Rosemount couple injured in Onamia accident

The couple who were injured in the motorcycle accident on Sunday, August 15 were not wearing their helmets. My wife and I were among the first on the scene. That couple passed us minutes earlier while we were riding our motorcycle up to Mille Lacs Lake. They were driving way too fast for the amount of traffic in the area.

I was the first EMS person that came accorss the accident on my way home there coming vacation. No they were not wearing helmets but I ride also and don't always wear a helmet either. Lets not judge what happened and just keep the family in our prayers!

I do feel sympathetic for the family/couple but was rather outraged they weren't wearing their helmets. Come on, it makes sense the very first part of a person's body that hits the concrete first is of course a person's head, so why not ALWAYS wear helmets?!?!?! I am a Christian man, and my wife and I are both Christian people and we're both praying for that couple but it's obvious they should have worn their helmets and have slowed down. Let's be more realistic and know the reasons why they manufacture helmets in the first place. Hey, people wear helmets on bicycles, and they're going only 8 to 10 MPH; why not wear a helmet when you're riding at 85+ MPH?!?!?

Get real, Mark J!!!! Come on, an EMS?? Prove it!

Why would an EMS endorse not wearing a helmet anyway? I agree with the comment from J Martin; I sympathyze with the couple in the accident but also wonder why they weren't wearing helmets. Motorcycles are powerful machines that can be very dangerous so why not consistantly wear a helmet?

My husband and I were traveling just a few vehicles behind this couple when we witnessed the accident. Neither people were wearing helmets. Although it's extremely unfortunate this couple was injured, it just demonstrates how important it is to wear head protection (helmets) when riding a motorcycle. My husband and I are proponents of a helmet law in Minnesota because we have a friend who was killed on a motorcycle due to him not wearing a helmet. Minnesota sure creates laws to protect drivers in vehicles by creating laws forcing people to wear seat belts but they sure don't realize the importance of wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle. Think about this; what is the first body part impacted when involved in a crash? A person's HEAD. Statistics show head injuries are the number one sustained injury on motorcyclists involved in accidents. So yes, we pray for this family, but we also wish to emphasize the importance of wearing head protection (helmets) while riding.

Motorcycles are powerful machines - yes. Dangerous - only if the driver is not well trained, or a passenger vehicle does something stupid. Yes, some accidents are the bikers fault, but more often it is the passenger vehicles fault. If you all would just LOOK before you pull out, change lanes, etc. many accidents would not happen.

As for this accident...the description in the article doesn't make very clear exactly what happened or who was at fault.

We drove by shortly thereafter... saw the leather boots still sitting next to the bike and the helicopter taking off from the west side of the road. Didn't look good.
The Stratus must have been slowed or stopped, as the rear bumper was hanging down touching the ground... must have hit it hard.

I'm not endorsing not wearing a helmet, I said I don't wear mine all the time. Wearing a helmet is YOUR choice! Helmet don't always save your the life. I agree with NightRider bikes are not always seen, we all need to look out.

My brother and sister-in-law were the ones in the accident. Yes, I agree, I wish that they would have been wearing helmets, Their three kids wish that they were wearing helmets, but they weren't. The accident was not the fault of my brother's...it was the car that pulled out directly in front of them. My brother was traveling northbound and the car made a left hand turn, instead of going into the closest lane, the driver turned directly into the right had lane in the direct path of my brother and sisterin-lawy. Please pray for my brother and sister-in-law, they are working thru their injuries, but it will be awhile before they are back on their feet again.

if they do or dont wear helmets is up to them
as for all the traffic that day ??? we got there
as the first ems truck arrived this is the # 1
accident for bikes (a-- clowns not driving properly or driving into the proper lane)the rider with or w/out gear always looses SO START SEEING MOTORCYCLES !!!!!!!!!!
and turn into the proper lanes ! this is a huge issue in the midwest why cant people figure it
out ??? learn the flipping right way or quit driving !!!

I wasn't at the accident site, but I have a hard time believing that my brother was going 85+ miles per hour, especially with his wife as a passenger. I am sure that he was traveling with the same speed as the traffic. The state patrol told us, that he tried to swerve to miss the vehicle, but because the vehicle pulled directly in front of them, he was not able to swerve completely to miss the Dodge Stratus. Ron and Brenda are very responsible people, although, I would have agreed that they probably should have had helmets on, they were not breaking the law. Who knows, maybe having a helmet on, could have caused more injuries...(broken neck, etc.)

sarahb
Ron and Brenda are in OUR prayers! I know it will be a long road and it will just take time. I have tried to call the house and would really like to talk to someone. Please tell them were thinking of them

Mark J Grundy,

Thank you for your prayers. They are still both hospitalized. They do have a caringbridge website.

sarahb
I add my prayers for your family members also.

I mentioned above that we hadn't gotten the whole story of how this happened. Now with your input, I know we have it. The other driver did not follow common sense by looking before pulling out in front of someone.

Thanks for all prayers! I know that God will answer them. It will take alot of time until they are 100% again, but they have three wonderful kids and a very supportive family and lots and lots of friends to get them through this.

sarahb wrote:

My brother and sister-in-law were the ones in the accident. Yes, I agree, I wish that they would have been wearing helmets, Their three kids wish that they were wearing helmets, but they weren't. The accident was not the fault of my brother's...it was the car that pulled out directly in front of them. My brother was traveling northbound and the car made a left hand turn, instead of going into the closest lane, the driver turned directly into the right had lane in the direct path of my brother and sisterin-lawy. Please pray for my brother and sister-in-law, they are working thru their injuries, but it will be awhile before they are back on their feet again.

That type of turn is something that should be cracked down on and ticketed much more often. Legally, you are supposed to turn into the closest lane. But if I had a nickel for every time this happened to me when riding, I would be rich. Also, when two lanes are turning the same direction, it is also important to stay in the lane you started out in.

Sarah, which caringbridge website are they on or do you have the route. I would like to talk to someone if possible. Our family dealt with a serious accident in 96 when our son fell 100 ft off a cliff and I know they can use some words of encouragement, it helped us through the tough times.

sarahb wrote:

Mark J Grundy,
Thank you for your prayers. They are still both hospitalized. They do have a caringbridge website.

Sarahb,
Can you email me the caringbridge website to Hogdreamer08@yahoo.com?
I'm a Black Sheep Harley Davidsons for Christ member and would like to visit them in the hospital on Friday if they are able to have visitors.
I have been and will continue to pray for Ron and Brenda Jo. I live in Eagan just up the road from Rosemount.

We were the couple that was right behind the motorcycle right before the accident,my husband witnessed the whole thing, so just to set the story staight they did pass us just south of Onamia going approximately 72-75 mph we had the cruise set on 70 and they just went by, there is no way that they were traveling 85+ mph. We were the 1st vehicle on the scene and I called 911 and my husband lifted the motorcylce off of Ron's head. I sat and talked to Brenda until a nurse showed up, as my husband started directing traffic.
As far as them not wearing helmets, my husband and I ride motorcylce also we do not wear helmets but after seeing something like this sure makes you think twice about it. But it is still totally up to the rider.
We left for a week long vaction last sat and came upon the accident and they have been in our prayers every since. We were not even sure if he was going to make it but we are sure glad to hear he did. Hope all is well, please let me know the caring bridge web site so we can keep up with there progress.