Big Ben in serious condition after motorcycle accident

**Batpuff** · 06-12-2006, 04:46 PM

PITTSBURGH -- Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was badly hurt in a motorcycle crash Monday and undergoing surgery. The extent of his injuries was not known.

Roethlisberger was in serious but stable condition, said Dr. Larry Jones, chief of trauma at Mercy Hospital.

"He was talking to me before he left for the operating room," Jones said before the operation. "He's coherent. He's making sense. He knows what happened. He knows where he is. From that standpoint, he's very stable."

Pittsburgh media outlets reported that Roethlisberger was in surgery for a broken jaw. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, citing a police source, reported Roethlisberger also broke his left sinus cavity, suffered a 9-inch laceration to the back of his head, lost teeth and has knee injuries from hitting the pavement. A plastic surgeon has been called in, the source said.

[Image: http://espn-att.starwave.com/photo/2006/...ke_275.jpg]
AP Photo/Keith Srakocic
Roethlisberger was riding this motorcycle when he collided with an automobile in Pittsburegh on Monday morning.

The 24-year-old Roethlisberger likes to ride without a helmet, a habit that once prompted coach Bill Cowher to lecture him on the dangers.

[Image: http://espn-att.starwave.com/photo/2006/...ke_275.jpg]
AP Photo/Keith Srakocic
Roethlisberger was riding this motorcycle when he collided with an automobile in Pittsburegh on Monday morning.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that Roethlisberger wasn't wearing a helmet. The Associated Press reported it wasn't clear whether he was wearing a helmet or not.

The crash happened at an intersection at the edge of downtown at about 11:30 a.m. A pool of blood was still visible there by early afternoon.

Police spokesman Lt. Kevin Kraus said police and homicide units were investigating the crash, something standard when there is an accident with critical injuries. Kraus would give no details on the extent of Roethlisberger's injuries or if anyone else was injured. The accident occurred on Second Avenue near the intersection of 10th Street in Pittsburgh, around 11:30 a.m. The route is one often taken in traveling to the Steelers' facility in the Southside section of the city.

[Image: http://espn-att.starwave.com/photo/2006/...er_275.jpg]
AP Photo/Keith Srakocic
Paint outlines puddles of oil and blood on the street where Roethlisberger collided with an automobile while riding a motorcycle on Monday.

Steelers backup quarterback Charlie Batch was at the emergency room. He had no comment.

A silver Chrysler New Yorker with damage to the front passenger fender was removed and Roethlisberger's bike was loaded onto a flatbed truck. Police were detouring traffic around the crash scene as onlookers and media gathered.

One of his agents, Ryan Tollner, is in route to Pittsburgh for what was supposed to be a pre-planned trip and will arrive later Monday.

In only his second year in the NFL, Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback to lead a team to the Super Bowl championship. He was 23 when he did it last February.

Roethlisberger has said in the past that he prefers not to wear a helmet. He has pointed out Pennsylvania's 35-year-old state law requiring helmets to be worn was amended to make helmets optional.

In May 2005, Cowher warned him about safe riding after Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was injured in a motorcycle accident. Winslow tore knee ligaments and was lost for the season.

"He talked about being a risk-taker and I'm not really a risk-taker. I'm pretty conservative and laid back, but the big thing is to just be careful," Roethlisberger said at the time. "I'll just continue to be careful. I told him we don't ever ride alone, we always ride in a group of people, and I think it makes it even more safe."

Roethlisberger continued to ride after Winslow's accident and that angered Terry Bradshaw, who quarterbacked the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories during the 1970s.

Visiting the Steelers' training camp last summer, Bradshaw remarked: "Ride it when you retire."

**15thRegionCrazy** · 06-12-2006, 06:06 PM

I just saw this on the news... I pray he has a full recovery

**Old School** · 06-12-2006, 07:27 PM

I hope he is OK. But this should send a message to others about the dangers of not wearing a helmet.

youknowwhoibe · 06-12-2006, 07:31 PM

Can people not learn from the past? Jay Williams? Kellen Winslow Jr.? I hate to see this happen but this is pure stupidity riding a motorcyle without a helmet when already two athletes both had extremely bad wrecks, ending one of the two's career.

