- Joined
- Mar 20, 2005
- Location
- Morganton NC
Last weekend, while wheeling with some friends, we about lost one our own. Let me say, in all honesty, between all of the rolls I have seen on You Tube, all the rolls I have seen in person, and even my own end over end and barrel roll, this was the worst I have seen. I am nearly 53 years old and wore out, been wheeling since I was 16, and for the first time,...............I was scared. My very good friend, Deanna Poplin, AKA Pinky, was wheeling with us. Where this all started was on a short trail, that I would no how, no way described it as even moderately nasty. She was exactly where I had been, only maybe a half hour before. She was caught sitting sideways on a hill, and not a really steep hill at that. Then it happened. Her Jeep teetered a little bit, and the slowly came up on two wheels, and over she went! I was watching, I as well as everyone else, saw it and only expected her to lay it on it's side. Nope, it kept going! It was just not in a place where you'd expect it, and no one was taking pictures or videoing, it happened just so quick. So I'd guess 10-15 rolls later, she was at the bottom of the hills, came down at last on all 4's, and dazed. As the three of us at the bottom were scrambling, not know where it would go, we waited until the last min to go where we did, to get out of the way. As soon as it was down, we scrambled to stop the Jeep from going further. We stopped it, got it in park to keep it from rolling further. As I was moving to get out of the way, as fast as I could, I was on the lower side, the drivers side. When I looked at the Jeep still moving, I saw something that absolutely scared the shit out of me. Deanna was hung out the door opening, flopping like a rag doll. I honestly thought she was dead. But by the time we got her stopped, she was upright again. VERY dazed! She had a goose egg sized knot on her forehead above her left eye.
IN conversation with her, she didn't remember this. But, I saw it. No way t confirm it, but I think she was knocked out for a short period. All she can remember was holding on. As soon as we could ascertain she wasn't with broke back or neck, she got out with help, walked to a rock and sat down. She immediately look at her Jeep, and cried out about the damage. We had no concern at that point, about the Jeep, only of her and how bad she was hurt. Long story short, we got her down the mountain and on her way to the hospital. She did suffer a concussion, but other than that OK. Yes still very sore from one hell of a ride. So what did I, and others learn?
1. when you have a cage built, make sure it's by someone who nows what they are doing. Make sure it's built out of the right kinda material! I am so very thankful that Scott Thomas of Metalwerx built this cage.
2. You never know when something like that will happen.
3. Those harnesses are in your rig, aggravating yes, but, they will help keep you in.
4. Head protection. I remember a thread a long time ago about this very thing. I was one of those who didn't want to wear it. Some of our group have ordered a helmet, I ordered mine this morning. All that were there that day will agree, they will be wearing one.
I know, and you know. Hind sight is 20/20! Several things could have done. Bottom line, Deanna herself requested that I put this out there. She wanted others to know what she went through, and more importantly, she wanted others to know what they themselves can do, to make sure this doesn't happen to them. If her experience, and her injuries, and this story will save even one life, then that's what she wants.
Again, it's easy to read this, and say oh I'd do that and I'd have done this. Not the purpose of this. So please, she has suffered. so Flaming will not do anything but contribute to the pain she already has. The good lord wasn't through with her, and she is here to help others not have happen to her, what did.
I Know one old geezer who WILL wear shoulder and crotch straps more often, and Will pull my cap off and wear a helmet, for the first time ever.
One of the cool things after all this, is, she is talking about the repairs to her Jeep. She is buying a Pink helmet, and I venture to believe, I will see her straps on. Not just lap belt like so many of us do, but all of them! As I told her, she's a tough bird, and I am so very glad, she is still with us.
IN conversation with her, she didn't remember this. But, I saw it. No way t confirm it, but I think she was knocked out for a short period. All she can remember was holding on. As soon as we could ascertain she wasn't with broke back or neck, she got out with help, walked to a rock and sat down. She immediately look at her Jeep, and cried out about the damage. We had no concern at that point, about the Jeep, only of her and how bad she was hurt. Long story short, we got her down the mountain and on her way to the hospital. She did suffer a concussion, but other than that OK. Yes still very sore from one hell of a ride. So what did I, and others learn?
1. when you have a cage built, make sure it's by someone who nows what they are doing. Make sure it's built out of the right kinda material! I am so very thankful that Scott Thomas of Metalwerx built this cage.
2. You never know when something like that will happen.
3. Those harnesses are in your rig, aggravating yes, but, they will help keep you in.
4. Head protection. I remember a thread a long time ago about this very thing. I was one of those who didn't want to wear it. Some of our group have ordered a helmet, I ordered mine this morning. All that were there that day will agree, they will be wearing one.
I know, and you know. Hind sight is 20/20! Several things could have done. Bottom line, Deanna herself requested that I put this out there. She wanted others to know what she went through, and more importantly, she wanted others to know what they themselves can do, to make sure this doesn't happen to them. If her experience, and her injuries, and this story will save even one life, then that's what she wants.
Again, it's easy to read this, and say oh I'd do that and I'd have done this. Not the purpose of this. So please, she has suffered. so Flaming will not do anything but contribute to the pain she already has. The good lord wasn't through with her, and she is here to help others not have happen to her, what did.
I Know one old geezer who WILL wear shoulder and crotch straps more often, and Will pull my cap off and wear a helmet, for the first time ever.
One of the cool things after all this, is, she is talking about the repairs to her Jeep. She is buying a Pink helmet, and I venture to believe, I will see her straps on. Not just lap belt like so many of us do, but all of them! As I told her, she's a tough bird, and I am so very glad, she is still with us.
) Ill be wearing a helmet on at the very least the bigger obstacles and definitely the big hill climbs!
