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Seriously Injured Rider

  1. #1
    Member Chuck's Avatar
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    Seriously Injured Rider

    It is with great sadness that I inform everyone that several days ago during a hookeyride, a 34 year old rider named Mike Negrete from Nashua, NH had a low-side crash and was paralyzed.

    A group of 5 riders, including Mike met at MM Wednesday morning. [Many of you probably do not know who Mike is, since it was his first time riding with us and I don't think he has posted to SRNE before -- I had never met him before]. While deciding on a route for the day, I spoke with Mike and another rider new to the group named Adam (Blue R1 with blue leathers), asking what their riding experience was. Mike told me had had been riding for 8 or 9 years and although he did not know most of the roads in Mass., seemed eager to check them out. I mapped a route through Littleton, Harvard and Clinton, taking Rt. 62W to Rt. 122N over the top of the Quabbin Reservoir and then Rt. 202S, through Shutesbury to Rt. 116, then to Rt. 8A and back via Rt. 2/202... We left MM and the group stayed together with no separation. We stopped in Barre for water and proceeded along the route. Postitions changed and Mike, who started last, was now 4th, with Adam following him. Bill commented that I was taking it pretty easy, maybe because of the leaves he thought. Not sure, another feeling I guess. I was riding kind of apprehensive and tentative.

    Rt. 122N was scenic as always and the weather was nice, sun was shining. We turned onto the road leading through Shutesbury, a newly paved twisty backroad. Pace was moderate as I glided through the turns, more back and forth than pushing. Some roads were damp where covered by the trees. About 2/3 of the way down the road, I saw Bill drifting further back in my mirror. I slowed to a crawl and contined to the end of the road ahead. He caught up and I asked where the others were. He thought they might have been caught behind a car that might have gotten in front of them from a side road and that they wouldn't have been able to pass because the road was twisty. We waited about a minute, here came the car, 10 second more, another car..no riders. We turned back. I hadn't seen any police, nor did my radar detector go off and I knew they wouldn't have been stopped by the police since we weren't going fast, so I assumed the worst. We rode back about 1/2 mile and found Mike laying to the right of our lane, as we approached a Shutesbury police officer came to the scene. Mike's bike was in our lane. We went passed and stopped. Mike was conscious and talking, not apparently in shock, just not able to move. He said his left shoulder hurt, and we thought it might be dislocated, but were unable to tell due to the bulk of his Marsee suit. He could move his right hand. He could not move his feet and said he felt no pain but felt numb.

    Several minutes later the Leverett police chief arrived, followed by Amherst EMT's. Mike's helmet was removed, his suit was cut off and 6 people rolled him onto a board. He was taken via ambulance to a nearby site and life-flighted to UMass Medical Center in Worcester, MA. We were told that he had no feeling from the chest down.

    Adam, who was behing Mike at the time of the accident, said he saw Mike touch his brakes before the turn, move to the left of Derek's bike, then lean over and lowside, presumably touching the wet yellow line as he rounded the damp, down hill, right hand turn. Mike's 1998 VFR motorcycle lowsided and hit a 20inch tree, bounced off and hit him in the back.

    We went to Sunderland, had lunch and proceeded to UMass Medical Center. Upon our arrival we were unable to see Mike (he was undergoing a procedure, probably MRI scanning) and were told that his mother and girlfriend were in the cafeteria. We met them and learned that Mike's 5th vertebrae (I assume the C5) was crushed as was the spinal cord at that location. Mike was paralyzed from the chest down. We were told that doctors were closely monitoring his breathing (the C3 controls breathing and damage to this vertebrae would be fatal, i.e., Paul Belkus' fatality). Doctors planned to attach a halo to Mike the following day and fuse his vertebrae sometime during the coming week.

    I have not spoken to Mike's family since the accident, but felt it was important to notify people who may know him, but who might not have heard of the accident, as well as others who would be concerned. Mike is still in the intesive care unit at UMass Medical Center in Worcester. At some point, after speaking to Mike's family, a fund will be established for Mike. He did not have any motorcycle insurance coverage, thankfully he has health insurance.

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  2. #2
    Kosher Assassin Stoneman's Avatar
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    Seriously Injured Rider

    Tragic, truely tragic. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and all that knew him....

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    Did you grit your teeth and try to look like Clint Fuckin' Eastwood?
    Or did you lisp it all hangfisted like a fuckin' flower?

  3. #3
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    Seriously Injured Rider

    My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with him and his family.

