Hit & Run in PTA Tuesday 7 March 2017 17:28

[ACM]

Hi fellow hubbers,

 

Through God's grace I'm able to write this post.  

 

On Tuesday 7 March 2017 17:28 a car hit me of my mountain bike and continued driving.  If anybody has information about the car/driver/incident, I’d like you to get in contact with me (083 441 1503 / andre.cillie.martin@gmail.com).

 

I commute to work (in Menlyn) and back (home in Centurion) on some days.  Tuesday I left the office in Menlyn on my way home in Centurion.  On my way down Solomon Mahlangu (M10) towards the R21 white (what I believe to be a) Volkswagen Polo struck me from the side (bumping into me from the right).  According to my GPS I was doing 42km/h.  The car was travelling quite a bit faster than me (I saw it continue driving during my fall).  I recall, hearing the scratching of the bike against the car.  I fell towards the car and hit it. That (luckily) threw me away from the road.  I lost control of the bicycle and took a number of tumbles before gaining balance and being able to stand-up and go sit next to the road. 

 

Funny how things happen in slow motion in split seconds.  I recall then the car hit me, my thoughts were…this isn’t happening (my wife’s biggest fear).  I remember the noise like glass breaking; thought it’s my glasses, saw my glasses slipping of my face, realizing it’s the carbon frame that’s cracking; sounding like glass shattering.  I once took a skills clinic with Sean Badenhorst where he said don’t stick out your arm during a fall, that’s how you break collarbones.  I remember sticking out my hand, but then in a split second tucking it into my chest and just took the hit and tumble with the body (shoulders).  Thanks Sean!  Amazing how one’s brain re-acts in split seconds.

 

I want to thank a number of Angels. First a gentleman (with a red T-shirt) in a minibus stopping asking if I’m ok.  Don’t know your name, but thanks for offering me water.  Thanks for fetching my bike from the road (it ended up about 10 meters away from me in the road). Thanks for fetching my back-pack containing many valuables (including my notebook).  Someone could easily have driven over it (it also ended up in the road).

 

Then thanks to a number of Angels that took care of me there-after.  Adré for stopping, phoning the ambulance and driving with us to Unitas, phoning and ‘handing me over to my wife’; Altus for being there assisting until the ambulance arrived; Louis for taking my bicycle to his house, collecting my cycling tools that ended up all over the place.  The ambulance staff (Armand, Jackie… and others – not sure if I have all the names correct).  Dr. Nevil who first observed me at Unitas.  Dr. Dudu that took care of me there-after.  Nurse Jacob – what a gentlemen.  Cleaning me up with grace.

 

The biggest thank to the LORD that protected me.  My helmet is cracked on the inside; my head is bruised from fall on that side; but without the LORD’s intervention and the GIRO XAR helmet I would probably had severe head injuries.  I walked from hospital with mere scratches, bruises, pain, stiffness & a headache.  I have to monitor for the next couple of days, but so far so good.  I have pain in my left shoulder & ribs, but hopefully that’s just muscle and ligament stuff.  The X-rays of neck, spine, shoulder, wrist showed nothing broken. What a miracle.  One read so many posts here on the hub of this type of hit & run with fatal outcomes. 

 

I’m upset that this happened, but at the same time so thankful that I’m in the shape I am this morning.  This is the hardest I’ve ever fell with the least amount of body damage considering the circumstances of the fall.

 

Little funny part.  My wife tells me, whilst they (she and my son) waited at Unitas for the ambulance to arrive another ambulace arrived and when the staff opened the door there was an elderly lady with an oxygen mask in the back.  My son (13 years old and obviously expecting his dad) asked… what happened to my dad.

 

I'l try to attach the picture of where the incident took place.  The trip from there onwards was the journey in the ambulance; Altus gave me my Garmin (that took the trip to hospital breaking some Strava records J.  For the pure Strava guys… yes, I deleted the activity from Strava.

 

Be safe out there and be thankful for being able to ride a bicycle.

 

[Bloukrans]

Andre, I'm glad you are ok to tell the tale.

