Friends plan events to raise money for crash victim

Karl Hugo and his daughter Lula.

Two weeks ago, Southeast Portland resident Karl Hugo was gravely injured when he rode through the intersection of SE 50th and Lincoln Street and collided with a truck.

After the crash, Hugo was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit at the OHSU where he arrived in a coma, with one collapsed lung and severe brain trauma.

According to friends, Hugo does not have health insurance, and with mounting medical bills they’re planning several events to help raise money to pay for them (they’ve also set up a website with more information).

Here are more details on the events (submitted by Karl’s friend Rebecca Casanova):

Craft Sale and Raffle
Saturday, August 9, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Come and Peruse/Purchase Lovely Crafts to support the Hugo Family. Local, Handmade Objets for sale. Enter a raffle to win wonderful crafts and services.
Location: Craft Market Adjacent to Portland Farmer’s Market at Portland State University (South Park Blocks, Downtown Portland) — Look for the “Hugo Family Support” booth.


Yoga for the Hugo Family with Instructors from Yoga Union and The Bhaktishop
Sunday, August 10, 9:00 – 10:30 AM
If you would like, please feel free to bring something for the altar
Location: NE Corner of SE 51st Avenue and Lincoln Street


Yard Sale and Bake Sale Wonderama
Sunday, August 10th, 11 AM – 4:30 PM
Come and buy a treat and purchase some great stuff to support the Hugo family. Vegan and non-vegan goodies, fabulous clothes, books, tchotchkes/knickknacks, and furniture will be available.
Location: NE Corner of SE 51st Avenue and Lincoln Street


Sing Kirtan
Sunday, August 10, 6:00 – 8:00PM
A beautiful tradition of chanting mantra to cultivate great love and support. Come and sing and pray and honor the life in each other in this blessed and blissful community event!

Find more information on how to support the Hugo Family at HugoTribe.com.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Chris Sullivan
Chris Sullivan
15 years ago

Devastating. They\’re going to need thousands and thousands of dollars–let\’s get those donations rolling!

Bike Advocate
Bike Advocate
15 years ago

The question is:

If this had been a truck that blew a red light and hit another truck, would you be starting a fundraiser for him as well?

Adams Carroll (News Intern)
15 years ago

\”If this had been a truck that blew a red light and hit another truck, would you be starting a fundraiser for him as well?\”

The \”you\” is Mr. Hugo\’s family and friends and yes, I\’m sure they would have a fundraiser no matter what vehicle he was operating at the time of the collision.

would it be covered on this site? No.

BikePortland.org covers the bike scene specifically and because of that, many of the readers have a particular sensitivity and/or affinity for others that share the common bond of biking with them.

hope that answers your question.

Russ
Russ
15 years ago

I\’m sure Truckportland.com can deal with the slew of truck drivers head injuries regardless of fault.

If culpability is a major concern to someone it\’s a sad reality that you have options if you want to lend a hand in time or money to someone injured while riding their bicycle.

Eric Davidson is making slow but sure progress and is still hospitalized 80 days after being hit by a drunk. His family can also use help either in money or time.

http://aceanderic.wordpress.com/2008/07/

I don\’t know who was at fault in Hugo\’s collision, but regardless, I\’m happy to see he has people close to him who are creating a support system to help he and his family through this. We should all be so lucky.

Jeremy
Jeremy
15 years ago

Is there a place where one could donate stuff for the yardsale?

Jim F
Jim F
15 years ago

Severe head trauma? Was he wearing a helmet? I\’m not saying he\’s any less deserving of help if he wasn\’t. I\’m just curious if this played a role. If so, maybe someone can learn from this.

Robert Dobbs
Robert Dobbs
15 years ago

Bummer, another good reason not to run stop signs – and as a father, too.

I\’d say Eric has my sympathies on this one, Karl\’s story is just sad — and self-inflicted.

Chad
Chad
15 years ago

Yes, he probably was at fault, but those of you shallow enough to armchair-quarterback this should do it somewhere else.

Karl\’s family needs help…have a heart.

