Sunday from Hell, All 3 sons down

Last Sunday morning me, my 3 sons and a riding buddy headed out for a breakfast ride in south central Kansas. We had a great breakfast and headed for a great stretch of rode around a small community called Dexter, KS. We all had a great time on about a 20 mile ride of nice sweepers and a few hard 90's. After completing the run I stopped and asked everyone if we should go to the house or turn around and go back the way we came. The decision was made to ride back the way we came. This turned out to be the worst decision I have ever made.
We headed back the way we came having a great ride when I came up on a hard right. I made the turn but it was close. So I watched in my rear view mirror to make sure the boys had slowed enough to handle the corner. To my horror I watched as the 1st son came around and caught his right side hiway peg which caused him to stand the bike up which caused him to get in the gravel along the edge of the road which caused him to go down. His youngest brother came around behind him and came thru the corner and seen his brother going down I guess he couldn't take his eyes off his brother and he drove right off the side of the rode and went down. As he was going down the first born of the twins had started into the corner and seen what was happening in front of him and whats he do. Yep he stands the bike up and try's to stop but locks it up and into the gravel then the grass and he goes down too. Ol dad is up in front watching in horror as all 3 of his boys go down and into the ditch.
I don't remember how I got stopped and turned around but I did. My buddy that was bringing up the rear hadn't seen them go down.. As he made the turn he sees me turning around and thinks I had lost something and that the boys had gone on ahead. Once the bikes slid off the edge of the rode, it was tall grass and about a 8' ditch delow full of large rocks.
The 3 boys and bikes were spread about 100' or so from each other. I jumped and ran to the boy that was the closest which is the one that went down the hardest and was moaning the most. He rode over to his back and looked up and ask what happened. I kept asking if he was ok and he said he thought so and he took his helmet off. The youngest that went down 2nd was laying still in the ditch no answering me and first born that went down last was hollering for someone to get his bike off of him. So I ran over to him and he was on his back with his 06 HD Vrod lying on his right leg. I reached down and lifted the bike off of him and he was able to pull his leg out and said he was ok. My buddy was over checking on the youngest as I returned to AJ the one that went down first. He said he was ok and talking ok so I headed for Daniel, the youngest.
Daniel was lying on top of a bunch of boulders so I eazed my legs under him to try to get him some relief. He wanted his helmet off because it was about 90 degrees laying there in the sun.
Thank god my boys are smarter than their father. All 3 had full faced helmets and vented leather jackets on. So they were geared up pretty good.
By this time a few cars came by and started helping and got EMS on the way. Matt, the one that I removed the bike from was setting on the edge of the road with his twin brother AJ being tended to by others. Daniel and I were in the ditch with him complaining of sever pain in his lower back and that he wasn't able to get up. EMS showed up in only about 20 min's and for where we were was pretty dam good. They put both boys on boards and loaded both in the same ambulance and headed to a small hospital in Wynnefield, KS about 20 miles away with me following on the bike. I had instructed Matt to call the boys mother and their wifes and have them head to the hospital. I called another buddy to bring his trailer and come and get Matt and the bikes.
AJ was transfered to a hospital with a concusion and broken collar bone in 2 places with some sore ribs and a few scrapes. They discharged him yesterday on Monday to go home to Tulsa and get with a specialist to have his collar bone repaired later this week. He still doesn't remember what happened. His twin brother is pretty sore all over with a sore ankle and left shoulder but seems to be doing OK.
That was the good news. The bad news is Daniel has been is severe pain the whole time and his xrays weren't read until yesterday after lunch and that's when they found a fracture on his L5 vertibre which is the reason for all the pain. He has some internal bleeding that has now stopped and he is black and blue all over his right side from this bleeding.
I throwed a fit over it taking so long to find the fracture in his back and had started the process for getting him moved to a larger hospital and better care. After visiting with a bone doctor in Tulsa he has said that the 3 hour EMS ride would be to much for him to take and now the Doctor and the hospital are properly treating him for his injuries, we made the decision to leave him there with some one there with him at all times.
I have just heard from his wife how has said that the physical therapist has come in this morning and was able to get him up and able to take a few stepps with a walker.
So it looks like we all will recover from our physical injuries but I don't know how long it going to take for dad to get over watching all 3 of his son go down at the same time and reliving the night mare.
The twins are already thinking what kind of bikes they are going to replace their rides with. And Daniel has told his mother and wife that the bike is going away not to be replaced
I have a helmet but don't use it much in the summer months but I am sure that will change. There were alot of leasons learned last sunday and now and an even greater apprication for these 2 wheeled machines that we all dearly love.
I thought I had been holding up pretty good until yesterday when the wife looked at me and stated that we could have lost all 3 sons in that corner just south of Dexter, KS on Sunday. That's all it took, I had the big break down and I am trying to recover from the mental hell that this last week end has brought.

