Skater down!

**zavenhook** · 08-28-2009 09:19 AM

Tom Stetler is in the hospital. He got hit during a run at lookout mountain.

Tom spotted a corner where a car was facing downhill, unfortunately, the car pulled a u turn and headed back up the mountain right as tom was entering the turn.

Tom hit an suv head on. He's hanging out in the hospital with a cracked sternum and ribs. damaged liver, and a couple gnarly gashes. Luckily he was wearing a helmet that saved him from being a vegetable.

This goes goes to show that even if you are an experienced rider, stuff happens. Stay safe and stay in your lane! I visited Tom yesterday and he should be ok in a while. Very happy he wasn't hurt worse.

Give Tom a ring or visit him at exempla Lutheran over on colfax, and make sure he knows he is in our thoughts!

-Joel

**Dancer** · 08-28-2009 09:56 AM

Argh, I'm heading up to Skyline Drive in a few day's, I really hope the driver's know what they're doing.
Helmet's are always a good idea, glad he was wearing one.

**jamesonyo** · 08-28-2009 10:20 AM

I'm glad to hear your friend is alright dude. Props to him for wearing a helmet!

**Cann0n** · 08-28-2009 10:36 AM

Sucks. I assume the U-Turn was illegal. I'd talk about compensation with the driver. I wouldn't file a lawsuit, but I'd at least have my gear replaced and medical bills paid for, maybe even compensation for days missed at work.

**Poomsky** · 08-28-2009 03:59 PM

the u-turn might have been illegal but it is also illegal to ride a skateboard on any public roads in colorado. dont know what the exact stipulations are, but im pretty sure that as a skater, we dont have much defense in terms of hitting vehicles. It sucks too cuz Tom was ambulanced to the hospital, and i know thats a pretty hefty bill. Hopefully he has some health insurance.

**themitch** · 08-28-2009 07:47 PM

shitty... hope you get better soon tom!

**mot** · 08-29-2009 05:52 PM

thanks for the kind words guys... see yall on the hills soon

**shredthegnar420alldaylong** · 08-29-2009 06:42 PM

damaged liver? could it be from the beer?
get better man. hopefully you got some gooooooooooooood painkillers. When I almost chopped my toe off the nurse asked me how bad the pain was on a scale of 1-10 and I said- "1...thousand!!!" She gave me so much morphine in the IV that I thought I was going to die on the way home. I felt so good in the emergency room. I was all like

and then I was like

The nurse said she had a feeling that I've done drugs before.

**Tyriax** · 08-30-2009 05:49 AM

I will be hosting a sekret fundraiser to buy Tommy a six pack of non-alcoholic beer so his damaged liver can rest up before he brutalizes it with large amounts of actual alcohol...

Damm1t Tom! Ive told you before skating is dangerous, why do you insist on doing it?!

Oh, right, because its awesome.

Stop hitting cars though, and get better fast!

Ty-

**Dancer Erick** · 08-30-2009 06:37 AM

wow lucky for that helmet but good to hear hes okay.

get better tom hope you recover fast!

**Ogre** · 08-30-2009 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by Cann0n

Sucks. I assume the U-Turn was illegal. I'd talk about compensation with the driver. I wouldn't file a lawsuit, but I'd at least have my gear replaced and medical bills paid for, maybe even compensation for days missed at work.

First thing, nobody is gonna eagerly fork out the 10's of thousands of dollars the bill will be w/o a legal suit.

Secondly, if the "collision" occured while Tom was across the centerline and collided in the opposing lane..the fault lies on him and the Suv dood could seek damages to his vehicle.

Thirdly, The guy could deny doing a u-turn, but denying you were riding a skateboard where it is illegal is impossible due to the circumstances

Lastly, but FAR from leastly..heal up Tom

**miSSionary** · 08-31-2009 07:00 AM

Sux...heal up man!

**SpeedFiend** · 08-31-2009 07:37 AM

heal up, looks like a helmet is a good idea once again

**ctown!** · 08-31-2009 11:52 PM

Please tell me you were wearing a shirt Tom, I know how much you like your natural leathers. Get well soon.

**GIlongboardingJOE** · 09-01-2009 11:40 AM

OH MY GOD TOM!!! IS THE SUV OK??? but in all seriousness why didn't you use the mini hulk training i gave you to crush the vehicle. if i was there i would have turned really really yellow and crushed the suv into oblivion.

let me know if there's anything i can do for you dood. next time i see you ill buy you a pack to C-fliters.