Chris Sullivan
Chris Sullivan
15 years ago

So let\’s say he made a mistake or two–that all this is his fault and he should have known better. What does that have to do with helping him out?

They\’re a family in need, and we are their community.

Jayce Robertson
Jayce Robertson
15 years ago

Ha this is a good story cause i just ran a red light at midnight on the 19th and i collided with an SUV both of us doing at least 20 miles an hour no helmet no light and i got a ticket for 258$ and a 12,000$ hospital bill but no injurys besides a concusion and i took out that SUV\’s windshield HA!

Cruizer
Cruizer
15 years ago

There are certain thoughts that are better kept inside your head. That old bit of childhood advice, \”If you can\’t say anything nice, say nothing at all\” applies here. Let\’s show some compassion or, at the very least, some self-restraint. A family is hurting. No need to try to make them feel worse.

jordan
jordan
15 years ago

Good luck, Karl, and a full recovery.

D.Whoosie
15 years ago

Karl did not suffer an intense direct blow to his head, where the brain would bounce against the skull. In this case a helmet isn\’t the biggest issue. He suffered what is called an \”duffuse axonal\” trauma, where the body stops spinning but the brain continues, tearing at the connection between the brain and brain stem. The thalamus region was most directly effected because he ran into \’a moving wall\’–the side of a truck.

There is a strong possibility that Karl suffered the collapsed lung before entering the intersection and that was the reason for not stopping at the light. but don\’t quote me because that can\’t be proven yet.
—–

One thing that I find consistently missing in discussions about bike/car accidents is the fact that CAR CULTURE HAS BEEN NATURALIZED. Why is it that the biker is scrutinized so heavily? Are we trying to justify the bikers injuries and the \’right\’ of automobilist to drive? A biker\’s injuries or death is not simply \’their\’ fault because they didn\’t wear a helmet! Regardless of fault, when a car and bike collide, the biker is going to suffer serious physical trauma.

WE NEED TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS– unveil the assumptions.

In the larger picture, I don\’t want to navigate around automobiles in my neighborhood. I don\’t want to have to fear for my life at every intersection. I don\’t want to hear of another accident every month!

with respect,
D Whoosie

Ian
Ian
15 years ago

Please skip this comment if you are overly sensitive. What a sad story. I apoligize in advance if this is tacky but here goes: Why would you ride your bike with no helmet and no health insurance through a red light (not to add the fact that this guy has a kid)? I do not mean to kick a man that is down by any means but maybe this can raise other peoples awareness. Also why would you have a kid if you can\’t afford insurance (I realize the little ones aren\’t always planned). Does this kid have health insurance? If not, is there a fund set up to purchase health insurance for the child?

toddistic
toddistic
15 years ago

Ian @ 13

I am not being overly sensitive but maybe you should work on critical thinking skills before you go blast a man when he\’s down. There could be a myriad of reasons why he does not have currently have health insurance, such as job loss, recent move, etc. Let\’s use those critical thinking skills before you spew the first worthless thoughts that come to your mind and vomitted onto the keyboard. You have made some very basic assumptions without any factual basis. I do not know Karl but I can\’t imagine people like you who show no compassion for another man.

Robert Dobbs
Robert Dobbs
15 years ago

I pay taxes to deal with random tragedies. If you want to hand out cash to everyone who suffered a loss, you might as well just cash in your chips now.

Yes, its sad, yes I feel for Karl\’s family – but he only just recently moved to our \”community\”, caused a serious accident, and is now racking up tens of thousands in medical bills. Bummer all around.

And I\’m not \”kicking\” the guy while he\’s down, I\’m just pointing out the obvious. He ran a stop light and hit a vehicle, without having any protection physical or financial for unforeseen occurrences such as these, and he and his family are now suffering some pretty terrible consequences.

Sometimes your life serves as an inspiration to others, and sometimes it serves as a warning.

Ian
Ian
15 years ago

I appoligize for coming off as kicking this man while he is down that was not my intention. I just want people to assess their situations so this doesn\’t happen to them and more importantly their families. Toddistic: I am sorry I pushed your buttons but you appear to be the one spewing hate.