 

Sending you healing vibes!!  

 

Hope the motorist get caught and his day in court.

[Moriarty]

This actually sounds like a deliberate act to me.

 

In case anyone thinks I'm overreacting I have had a few near misses similar to this on commutes where the situation on the road leads to the only reasonable conclusion of a deliberate action.

 

Glad you're ok, heal well and try and get back on the bike in traffic as soon as you're able.

 

It's unlikely that the bastard will be caught but here's hoping.

[ACM]

This actually sounds like a deliberate act to me.

 

In case anyone thinks I'm overreacting I have had a few near misses similar to this on commutes where the situation on the road leads to the only reasonable conclusion of a deliberate action.

 

Glad you're ok, heal well and try and get back on the bike in traffic as soon as you're able.

 

It's unlikely that the bastard will be caught but here's hoping.

 

Thanks for the well wishes.  I don't believe it was deliberate.  I think the driver just took the corner to tight or might have overtaken traffic on the left of the double lane; as the vehicle was going faster than the cards in the right hand lane.  Drivers speed down that section as well.  And I also think the son shines right from front going down there.... so maybe the driver didn't even see me.  But if that's the case, please stop and check that I'm ok :-)

[Flemish Lion]

Good to hear you're OK!

 

I've been commuting daily for the past 2.5 years and sadly I often think it's just a matter of time... had a fair amount of close calls...

 

Like yesterday a car driving up a one way street... had I been a few secs later I could have possibly smacked into his front screen...

 

Some drivers just don't care as per our country leaders... and some drivers are just oblivious which scares the cr@p out of me!

 

I always try minimize risks (I don't always succeed)  but there are a lot of reckless drivers out there

 

Heal up soon and hope you get the bike sorted too and find the f$#ker

[EmJayZA]

I saw the title and my heart just sank. I am so glad to hear you are ok! Thanks for sharing your story and hope you heal up quickly. 

[Bateleur1]

Know that stretch very well.  Most propably a d@@s that came from Pierre van Ryneveld and decided to pass you on the left as the road is narrowing.

 

Had a few close calls there before.  Glad you are ok.

[HBO]

Hope you heel completely and be back on the bike soon.

 

I know that section and you do go down there quite fast.

 

Also good to see that so many people stopped to help you. May karma be good on them and *** on the driver that just sped away.

['Dale]

Ai, man

Glad you're alive and well

[bikebloke]

Glad you are ok bro

you can now join me and others in the club of survivors who where hit by idiots in VW's who didn't bother to stop

we are pleased you are still alive to join us

[Red Robin]

Glad that you are OK and hope you heal fast from your aches and bruises.

Must have been quite a scare.

[Tony datoy]

I'm glad you survived the ordeal to tell the story.

Blatant disregard for the law is fast becoming the norm.

I hope you feel better soon.

T

[BigDL]

Hi fellow hubbers,

 

Through God's grace I'm able to write this post.

 

On Tuesday 7 March 2017 17:28 a car hit me of my mountain bike and continued driving. If anybody has information about the car/driver/incident, I’d like you to get in contact with me (083 441 1503 / andre.cillie.martin@gmail.com).

 

I commute to work (in Menlyn) and back (home in Centurion) on some days. Tuesday I left the office in Menlyn on my way home in Centurion. On my way down Solomon Mahlangu (M10) towards the R21 white (what I believe to be a) Volkswagen Polo struck me from the side (bumping into me from the right). According to my GPS I was doing 42km/h. The car was travelling quite a bit faster than me (I saw it continue driving during my fall). I recall, hearing the scratching of the bike against the car. I fell towards the car and hit it. That (luckily) threw me away from the road. I lost control of the bicycle and took a number of tumbles before gaining balance and being able to stand-up and go sit next to the road.

