One June 19th I was in a bicycle accident. There were no eye-witnesses, and I don’t remember the accident. Here is what we’ve been able to piece together:

• It was getting dark / dusk, approximately 9:15pm

• I was found in the bike lane on 15th Ave at the bottom of Gilman Drive.

• There was a sudden and intense rain shower so visibility and traction were poor.

• The front rim of my bicycle is bent. No other damage to bicycle.

• I had road rash on my right shoulder, knuckles of both hands and face.

• Multiple facial fractures. No other bone damage.

My theory is that I was descending Gilman Drive and had a green light to merge right (North) onto 15th Ave.

I most likely attempted to veer slightly right onto 15th Ave without braking and failed to negotiate the raised traffic pattern at the bottom of Gilman Drive.

My front wheel is bent, so I believe that i hit the traffic pattern at full speed and pitched over the handle-bars. I may have veered into the left (oncoming traffic) lane on Gilman to get a better angle for the turn at the bottom of the hill.

As the maps show, the traffic pattern at the bottom of Gilman blocks any path to make the turn from the left lane.

I landed on my face, shoulder and knuckles, but mostly my face. My helmet saved my life. I was found by some strangers, who called 911 and stayed with me until the EMTs arrived.

One of them also took possession of my bike until we could retrieve it after I was discharged from the hospital.

If you want to see pictures of my broken face, you can click here. WARNING THEY ARE GRAPHIC.