Wow. Sorry that happened but glad they will be OK.

T,
I don't know you, but as a fellow Okie and a father of a 29 year old son, as well as a 23 year firefighter that has seen my share of "things", I feel compelled to reply to your post/bad day. I'm sure and it is very understandable that your breakdown was very tough, as were the events of that day.
I would also tell you to try to look at the positives and not dwell on the negatives.
You still have all of your sons and though they, and you, are worse for wear you are all still here. Your wife was right, it might not have been so.
As you said there were several lessons learned, the wearing of the proper gear as well as many other lessons. The one many may not think about is very clear in your recollection of the days happenings. When riding, don't look where you don't want to go. Sounds simple but you said yourself that your two sons watched their brother go off the road and ultimately followed him. As it is human nature to watch when something draws your attention to it, when riding a motorcycle your normal reactions will tend to guide you where you are looking. I have learned this the hard way from many years of motorcycle racing and believe me it is true.
Even your normal reaction of having a "breakdown" does have a positive side. It is a stress reliever, though it may not feel like it now it is part of the recovery process. Probably things will or have already gotten better than how you felt during that breakdown?
You should also be very proud of your actions during this event. I can tell you that parents do not usually react as calmly and cooly as you did when their children are involved, again speaking from experience.
Lastly, I would tell you to encourage Daniel to get back on and ride as soon as he is able. I'm sure he will be very cautious in his first rides after this event. Then if he decides to never ride again it is certianly his choice but he needs to make that decision after he has ridden and not because of this event.
People get hurt or worse everyday from all sorts of things but it does not stop us from getting in a car, walking across the street, etc.
Remember, your entire family is still here. You did the best anyone, (let alone a parent) could have done in those circumstances. You and your sons have learned some valuable lessons that will bring you all closer and make you better riders in the end.
These type of events make us realize how precious our loved ones are, not that we didn't already know it but it can make you appreciate them even more, a positive thing!

Regards, Lonnie

I can only imagine how you must have felt watching that.Ime glad everyone is on the mend.
I know when we were riding the rattler this weekend Katies boy had to pull over and catch his breathe...We all stopped behind him but his mother and Steve were in the lead and she was freaking out thinking he had gone down.
I have an idea how she felt just thinking it Let alone watching it.
Just keep the boys up and be thankfull that is all that happened to them.
Our prayers are with them as they mend and you as well as you get through this ordeal.

T, thanks for sharing your experience, it helps remind me how close to the edge we all are on a bike. My prayers are that your boys experience a full recovery.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your sons . . .

I sometimes wonder if getting my wife on a bike was a good idea, I would be devistated if anything happened to her because I convinced her she should ride. She has has a couple of small dump overs, but nothing at speed. I usually stay right in front of her and pay VERY close attention to surroundings, and I'M nervous most of the time. Lonnie did give some good advice though . .

The best to you and yours . . -Dave

I second what Lonzol said. You set a great example for your sons in a very tough situation. You took care of the emergency, looked after the people who depended on you, and had your emotional release when it wasn't going interfere with doing what needed to be done. I admire you.

T, have just read your story and i can not imagine how that must have felt to see your sons go down like that. You need to remind yourself that when you were needed the most you held it together for them, Its OK to let go now.
Wish you all a full and speedy recovery.

Rayjay

sorry to hear what happen but am glad everyone is safe and doing well

God speed to you and the boys on a full recovery.