenue. Luckily I am still here to tell the tale.
I would just like to express my thanks and gratitude to all of the people who stopped to call 911 as I lay in the roadway. Thanks to the level 3 first aid guy who immediately came to my aid while waiting for the ambulance. I am pretty banged up on my left side (shoulder, wrist, thumb and hip) and have a chipped right elbow. My back, neck and torso have begun to tighten up and ache and I am in some discomfort, but I am confident I will eventually make a full recovery. You can’t keep an old sailor down for long.
I would also like to thank the RCMP, ambulance service and firefighters who attended the scene. I was quite impressed by their professionalism, especially the young constable who attended. I would also like to thank the doctors, nurses, and imagery techs at the Penticton Regional Hospital for their excellent service and for fast tracking me through an extremely busy ER. I don’t know how they manage sometimes, but I am extremely grateful they are there.
To the lady who made the left turn in front of me when she could not see both lanes of oncoming traffic because of the truck that was waiting to turn onto Nelson Avenue, please don’t do that again. The next time it may not be a motorcycle; it may be a fully-loaded logging truck and I seriously do not want that to happen to anyone. I sincerely hope you were not hurt in the accident.
Take your time out there folks. I almost bit the big one because someone could not wait and took an unnecessary chance. I consider myself extremely lucky I walked out of the hospital under my own steam.
Someone up there really loves me.
Mark Billesberger
Penticton