**Poseidon** · 06-12-2006, 09:54 PM

Bad news from Pittsburgh, hopefully all will be ok and some lessons will be learned.

golfman42 · 06-12-2006, 10:07 PM

i hope he is ok i would hate to see big ben have to retire because of this

football05 · 06-12-2006, 10:49 PM

that is horrible I hope hes ok bc hes one heck of a QB

**BFritz** · 06-12-2006, 11:45 PM

No comment one way or the other

**alfus21** · 06-13-2006, 12:22 AM

BFritz Wrote:No comment one way or the other

What do you mean by that?

**15thRegionCrazy** · 06-13-2006, 12:53 AM

I'm wondering the same thing alfus

**-STAT-** · 06-13-2006, 02:09 AM

I pray for Big Ben to get to a speedy recovery. But I am like Youknowwhoibe, after the Jay Williams and Winslow Jr. accidents that some atheletes should learn from that b/c these guys were seriously hurt early in there career and now there careers have been damaged pretty bad. Ben is very lucky to just have the injuries that he did and it could have been alot worse but I pray that he gets back to full health. Hes a great QB and one of the greats of the NFL and will be for a long time to come

**BFritz** · 06-13-2006, 02:32 AM

alfus21 Wrote:What do you mean by that?

That I have no comment on the situation. I think that it's horrible that it happened to him, but, he was riding a motorcycle, which is dangerous, and he refuses to wear a helmet, which is more dangerous. Everybody says that the hit on Carson wasn't dirty, and it was just part of the game, well, this was just a risk with riding a motorcycle, especially without a helmet. Only difference is that he won't miss much time at all.

There's my no comment on the situation:Thumbs:

BurntTires · 06-13-2006, 02:42 AM

Hope Big Ben gets better soon.......This is a huge blow to the Steelers franchise.

THUNDERCHILD · 06-13-2006, 09:00 AM

Well I'm sure everyone hopes for a quick and full recovery, but, he won't be eating corn on the cob until his new teeth arrive. The reports say he lost most of his teeth. Ya gotta learn from others mistakes or you'll share the pain.

venom93 · 06-13-2006, 09:15 AM

Who Dey!

**15thRegionCrazy** · 06-13-2006, 12:05 PM

I don't think there was anything wrong with him riding a motorcycle... yeah, he should have worn a helmet but a lot of people don't... he could have been injured in a car wreck, a plane crash, or something else just as easy... you can't predict something happening like this so there is really no reason to criticize him for riding a motorcycle

**NYY10** · 06-13-2006, 12:17 PM

Hopefully big ben will be fine

Battle Tested · 06-13-2006, 01:14 PM

his head is going to be subject to injury and in the least this will most likly shortin his playing days.
i hope for the best but before this mishap he was looking at a long life with football and now...................................

**BFritz** · 06-13-2006, 01:42 PM

15thRegionCrazy Wrote:I don't think there was anything wrong with him riding a motorcycle... yeah, he should have worn a helmet but a lot of people don't... he could have been injured in a car wreck, a plane crash, or something else just as easy... you can't predict something happening like this so there is really no reason to criticize him for riding a motorcycle

Just saw a site that says motocycle riders are 16 times more likely to die in accidents than car riders, and four times more likely to be injured. Let's toss in without a helmet and see how high the number goes, and take into account that he was probly inches away from being killed, so the four times is a lot higher than four

**15thRegionCrazy** · 06-13-2006, 02:36 PM

But how many more people are killed in car wrecks... not more likely to be killed if they wreck

**alfus21** · 06-13-2006, 05:42 PM

BFritz Wrote:That I have no comment on the situation. I think that it's horrible that it happened to him, but, he was riding a motorcycle, which is dangerous, and he refuses to wear a helmet, which is more dangerous. Everybody says that the hit on Carson wasn't dirty, and it was just part of the game, well, this was just a risk with riding a motorcycle, especially without a helmet. Only difference is that he won't miss much time at all.

