Ben Rothlisberger hospitalized after motorcycle accident

in Pittsburgh. No details, just heard on the radio.

PITTSBURGH (June 12, 2006) -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been in a motorcycle accident in Pittsburgh this morning.

Witnesses are telling authorities that the player's motorcycle collided with a car near a downtown intersection and that Roethlisberger's head hit the windshield and was bleeding.

Roethlisberger has said in the past that he prefers not to wear a helmet when riding.

One witness told KDKA television that Roethlisberger was conscious but appeared disoriented before he was taken from the scene to Mercy Hospital. A Steelers spokesman is at the hospital and confirmed Roethlisberger is being treated there, but wouldn't provide additional details.

An eyewitness said she saw a motorcycle headed outbound on Second Avenue as a car was coming inbound. The car, a Chrysler New Yorker, made a left turn toward the bridge in front of the cyclist. The motorcycle hit the car and the operator flew into the windshield and then hit the ground.

The witness said she went to the aid of the motorcyclist and asked his name. He said it was "Ben" and tried to get up, but she told him to stay still.

The victim was bleeding heavily from a head injury, and blood pooled on the pavement.

Roethlisberger has been known to refuse to wear a helmet when operating his cycle.


http://www.postgazette.com/pg/06163/697655-100.stm

:cry: :cry: :cry:

with former 1st round draft choice of the Cleveland Browns, Kellen Winslow Jr about motorcycle safety. If the Steelers have it in their contract, they can refuse to pay him for engaging in activities that may have a detrimental effect to his career.

someone else.

Unfortunately, they never think of that "someone else" as potentially THEM.

:evilfrown:

Story on accident here: http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/sports/9356067/detail.html#

There's also a link to a video on this page to a May 16th interview w/Terry Bradshaw telling Ben to 'park it', which is kinda freaky, but funny...

I hope Ben is alright, and recovers fully, quickly... :( And if he is alright, I hope Bettis beats his ass for riding without a helmet!

The bottom right part of the windshield is shattered and pushed in pretty deeply.

So he didn't go thru the windshield, but it was pretty close.

He is lucky to be alive.

If you guys see updates on him can you please post them. There are many very concerned Steelers fans that look here for news (like me).

Joe

per a hospital spokesman. Heard on radio at 1:00 central. He's on an operating table.

Well, he is a tough kid, young, strong.
Oh I hope he pulls through this. I think he has the whole country pulling for him.

I'll keep looking in thru the day.

Joe

I'm not a Steeler fan; I prefer the high flying Iggles but I'd rather he come back 100% as my similar thoughts go out to Carson Palmer.

He already earned his place in Steeler lore, at least to me.

I understand the Eagles thing. We were from State College - so family is evenly split.

Not me.

I do think the Steelers are screwed this year, even if he lives.

I saw that car he hit with his head- it would have killed me.

Come on Big Ben - pull out of this!!!

Joe

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/sports/9356067/detail.html#

There's video of the crash site and pics; they will carry the announcement live. I am very, very saddened by this, and angry he wasn't wearing a helmet.

Joe

Damn, it almost sounds like some bad Karma or something. The talk show host was asking him about politics and he rode the fence so high that to be utterly brilliant. Keeping sports unadulterated by politics almost sounds dangerous now.

Riding a motorcycle is dangerous enough, why would you want to do it without a helmet :shrug:

I absolutely adore him - and I'm really pissed at him for thinking he's indestructible. It's so sad and such a waste. :cry:

That is one reason the make auto glass like that. They have also came a long way in medicine treating this type of injury. He might not play this season but I think he will be back. My guess anyway :shrug:

Had a guy on Harley plow into my little truck the same way, he broke his leg and hurt a few other things and he had no helmet but he landed different probably.

Twenty years ago my brother smashed his car, flew through the window (no seat belt on) and languished in the the hospital for two years as a vegetable before kicking the bucket.

Anything is possible but my guess is he will live to see better days

I am sure he isn't playing this season. This is June, pre-season starts in a few months.

The thing is - if you took your head and slammed it into anything that hard -

Well, I just hope he lives. If he can come back and play later, that is just a bonus.

I sure hope you are right.

What a terrible way to start the week - for all of us.

Joe