According to local reports, Zien struck an SUV that attempted to change lanes, but instead lost control and flipped onto its side.
At the time of the accident, the 60-year old was riding the 2009 Road Glide he was gifted with by Harley-Davidson in 2009, with the bike sustaining about $10,000 in damages.
He was taken by helicopter to the Tallahassee Memorial Medical Center. Following the crash he had his left leg amputated above the knee, and also suffered a fractured pelvis.
What is worth mentioning is that Zien, who is a known to be an opponent of helmet laws, was not wearing a helmet. However, he was lucky enough to not sustain any serious head injuries in the crash.
“He’s actually doing pretty good, considering,” Zien’s partner Suzanne Bowe told the Wisconsin State Journal. “His spirits are really good. He’s looking at it that it could have been worse. I assume he will probably be on a bike again at some time. Probably a three-wheeler.”
The SUV driver was cited for driving with a suspended license and failure to maintain lanes. Both he and his passenger were also taken to the hospital, but managed to escape with only minor injuries.
David Zien is best known for defending motorcyclists' rights while serving in the Wisconsin Legislature, but also for riding his 1991 Harley-Davidson Sport Glide more than 1 million miles, with the bike bearing full-size American and Wisconsin flags on it.
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