There's my no comment on the situation:Thumbs:

Fritz you're ridiculous. How does a hit on Carson which wasn't dirty, and even he said wasn't dirty have anything to do with a "Superbowl Winning" quarterback having a motorcycle accident.

Unreal that you would bring Carson Palmer into this, and you would have your "no comment" just because Ben plays for a team the Bengals can't hold a candle to.

**Playboy5** · 06-13-2006, 10:53 PM

alfus21 Wrote:Fritz you're ridiculous. How does a hit on Carson which wasn't dirty, and even he said wasn't dirty have anything to do with a "Superbowl Winning" quarterback having a motorcycle accident.

Unreal that you would bring Carson Palmer into this, and you would have your "no comment" just because Ben plays for a team the Bengals can't hold a candle to.

Thank You Alfus, Much Respect for you on this comment! Friends??:igiveup:

youknowwhoibe · 06-14-2006, 01:53 AM

15thRegionCrazy Wrote:I don't think there was anything wrong with him riding a motorcycle... yeah, he should have worn a helmet but a lot of people don't... he could have been injured in a car wreck, a plane crash, or something else just as easy... you can't predict something happening like this so there is really no reason to criticize him for riding a motorcycle

Here is the problem....he is a professional athlete and your not supposed to do stupid shit like that. Also, what kind of role model does that make him? Oh, I dont need to wear a helmet. I wish him a speedy recovery and also that he may learn something from this.

Pupaw · 06-14-2006, 01:54 AM

Hopefully he will be able to play, but you know that this will rattle him for a while.

bball fan · 06-14-2006, 02:12 AM

alfus21 Wrote:Fritz you're ridiculous. How does a hit on Carson which wasn't dirty, and even he said wasn't dirty have anything to do with a "Superbowl Winning" quarterback having a motorcycle accident.

Unreal that you would bring Carson Palmer into this, and you would have your "no comment" just because Ben plays for a team the Bengals can't hold a candle to.

Can't hold a candle to??? They won the Steelers division and you say they can't hold a candle to. Get real Alfie Boy!!! I hope Big Ben has to miss the whole year just for being an idiot on a motorcycle. He didn't even have a liscense either, so arrest the fool as well!!

PS...In 2007, the AFC NORTH belongs to the Cincinnati Bengals again...even if the Steelers play with or without Evil Kineival!!!!!!!

**Playboy5** · 06-14-2006, 08:47 AM

He's Tough! He will be back and for next season..SORRY BENGALS FANS!

**Pirates~R~Us** · 06-14-2006, 10:32 AM

[QUOTE=youknowwhoibe]Here is the problem....he is a professional athlete and your not supposed to do stupid shit like that. Also, what kind of role model does that make him? Oh, I dont need to wear a helmet. I wish him a speedy recovery and also that he may learn something from this.[/Q

I wish him well and a complete recovery and all!! But I agree and it was on the news about things like this being in their contracts!

06-14-2006, 12:22 PM

Yea I watched it on the news too about that being in their contracts. Hope he gets better soon!

**BFritz** · 06-14-2006, 01:23 PM

alfus21 Wrote:Fritz you're ridiculous. How does a hit on Carson which wasn't dirty, and even he said wasn't dirty have anything to do with a "Superbowl Winning" quarterback having a motorcycle accident.

Unreal that you would bring Carson Palmer into this, and you would have your "no comment" just because Ben plays for a team the Bengals can't hold a candle to.

Can't hold a candle to?? They tied one to one regular season last year, then they hurt Carson on the first play in the playoffs (dirty or not), and it was on a big play. Then the Bengals are without their leader, their general, and they lose.

Carson got hurt playing the game, Ben got hurt just being careless and selfish and thinking that he was above things like helmets and that he was too good to get hurt.

**15thRegionCrazy** · 06-14-2006, 01:57 PM

One more post about being glad he was hurt, hoping he can't come back or anything of that sort and this one is closed