This is a very sad story and I feel terrible for this man, his family and the community he resides in. Please keep it civil…. Peace

toddistic
toddistic
15 years ago

I don\’t consider calling you out on what was really said behind your post as spewing hate. Regardless, I\’d much rather keep it civil.

Ian
Ian
15 years ago

I am not sure what you are reading into my thoughts but I though my post was pretty transparent. Your the one that doesn\’t care wether or not kids have health care… or at least that is what I read when I read your post.

wsbob
wsbob
15 years ago

D Whoosie, thanks for the info on Karl Hugo\’s injury. I\’d read about the specifics of it somewhere earlier…on the family\’s weblog or in a news article, and then I couldn\’t find it again. It\’s very important to consider that he may have had a previously unknown, existing medical condition that caused him to collide with the truck.

I think one reason people on bikes that come to be involved in accidents, may be more closely scrutinized than than people driving cars, lies in the dramatic difference between the two modes of transportation, and also, the relatively far more vulnerable nature of the person riding a bike in traffic.

Partly because use of bikes for transportation is on the rise, more people are probably thinking a lot about what the reasonable expectation of a person riding a bike in traffic is, in terms of safety measures taken. There\’s probably a certain amount of comparing details of collision incidents to preconceptions people have held about what such expectations are.

I\’m glad Karl Hugo\’s head didn\’t severely impact the truck during the collision, but never the less, anticipating the possibility of the kind of collision he had is much of what wearing a bike helmet is all about.

Ray
Ray
15 years ago

Well, he looks like a cool dude. Good luck, man.

D.Whoosie
15 years ago

Alright folks,
PLEASE HOLD GOOD INTENTIONS FOR KARL HUGO.

He is a lovely man, a great papa, and he has given so much to this community since he has lived in Portland. He deserves positive energy and thoughts of him. when he wakes, we can ask him what happened and why he got into this mess.

Respect, D Whoosie

Joe
Joe
15 years ago

stay strong! my thoughts are with you!
man this just touches my heart. One of
my close friends hit the ground spot on with the top of his head wearing a helmet.
can we get on to the real problem? some car drivers! we have trust in these people
behind the wheel..

cars-r-coffins!

Joe
Joe
15 years ago

I know he will come out, with good engry
from love and support! even if it takes awhile.. just be positive for him at bedside!

D.Whoosie
15 years ago

PREMISE 4:
\”Civilization is based on a clearly defined and widely accepted yet often unarticulated hierarchy.\”(for example) \”Violence done by those higher on the hierarchy to those lower is nearly always invisible, that is, unnoticed. When it is noticed, it is fully rationalized. Violence done by those lover on the hierarchy to those higher is unthinkable, and when it does occur is regarded with shock, horror, and the fetishization of the victims.\” –Endgame, by Derrick Jensen–

I quote this premise only to help articulate my original comment. It is important to see that car culture is the dominant norm. cyclists hold the lesser power to influence cities and city planning in this society. When a bike and car collide, this culture has the tendency to support automobiles in their \’right\’ to be, rather than challenging the norm. In looking for a way to stop physical trauma and death due to these collisions, popular culture, popular media, etc., tends to scrutinize the cyclist for faults and \”DON\’T SEE\” that if cars weren\’t on the road this level of collision would not be possible.

If you are thinking something like, \”well duh, cars are here and that\’s not going to change..\”, then you have backed up the aforementioned concept of the influence of dominant culture and the \”invisibility of those lesser on the hierarchy\”.

With respect,
D Whooise

Rebecca
Rebecca
15 years ago

Thanks to all who left the good wishes for Karl and his lovely family. If anyone has something to donate for the yard sale or for the booth at the craft market, please get in touch with me at nosepuff@yahoo.com (that\’s my cat\’s name, not a drug reference!) – I or someone else will get back to you asap. We really appreciate donations of good stuff — and folks to come and buy treats and treasures to support the Hugos. I hope we see as many of you well-wishers as possible at these events. And please think positive thoughts for Karl\’s full recovery.

And, to those who are using this tragedy to feed your need for negativity and spurious speculation, I hope that if you ever really NEED help, your community will pull together for you with love and without judgment.

