http://www.kcbd.com/global/Story.asp?s=12551706

I went to work as usual, and learned that the man on the motorcycle, Rickey, was the son-in-law of one of my co-workers, Alton.  We couldn’t believe he actually came to work, but later he told us he just needed to be around his friends after the long night at the hospital.  Probably he needed some sense of normality during his time of shock. 

Later that afternoon, Alton received an email from one of our customers that had been forwarded to him from a friend, who got it from a friend, and so forth, written by a man named Jason, who just happened to go to Applebee’s with his wife and a friend Wednesday night.  Here is what Jason wrote the day that Alton’s son-in-law, Rickey, died:  (Jason is a banker here in Lubbock, not a professional writer, by the way)

WARNING (graphic in parts)

So last night, after youth group, Kara and I invited our friend Bobby to grab a bite to eat since we hadn’t eaten supper yet.  We decided to go some place quick and close so we chose the Applebee’s on 4^th and Milwaukee since it’s just right down from our house. 

After supper, we were talking as I paid the check when two young guys came sprinting through the restaurant out of nowhere back to the kitchen.  A gathering of workers rushed towards the front of the restaurant and the two guys came running back with fire extinguishers.  Kara jumped up and ran to the door and thought my truck had caught fire.  In disbelief, I got up and saw there was smoke and flames on the other side of my truck. 

I ran outside and the scene that I came upon flooded my senses.  My adrenals kicked in and I started piecing together what I was looking at in the matter of a few milliseconds.   A motorcycle was wrecked and on fire laying on the sidewalk maybe 20 feet from the front of my pickup.  The smell of burnt oil, gas, paint and metal was overwhelming as the wind was blowing the smoke over my truck.  I then noticed a shadow under my pickup.  As I got closer I realized it was the man riding the motorcycle.  I went to the driver’s side of my truck and a woman was on her knees holding the man’s neck and head.  I then noticed a mangled boot in the grass by the parking lot and another boot about 50 yards away in the intersection.  When I went back around to the other side of the truck I noticed the man’s left foot wasn’t there and what I thought was oil, was really his blood.  I walked back around and couldn’t even speak.  I just looked at the woman holding his neck and felt completely helpless.  I’ve had first aid training, but none of those instincts even kicked in.  The man was moaning and making the worst noises, but still blinking his eyes.

I turned and saw another man standing in the grass by the street in front of an older Ford single cab pickup (the ones that were made of steel).  The bumper, hood and grill were “v’ed” in.  The man was on his phone repeating the same thing over and over, “I just killed a man, I just killed a man.”  He had wet himself and was crying uncontrollably. 

Before the EMS arrived, I was wandering around (what felt like slow-motion) and I heard Bobby yell for me to get away just as the gas tank on the motorcycle blew.  I don’t think I even flinched.  Thankfully no one was hurt from that.  Kara was hanging on to Bobby by the restaurant and I was just telling her to stay away so she didn’t have to see anything. 

After the EMS and Fire Fighters arrived, they put the fire out and took the guy to the hospital. Then the police put the man driving the truck in a squad car.  Another cop came and got my information and told me it would be awhile since my truck was now part of the scene of the accident. 

I’ve been replaying everything in my head and wondering how all that happened.  Why I chose the parking spot I did (I passed up 3 closer spots because that one was easier to pull into).  How the guy flew so far and ended up under my truck without hitting it.  How the motorcycle missed my truck by just a few feet as it slid and tumbled by before it came to rest and eventually burst into flames.  I would estimate the motorcycle was 40-50 yards from the impact. 

The man in the truck was arrested and is now charged with intoxicated manslaughter.  The guy on the motorcycle wasn’t wearing a helmet, so I got a good look at him and he didn’t even have a scratch on his face or head, but he later died in the hospital.  When I picked my truck up the police officer said his internal injuries were really bad. 

I know some of you ride motorcycles and some of you still drink on occasion (maybe not at the same time, but you know what I mean).  I used to drink and drive and I’ve paid the consequences for it.  I’ve since given up on alcohol for a lot of reasons (that’s another story entirely), but I know a few drinks at dinner and driving home is a very common thing. Trust me, I’ve done it.   

A man’s mangled body came to its final resting place under my truck in an Applebee’s parking lot last night because of carelessness and the pleasure of a few drinks.  One man’s life is lost and the other will never be the same. 

Please think twice about the next time you take a drink, wherever you are and whatever occasion…OR just don’t!  If you choose to ride a motorcycle, please wear ALL of your protective gear…OR just sell the dang thing and stick to four wheels!  I had to watch that guy’s friends come and try to pick up his shredded boots and vest and the police wouldn’t let them because it was evidence.  All I’m asking of you is to be careful!  I don’t want this happening to people I know or care about!!!

Please lift up both parties and their families in prayer!   Pray that something positive can come out of such a random and tragic accident. 

I love all of you and God does too!  

Prayers and Blessings,

Jason

 

(Ironically, Rickey was a member of the motorcycle riding group “Messengers Clean and Sober” .  They had just left a meeting.)

After I contacted Jason about this story, he replied with:

Thank you for your kind words, Kathy.  My wife and I were not expecting that and the more the story has unfolded, we’ve become more broken-hearted for everyone involved.  I was very confused much of yesterday, but after praying I could see a message being laid out for those who are also confused and hurting.  When I found out Rick was a member of The Messengers, I knew God was going to do something great out of this mess.  God will get the glory out of all of this!  If one person makes a smart decision instead of a dumb one, then what I wrote was worth writing and the purpose of my random involvement is clear.  I honestly wrote the story for my own therapeutic reasons, but as I finished I thought it was worth sharing with the people I care about.  I’m glad you see it the same!  Please let the family know that my wife and I would like to help in any way we can, even if it’s just prayers. 

Prayers and Blessings,

Jason

 

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