 

Funny how things happen in slow motion in split seconds. I recall then the car hit me, my thoughts were…this isn’t happening (my wife’s biggest fear). I remember the noise like glass breaking; thought it’s my glasses, saw my glasses slipping of my face, realizing it’s the carbon frame that’s cracking; sounding like glass shattering. I once took a skills clinic with Sean Badenhorst where he said don’t stick out your arm during a fall, that’s how you break collarbones. I remember sticking out my hand, but then in a split second tucking it into my chest and just took the hit and tumble with the body (shoulders). Thanks Sean! Amazing how one’s brain re-acts in split seconds.

 

I want to thank a number of Angels. First a gentleman (with a red T-shirt) in a minibus stopping asking if I’m ok. Don’t know your name, but thanks for offering me water. Thanks for fetching my bike from the road (it ended up about 10 meters away from me in the road). Thanks for fetching my back-pack containing many valuables (including my notebook). Someone could easily have driven over it (it also ended up in the road).

 

Then thanks to a number of Angels that took care of me there-after. Adré for stopping, phoning the ambulance and driving with us to Unitas, phoning and ‘handing me over to my wife’; Altus for being there assisting until the ambulance arrived; Louis for taking my bicycle to his house, collecting my cycling tools that ended up all over the place. The ambulance staff (Armand, Jackie… and others – not sure if I have all the names correct). Dr. Nevil who first observed me at Unitas. Dr. Dudu that took care of me there-after. Nurse Jacob – what a gentlemen. Cleaning me up with grace.

 

The biggest thank to the LORD that protected me. My helmet is cracked on the inside; my head is bruised from fall on that side; but without the LORD’s intervention and the GIRO XAR helmet I would probably had severe head injuries. I walked from hospital with mere scratches, bruises, pain, stiffness & a headache. I have to monitor for the next couple of days, but so far so good. I have pain in my left shoulder & ribs, but hopefully that’s just muscle and ligament stuff. The X-rays of neck, spine, shoulder, wrist showed nothing broken. What a miracle. One read so many posts here on the hub of this type of hit & run with fatal outcomes.

 

I’m upset that this happened, but at the same time so thankful that I’m in the shape I am this morning. This is the hardest I’ve ever fell with the least amount of body damage considering the circumstances of the fall.

 

Little funny part. My wife tells me, whilst they (she and my son) waited at Unitas for the ambulance to arrive another ambulace arrived and when the staff opened the door there was an elderly lady with an oxygen mask in the back. My son (13 years old and obviously expecting his dad) asked… what happened to my dad.

 

I'l try to attach the picture of where the incident took place. The trip from there onwards was the journey in the ambulance; Altus gave me my Garmin (that took the trip to hospital breaking some Strava records J. For the pure Strava guys… yes, I deleted the activity from Strava.

 

Be safe out there and be thankful for being able to ride a bicycle.

 

Incident.GIF

Sorry to hear - glad you're ok.

[KingZA]

I'm terribly sorry to read this but very grateful that you're OK.

 

I was going to write this as part of another thread but this is just as good an opportunity...

 

As I'm sure most of you are as well, I'm a member of many other forums and groups. Even though I've been cycling for 15 odd years I've only recently started become an active member of the BikeHub community and I've got to say that it's a bitter-sweet pill to swallow.

 

We come for the great forum topics and articles (of which their are many), maybe to browse the classifieds and buy our next expensive toy. Hell, I even come to read @'Dale's chirps. This community is great. There's a darker side to it too. In everything I've ever done I've never been part of a community that has suffered so much depressing news in such a relentless fashion. It's literally been every couple weeks this entire year that there's been a major incident.

 

Maybe I've always been ignorant before and this has been going on all along or maybe things have been escalating in recent years. Either way, please be safe out there and lets hope that the rest of 2017 will bring us greater well being.

[Long Wheel Base]

Good to hear you survived and your positive attitude towards the situation is a sign that you won't let this get you down.

Hope the box gets caught and pays for their sins.

 

Sent from my LG-H735 using Tapatalk

[BigTom]

Glad to hear your ok. Sounds like it could have very easily been a much more tragic outcome. Hope the driver's conscience(questionable if he/she's got one considering their actions) is keeping them from sleeping at night.