(Photo: Family of Mike Luther)
Last August, Portlander Mike Luther was intentionally run over by a car driven by a man incensed with road rage. Luther survived, but he and his family have suffered ever since. The road to recovery has been difficult because Luther is still unable to work due to his injuries and a series of legal delays have prevented him from getting restitution.
Luther’s sister, Tracey Brown, got in touch with me recently in hopes that the community that offered him so much support immediately following the incident might still be able to help.
“Bike Portland was very good to my family,” Brown wrote, “We’re so lucky that Mike is alive, and such a good soul.” But Brown says their mood has been dampened because the criminal case against the man that hit Luther has just been delayed again for another 12-18 months. That delay means her brother hasn’t received any restitution for the serious brain injury he suffered. Brown and the rest of Luther’s family says they’re also worried that the driver is “still out there driving with a vengeance against bicyclists.”
Brown says since the incident her brother has “lost most of the things that made him smile — including his bike which was destroyed in the accident.”
“Mike would really benefit from being back on a bike. Nothing fancy, just a means of getting around Portland – seeing friends and family… Mike needs to be alive again.”
— Tracey Brown, Mike Luther’s sister
Brown, one of Luther’s three sisters, is convinced that if her brother can get back on a bike, it’ll lift his spirits. She’s in California, but hopes that someone in Portland can lend a hand.
“Mike would really benefit from being back on a bike. Nothing fancy, just a means of getting around Portland – seeing friends and family… Mike needs to be alive again – back on a bike, and maybe a way to be important again – volunteering for your local events, talking to kids about wearing a helmet, at schools maybe? Something small – a way back to life.”
What do you think folks? Can anyone out there lend a hand? If you’d like to connect with Tracey about a bike for Mike and other ways he might be able to get involved with the community, please get in touch and I’ll forward your information to her.