Caught on camera: Shocking moment biker's body was shattered and his wife thrown into the air in horror crash with oncoming car

  • David Hodge, 50, was on a motorbike near Kirkwhelpington, Northumberland
  • Brazilian motorist veered in front of him causing him to slam into the tarmac
  • Among his catalogue of injuries was a broken spine and punctured lung
  • Was in a coma for 17 days at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary
  • Doctors told his family it was unlikely he would survive
  • Around 10 months after the smash, he says he no longer feels any pain

By Wills Robinson

Published: 06:14 EST, 25 May 2014 | Updated: 03:47 EST, 26 May 2014

CCTV footage has revealed the shocking moment a father-of-one was left with horrific injuries after a car slammed into his motorbike.

The video shows David Lodge, 50, being hit by an oncoming motorist who veered into his path while driving along a main road in Kirkwhelpington, Northumberland.

As the white car slams into his bike, debris is scattered onto the road while his wife Tracey, who was riding pillion at the time, was flown more than 30m into the air.

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David Lodge, 50, was on his motorbike near Kirkwhelpington, Northumberland when a motorists smashed into him, causing him to fly off the bike and smash into the tarmac
David Lodge, 50, was on his motorbike near Kirkwhelpington, Northumberland when a motorists smashed into him, causing him to fly off the bike and smash into the tarmac

David Lodge, 50, was on his motorbike near Kirkwhelpington, Northumberland when a motorist smashed into him.. On the right you can see his wife, Tracey, being propelled into the air after the impact

His bike lay shattered in pieces while he was being treated by paramedics

His bike lay shattered in pieces while he was being treated by paramedics

After the collision last August, Mr Lodge was left with a catalogue of horrific injuries including a broken spine, three fractured ribs, a shattered foot, two cracked forearms, a punctured lung, multiple face injuries and swelling to the brain.

He was airlifted to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary and placed in an induced coma for more than 17 days, while his family were warned he may not survive.

While he lay fighting for life, his wife received treatment in the same hospital.

 

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Mr Lodge, a taxi driver from Darlington, County Durham, has revealed he watches the terrifying footage captured by a nearby petrol station because he suffered a four-week window of amnesia after the crash.

He said: 'There's nothing in my mind from the village before to four weeks after the accident.

'I watch it so I'm clear in my mind that there's nothing I could have done to stop.

'It's a reminder of what happened - because I have no memory I don't remember the pain or the hurt.

Mr Lodge, pictured with his wife Tracey who was also on the bike at the time, was placed in an induced coma for 17 and his family was warned he may not survive

Mr Lodge, pictured with his wife Tracey who was also on the bike at the time, was placed in an induced coma for 17 and his family was warned he may not survive

Among the horrific catalogue of injuries suffered by the father-of-one was a broken spine

Among the horrific catalogue of injuries suffered by the father-of-one was a broken spine

The X-ray shows two metal plates that were put in his forearm (left) after it was broken

The X-ray shows two metal plates that were put in his forearm (left) after it was broken

Pins were also placed in his foot, which was badly fractured as a result of the impact

Pins were also placed in his foot, which was badly fractured as a result of the impact

'They told my family it was an hour-by-hour situation, whether I was going to live and, if I did, whether I was going to be brain damaged or paralysed.'

He added: 'Now I don't really feel any pain - it's like it never happened.'

After receiving extensive treatment, Mr Lodges said he no longer feels any pain

After receiving extensive treatment, Mr Lodges said he no longer feels any pain

The couple were making their way back from Aberdeen after a weekend visiting their daughter, Angela, 30, a sales manager at Lush, and her husband, Dieter, 29, a teacher.

As they made their way along the A696 in Northumberland, on August 18 last year, Brazilian tourist Rodrigo Arozo Benicio Dos Santos pulled his car in front of their motorbike.

Tracey, 50, was thrown nearly 30m (100ft) through the air and suffered a fractured wrist, a broken leg and foot.

She had to make countless visits to the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough after David was transferred nearer to their County Durham home to continue his recovery.

She said: 'After the accident I was in shock. I think my brain just shut off - I don't remember lying on the road. I thought, 'We've been in an accident, we've come out OK'.

'I heard my husband shout, "Get my helmet off", and I thought he must be OK.

'But then we got to hospital and they said he was critical. I'm just so lucky he's alive.'

Just days after the accident, Santos, 35, was fast-tracked through the courts. He was convicted of driving without due care and attention at Newcastle Crown Court in September, where he was given six penalty points and told to pay £1,400 in fines and costs.

The court was told he had been holidaying in the UK and was travelling to Scotland during a tour of the country. He has since been deported.

Mr Lodges added: 'The whole experience has been a nightmare.

'We've been biking for years and it's a major part of our lives but it's like someone has pressed the stop button and we are waiting for it to go again.

'We are both suffering the effects of the crash and have spent the past year coming to terms with what happened.

'As well as the physical pain from our injuries it also makes me sad to think of the rallies and events that we had previously planned to attend with friends on our bikes.'


 

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Its not the roads that are dangerous, its the idiots driving on them. My heart goes out to those two, well done on a complete recovery, you have to get back on he horse though to allay your demons. Bear in mind every one in a car is out to get you when you're on a bike, I've had loads of near misses, even on empty roads when a driver decides to pull out in front of you instead of using a clear space. Best wishes to you both from a Darlingtonion!

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Think once think twice think Wagons and cars.

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I've been motorcycling for 54 years and I am still alive with no accidents. I consider it a matter of luck, because I have had some scary near misses. Drivers often don't see you; headlights on, or not. Sometimes they are just careless and don't look. What ever the reason, bikers MUST drive defensively and if you don't, you WILL have an accident. These people were extremely lucky.

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I think you might need to censor the x-ray of the poor chaps pelvis. - it is rather explicit.!

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i see your point, but he did not do it intentionally, it was an accident. his insurance should at least cover the financial side. obviously the injured party got off worse, but unfortunately accidents are just that - accidents.

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It was an unfortunate accident. I don't think the tourist deserves to go to prison.

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In South Africa it is obligatory for motor bikes to have their headlights on at all times and many riders use an orange cover on the light during daylight hours which helps car drivers, who are notorious for 'just not seeing' oncoming bikes.

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I had a similar accident on a bike in 2011 and I am still suffering the consequences. Although I really love them, bikes are just not safe. No matter how good a rider you are, it just takes one bad moment to change ones life!

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Bad motorist ?? YES.. but I have lost count of the number of times I am passed by a roaring motorcyclist travelling very fast and in excess of the speed limit... And its certainly frightening !!!!

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Life is cheap in U.K.

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