CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 5 JAMES JOHNSON
Joint Force Headquarters
Washington Army National Guard
Camp Murray, Tacoma, Washington
The date was . I was TDY and had just returned to my hotel room after having dinner with a co-worker. About p.m., I received a phone call from a number I did not recognize. I answered it anyway. The person on the other end of the line identified herself as a representative from Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and explained she obtained my number from one of their patients. That was the moment I knew something terrible had happened and it wasn’t going to end well.
My son, Mike, had recently returned from an overseas tour and was staying with us. He was eager to get back on his motorcycle, but because it had been sitting, the bike needed some work first. On Monday, , Mike and I spent the day servicing and repairing his motorcycle. By the end of the day, it was serviced, leak-free and ready to ride.
Mike didn’t have to go into the office that week due to a requirement to complete some distant learning courses. He must have finished his work early because he decided to go for a ride. Mike was a disciplined rider and always wore leather chaps, gloves, safety glasses and a half helmet. He was several miles from the house when he turned right onto a four-lane road with a center turn lane.
After traveling about a quarter-mile, Mike turned right again and switched to the left lane, where he encountered a pickup truck pulling a boat in a parking lot adjacent to the road. The pickup driver didn’t see Mike, and Mike didn't see him. As Mike approached, the pickup pulled out, turning left directly in front of him. The truck and boat now obstructed both lanes. Mike, positioned in the left lane, took immediate corrective action by steering toward the center turn lane. However, the truck did not stop, effectively blocking any remaining escape route. Mike laid his bike down to try and reduce the force of the collision, but due to the speed of both vehicles, the slide did little to mitigate the impact. He struck the truck’s bumper face-first.
First responders arrived quickly and assessed Mike’s injuries, which were life threatening. A LifeFlight helicopter was dispatched to the accident site and transported him to Harborview Medical Center — a facility renowned for trauma care. I was told later that the LifeFlight crew resuscitated him during the trip to Harborview, but he was placed on life support immediately upon arrival.
Mike’s mother, sisters and my wife were able to see him that evening. My last words to my son were spoken over a cellphone held to his ear by my wife. He was removed from life support a short time later. In his final act of service, Mike saved several lives by donating his organs.
In retrospect, almost the same exact situation happened to me 30-plus years ago. I had turned right at an intersection and moved from the right lane to the left when a Volkswagen van pulled out from a parking lot, turning left in front of me. Like Mike, I had only been on the road for a short distance, limiting the driver’s time to see me. In my case, I was able to walk into the emergency room to be evaluated; my left hand was broken in two places. At the time, I was wearing a leather jacket, gloves and a full-face helmet.
Mike was an experienced rider with years of time in the saddle; I was an "indestructible" 20-year-old. Both of our motorcycles were well-maintained, and we both wore personal protective equipment routinely. Like many Harley-Davidson riders, Mike preferred a half helmet. I’ve asked myself: Would a full-face helmet have saved his life? After reviewing the video provided by the police, I think the answer is no. Mike hit the corner of the front bumper face-first with all his momentum.
We plan for what we can control. We maintain our vehicles, ensure we are well-rested, avoid distracted driving and practice situational awareness to the best of our abilities. We stress these concepts during every safety brief for long weekends and convoys. I have heard these words hundreds of times throughout my career. Unfortunately, drivers on the road today are simply not paying enough attention. Motorcycle riders must remain on high alert at all times, expecting the unexpected. Even then, we cannot predict every variable. We must remain absolutely vigilant at all times, regardless of what we are driving or riding. Our lives depend on it.