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    Eugene '99 EX 500R
    Wakefield, MA

  4. #4
    Kosher Assassin Stoneman's Avatar
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    Seriously Injured Rider

    That's a good idea, Mike. Chuck, if you could, will you keep us all posted once the fund is set up? Maybe we could all do something as a whole to pitch in....

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    Did you grit your teeth and try to look like Clint Fuckin' Eastwood?
    Or did you lisp it all hangfisted like a fuckin' flower?

  5. #5
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    Seriously Injured Rider

    Yep. What they said.

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    Eugene '99 EX 500R
    Wakefield, MA

  6. #6
    Member Chuck's Avatar
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    Seriously Injured Rider

    MIKE NEGRETE CONDITION UPDATE:

    I called UMass to check on Mike's condition Monday afternoon and spoke with his girlfriend, Terry. Yesterday, I went to UMass Medical Center to visit him, bring a bead baracelet bearing his name that my 5 yr. old made for him. He is still in the ICU and in a private room in the burn unit. Getting in to see him is not easy, as they try to disuade visitors. It is quite a depressing place as you can imagine. Most people there are concentrating on just breathing and trying to stay alive. I remember when I was there, that's what I was doing. He is in good spirits, taking Vicodin (he didn't care for the morphine -- and it has severe withdrawl side-effects) and is a strong supporter of wearing good gear, which he believes he had on at the time of the accident. (A full Marsee cordura suit with soft armor, including on the back, a Suomy helmet, gloves and boots). Doctors placed a halo on Mike's head a few days ago to stabilize his spine and he will be having surgery probably later this week or next to remove the broken fragments in his neck/back. He is able to move his arms, although he has some complaints of pain in one of them; he has no movement from his chest down. I have done some research regarding C5 breaks and shatterings and in some cases people are able to walk again, albeit this is not the norm. Only time will tell. I told him of all of your best wishes and prayers and he sends back his thanks. He mentioned being able to ride an ATV, although that would be extremely dangerous in the near term future. Only time will tell the full permanency of his injuries.

    Invest in good gear. It just might save your life.

    -------------------------
    Chuck
    2001 Ducati 748S - sold
    1999 Ducati 748 - sold


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  7. #7
    Kosher Assassin Stoneman's Avatar
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    Seriously Injured Rider

    As sobering as these events are, it's good to hear he's in good spirits. Thanks for keeping us updated and when you find out about his fund, could you please let us know?

    Here's to Mike....

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    Did you grit your teeth and try to look like Clint Fuckin' Eastwood?
    Or did you lisp it all hangfisted like a fuckin' flower?

  8. #8
    ....................... PinHead's Avatar
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    Seriously Injured Rider

    It allways sucks to hear that someone got hurt. My prayers and thoughts are with him.
    Ed

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  9. #9
    NESR ruined my life. chr|s sedition's Avatar
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    Re: Seriously Injured Rider

    Originally posted by Chuck
    It is with great sadness that I inform everyone that several days ago during a hookeyride, a 34 year old rider named Mike Negrete from Nashua, NH had a low-side crash and was paralyzed.

    A group of 5 riders, including Mike met at MM Wednesday morning. [Many of you probably do not know who Mike is, since it was his first time riding with us and I don't think he has posted to SRNE before -- I had never met him before]. While deciding on a route for the day, I spoke with Mike and another rider new to the group named Adam (Blue R1 with blue leathers), asking what their riding experience was. Mike told me had had been riding for 8 or 9 years and although he did not know most of the roads in Mass., seemed eager to check them out. I mapped a route through Littleton, Harvard and Clinton, taking Rt. 62W to Rt. 122N over the top of the Quabbin Reservoir and then Rt. 202S, through Shutesbury to Rt. 116, then to Rt. 8A and back via Rt. 2/202... We left MM and the group stayed together with no separation. We stopped in Barre for water and proceeded along the route. Postitions changed and Mike, who started last, was now 4th, with Adam following him. Bill commented that I was taking it pretty easy, maybe because of the leaves he thought. Not sure, another feeling I guess. I was riding kind of apprehensive and tentative.

