Photo: Liveleak capture
It may sound like a scene from Final Destination (you pick the number) but for Pedro Henrique B. da Silva, this scenario is all too real. On the afternoon of July 28, Da Silva was riding his all-black Harley-Davidson Sportster 83 on the Joatinga bridge in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, unaware of the traffic jam in front of him.
Riding very closely to a car in the second lane that was driving very close to the right limit of that lane proved to be ill-fated for Da Silva. With poor visibility ahead, Da Silva was caught unaware when the white SUV slowed down rapidly in front of him and slightly veering to the right in his way.
Footage recorded by a dashboard camera in one of the vehicles behind Da Silva shows him trying to swerve past the SUV and avoid the collision. However, the two vehicles touch each other as the SUV clips Da Silva's Harley and causes the rider to lose control of the bars.
The bike wobbles forcefully, but the rider is not willing to let go of the bars. Unfortunately, the Sportster hits the 2-feet (65 cm) tall concrete wall of the bridge and bucks the rider over it. As the bike crashes back in the first lane, Da Silva plummets around 12 meters (40 ft) and hits the ground.
Sources in Brazil indicate that Da Silva landed on a construction site, pretty lucky to have missed scaffolding or various sharp objects that could either break his spine or impale him altogether. The emergency team picked Da Silva and carried him to the Lourenço Jorge Hospital in serious condition and with both legs fractured.
Police are expected to analyze the footage and establish who is to blame for this incredible crash. As far as we can tell, the SUV driver also bears responsibility for the crash. Da Silva entered surgery and we hope he will make a full recovery.
Footage recorded by a dashboard camera in one of the vehicles behind Da Silva shows him trying to swerve past the SUV and avoid the collision. However, the two vehicles touch each other as the SUV clips Da Silva's Harley and causes the rider to lose control of the bars.
The bike wobbles forcefully, but the rider is not willing to let go of the bars. Unfortunately, the Sportster hits the 2-feet (65 cm) tall concrete wall of the bridge and bucks the rider over it. As the bike crashes back in the first lane, Da Silva plummets around 12 meters (40 ft) and hits the ground.
Sources in Brazil indicate that Da Silva landed on a construction site, pretty lucky to have missed scaffolding or various sharp objects that could either break his spine or impale him altogether. The emergency team picked Da Silva and carried him to the Lourenço Jorge Hospital in serious condition and with both legs fractured.
Police are expected to analyze the footage and establish who is to blame for this incredible crash. As far as we can tell, the SUV driver also bears responsibility for the crash. Da Silva entered surgery and we hope he will make a full recovery.
Google News