Motorcycle safety gear saves NASIC Airman

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Veronica Pierce
  • National Air and Space Intelligence Center Public Affairs
Senior Airman David Steele stood on stage in front of his fellow Airmen from the National Air and Space Intelligence Center here recounting his story during a recent commander's call.

"According to the doctors, the crash would have killed me had I not been wearing my gear," he said.

In June 2011, Steele was heading to Baltimore, Md., on a 500-mile motorcycle journey to visit his family. He stopped every few hours to stretch and update his aunt and uncle in Baltimore on his whereabouts.

Nearly half way into the trip his bike ran off a turn and crashed into a boulder on Highway 50 in West Virginia.

Steele's recollection of the accident is hazy.

"I don't remember why I ran off the road, just that it was a blind corner," he said. "The authorities could only speculate what may have happened."

Steele remembers lying on the ground in shock, not knowing how he got there. He looked up and saw a man was standing over him. When he asked the stranger what happened, the man told Steele he was in a motorcycle accident.

A medical evacuation helicopter flew Steele to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W. Va. The in-flight medical team stabilized Steele with 25 units of blood and plasma.

During the nine-minute flight he gave emergency crews his social security number and his family's contact information.

At the hospital doctors saw the full extent of his injuries. Besides a broken hand and jaw, the motorcycle brake lever punctured Steele's spleen resulting in the majority of the blood loss. The spleen was removed. He spent 19 days in the hospital.

Doctors told Steele his protective gear limited the damage to his other internal organs, which enabled him to survive.

A year before the accident Steele took all the mandatory precautionary measures before riding his motorcycle. He took the mandatory motorcycle safety courses and purchased all the required safety gear.

"You can do everything right on your motorcycle and still crash, because someone didn't check their blind spot or use a turn signal," Steel said. "You don't have a seatbelt, an airbag or a crumple zone to protect you. Your only protection is what you're wearing. And that's why motorcycle safety gear is so important."

Following a year of recovery, Steele's life and Air Force career are back on track. He's persevered to score a 90 percent on his most recent Physical Fitness Test.

Asked if he would still ride motorcycles, he says he'll purchase a new bike soon.

Steele is the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency representative for the 2012 Airmen-to-Airman Safety Advisory Program. The Air Force Safety Center initiative features major command-nominated enlisted and officers.

The Airmen, all 20-26 years old, each have had a mishap and are turning their careers around for the better. Their mission is to communicate safety messages Air Force-wide.

Steele speaks to fellow Wingmen about the dangers of motorcycle riding and the importance of being prepared.

His bottom line message?

"Crashing a motorcycle is just a matter of time. Always wear your gear."