Donald
Donald
15 years ago

I\’m a parent of two toddlers.

I am a cyclist.

I\’ve bounced off a Hyundai when the brake cable on my aging commuter snapped.

I was lucky.

Godspeed, Karl.

KTesh
15 years ago

My prayers are with you Karl, and all of your family…

May God Bless You, and Comfort You.

Matt Picio
15 years ago

Ian (#17) – no one (not even the police) knows why Karl ran the light, nor even if he was aware he did so. toddistic isn\’t spewing hate (although \”worthless thoughts\” is pretty tactless – no offense toddistic, but I think your point stands without the insult), he\’s pointing out that your post (#14) made a number of assumptions, most of them unwarranted. Few facts on this incident were released, and it\’s unlikely that anyone will ever know the whole story.

Anyone know how the driver of the truck is doing?

Ian
Ian
15 years ago

Ok well maybe perhaps we can use this tragic event as a lesson and require that cyclist using the roadways have liability and personal injury insurance. I think it would help especially in a terrible tradgedy like this. My prayers go out to the family.

Myra
15 years ago

There is a level of arrogance in Portland bikes I have never seen in any other place I have lived. Quotes like

\”DON\’T SEE\” that if cars weren\’t on the road this level of collision would not be possible.\”

Really I think there are fewer bikers. It would be far better just to ban bikes I think.

The truth is not who\’s at fault it what people make of it. Every time some one is at fault there are crazy bikers ready to blame everyone else and any number of strange extreme things. They milk a death to feed their crusade engine for bikes… that only leads to more arrogance and death.

I don\’t care who is at fault here. I feel for the family and friends this biker left behind. Those of you who want to milk this as a \”Tragedy\” or hold it up as some sort of \”Symbol\” you are not seeing the truth of it.

Breaking the laws of the road, Not having a helmet will have costs.

The greeks called a tragedy τραγῳδία or \”Song of the goat\” defined by Aristotle as \”seriousness and dignity and involving a great person who experiences a reversal of fortune\”

This was not a reversal of fortune, nor could it be unexpected.

This was an outcome of arrogance leading to sloppy driving habits and poor equipment.

If you are reading anything else into this then you are blind

Ian
Ian
15 years ago

well put Myra

ladidah
ladidah
15 years ago

myra:
the word tragedy has more than the meaning given to it by aristotle. tragedy: a disastrous event, especially one involving distressing loss or injury to life. therefore this accident is a tragedy.

assuming arrogance on anyone\’s part is wrong. we just don\’t know. until there is some proof of his \’arrogance\’ lets leave the topic alone. assuming this man\’s reasons for lack of health insurance and going so far as to assume that his child is without health insurance is also wrong.

a neighbor
a neighbor
15 years ago

Thanks to all who are keeping Karl and his young family in their thoughts and who are supporting them.

May I direct your attention to the title of the post, which is “Friends plan events to raise money for crash victim.” For the folks who see every post on this blog as an opportunity to criticize others and make a speech, this is not the time nor place, even if you had all the facts about this accident, which you don\’t. Please think before you post.

Ian
Ian
15 years ago

The point of these blogs is to raise awareness if I am not mistaken. God bless.

Chris B
Chris B
15 years ago

The point of the SITE is to \”Inform and Inspire\”. You are now informed. I hope one day to inspire. Karl and Stephen are in my thoughts.

Ian
Ian
15 years ago

Any update on this guys condition?

T Wlliams
T Wlliams
15 years ago

Not that I\’ve been any better, lately, but Myra is the new Vance! lol

One Less :(
One Less :(
15 years ago

I wish Karl well in his recovery. I hope he heals well and is able to return to taking care of his family and riding his bike. Maybe after this he will make better choices. He is living through something none of us would want to live through.

Please, everyone make better choices out there. Wait for lights, stop at stop signs, and follow the rules. It is not that hard, is it?

MM
MM
6 years ago

My heart goes out to you, Lula. I have an 11-year-old daughter and I can’t imagine how she would do if something catastrophic happened to me. You seem like an incredible person and I wish you all the best in the future.