Henry Schmidt, the Lewis & Clark College student who suffered serious injuries in a traffic collision while walking in the bike lane of SW Barbur Blvd back in August, will take to the stage for a benefit concert this Saturday night at Velo Cult.
The collision left the 20-year-old Schmidt with lacerations to his spleen as well as a broken clavicle, cheekbone, and left leg. However, it appears those injuries are all but healed up now as Schmidt plans to play his trumpet along with friends in the band JPC at the event on Saturday night.
Schmidt’s collision happened on a notorious section of Barbur and it renewed calls for the Oregon Department of Transportation to update the design of the road. Miriam Clinton, the woman who was driving the car that collided with Schmidt, plead guilty to driving while intoxicated back in October.
Saturday night’s event will raise money for “bike safety initiatives” with all proceeds from the $5 suggested donation and raffle tickets being donated to the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA). Here’s more from event organizers:
As many of you know, our good friend (and JPC trumpet bump it) Henry was badly injured in a hit-and-run on Barbur Blvd this past August. The incident highlighted the massive gulf between the ideal of bike (and pedestrian) safety and the unfortunate reality on Barbur and so many other roads here in Portland. Fortunately, it’s an issue that people are addressing, but every little bit extra helps. So we’re doing the only thing we know how to do: we’re throwing a party!
Come start off your Saturday night with us at Velo Cult: listen to some good music, dance your tooshie off, support a great cause, and maybe learn a bit about plans for the development of Barbur Blvd. There will be beer, there will be raffle prizes, there will be good times. All proceeds from the door and the raffle will benefit the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (www.btaoregon.org) and their bike safety initiatives.
In addition to JPC, the event will feature live music from the Eidolons and White Bear Polar Tundra. The all-ages show starts at 6:00 pm. Check out the full flyer below or visit the Facebook event page for more details.
Fantastic.
I wish someone would invite Christeen Osborn to come as well (assuming she’s ambulatory).
I am so happy for Henry’s level of healing and also that he is out and about advocating for bicycle safety. More of us need to band together.