    Rt. 122N was scenic as always and the weather was nice, sun was shining. We turned onto the road leading through Shutesbury, a newly paved twisty backroad. Pace was moderate as I glided through the turns, more back and forth than pushing. Some roads were damp where covered by the trees. About 2/3 of the way down the road, I saw Bill drifting further back in my mirror. I slowed to a crawl and contined to the end of the road ahead. He caught up and I asked where the others were. He thought they might have been caught behind a car that might have gotten in front of them from a side road and that they wouldn't have been able to pass because the road was twisty. We waited about a minute, here came the car, 10 second more, another car..no riders. We turned back. I hadn't seen any police, nor did my radar detector go off and I knew they wouldn't have been stopped by the police since we weren't going fast, so I assumed the worst. We rode back about 1/2 mile and found Mike laying to the right of our lane, as we approached a Shutesbury police officer came to the scene. Mike's bike was in our lane. We went passed and stopped. Mike was conscious and talking, not apparently in shock, just not able to move. He said his left shoulder hurt, and we thought it might be dislocated, but were unable to tell due to the bulk of his Marsee suit. He could move his right hand. He could not move his feet and said he felt no pain but felt numb.

    Several minutes later the Leverett police chief arrived, followed by Amherst EMT's. Mike's helmet was removed, his suit was cut off and 6 people rolled him onto a board. He was taken via ambulance to a nearby site and life-flighted to UMass Medical Center in Worcester, MA. We were told that he had no feeling from the chest down.

    Adam, who was behing Mike at the time of the accident, said he saw Mike touch his brakes before the turn, move to the left of Derek's bike, then lean over and lowside, presumably touching the wet yellow line as he rounded the damp, down hill, right hand turn. Mike's 1998 VFR motorcycle lowsided and hit a 20inch tree, bounced off and hit him in the back.

    We went to Sunderland, had lunch and proceeded to UMass Medical Center. Upon our arrival we were unable to see Mike (he was undergoing a procedure, probably MRI scanning) and were told that his mother and girlfriend were in the cafeteria. We met them and learned that Mike's 5th vertebrae (I assume the C5) was crushed as was the spinal cord at that location. Mike was paralyzed from the chest down. We were told that doctors were closely monitoring his breathing (the C3 controls breathing and damage to this vertebrae would be fatal, i.e., Paul Belkus' fatality). Doctors planned to attach a halo to Mike the following day and fuse his vertebrae sometime during the coming week.

    I have not spoken to Mike's family since the accident, but felt it was important to notify people who may know him, but who might not have heard of the accident, as well as others who would be concerned. Mike is still in the intesive care unit at UMass Medical Center in Worcester. At some point, after speaking to Mike's family, a fund will be established for Mike. He did not have any motorcycle insurance coverage, thankfully he has health insurance.

    A very old, and sobering post. There didn't seem to be any other updates on his condition. Does anyone know what his deal is today in 2005?

    -sedition

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  10. #10
    Super Moderator OreoGaborio's Avatar
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    Re: Re: Seriously Injured Rider

    Originally posted by chr|s sedition
    A very old, and sobering post. There didn't seem to be any other updates on his condition. Does anyone know what his deal is today in 2005?

    -sedition
    oh wow... i didn't even see the date till you mentioned it.... that's too bad, hope he's doing well

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  11. #11
    Junior Member Hurtin's Avatar
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    Seriously Injured Rider

    These posts make me want to give it up. I don't want to play with my daughter from a wheel chair.

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  12. #12

    Seriously Injured Rider

    Old as the post may be, I'm sorry to hear about his misfortune

    My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

    Also let this serve as a reminder to all of you other riders, enjoying this nice weather.

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  13. #13
    NESR ruined my life. chr|s sedition's Avatar
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    Seriously Injured Rider

    Originally posted by Leebo
    I did not eve n see the date till Chris ointed it out.
    I am curious how he is doing.
    Lee
    I was reading through old posts and ran across this. there are many such posts on the net, but you rarley see long term follow-up post. I decided to revive an old thread to see if anyone new the current situation with this guy.

    -chr|s

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  14. #14
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    Seriously Injured Rider

    Originally posted by chr|s sedition
    I was reading through old posts and ran across this.
    um....if you're *that* bored, shouldn't you be out riding?

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  15. #15
    NESR ruined my life. chr|s sedition's Avatar
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    Seriously Injured Rider

    Originally posted by taylor
    um....if you're *that* bored, shouldn't you be out riding?
    it's called rain, bitch. besides, your the one who needs Lo-Jack to find your bike becuase the last time you rode was so long ago that you dont even remeber where it is anymore.

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    "Up front there ought to be a man in black." -John Cash

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    If I get another fuckin' bike stolen...

  16. #16
    Lifer
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    Seriously Injured Rider

    Chris your best bet might be to find Chuck at Motomarket sometime and ask him. Most anyone there will know who he is.

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