Crash on ‘Hoodbomb’ sends man to hospital

A man crashed while on the annual “Hoodbomb” downhill bike ride on Saturday afternoon. According to a woman who responded to the scene of the crash around 5:30 pm, a young man that was part of a group of people on the descent overshot a hairpin corner and crashed into a cement barrier. The man was taken to OHSU Medical Center via LifeFlight helicopter.

I’ve been unable to determine the identity and/or the condition of the man but will update this story when I know more.

This is the second year in a row that there has been a serious crash on the Hoodbomb run. Last year, 22 year old Laura Sherrod crashed in a similar section of the road between Timberline Lodge and Highway 26. Sherrod hit a fog pole with her chest causing several broken ribs, a broken shoulder blade, a collapsed lung and a punctured lung.

Hoodbomb is the Mt. Hood version of the well-known local ride known as Zoobomb, a weekly tradition where Portlanders ride mini-bikes downhill from high atop Washington Park back into downtown. The Oregonian also covered this story, referring to the person who crashed as a “daredevil bicyclist” that was participating in “a hell-for-leather race from Timberline Lodge down Mount Hood organized by the underground biking community.”

UPDATE, 8/4 at 3:00pm: The Oregon State Police and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office have issued a statement saying they will have “zero tolerance” for Hoodbombing. Full story here.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me 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 paying subscriber.

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q`Tzal
q`Tzal
14 years ago

All I can think/hear is ET saying:
“Ouch”

twilliam
twilliam
14 years ago

“I’m With Stupid” sums it up:

“most likely he was also a transgendered illegal alien with children receiving food stamps and wic benefits and practicing a religion we all find objectionable.”

/thread

Gabriel Nagmay
14 years ago

Unlike those “hell-for-leather, underground daredevils” on the ski slopes – who never crash!

Best wishes to the injured man…

suburban
suburban
14 years ago

Get better fellow rider. This route actually looks more fun to climb on a bike. Climbing is bomb.

Marcus Griffith
Marcus Griffith
14 years ago

My thoughts and prayers go out to the hoodbomber.

Isn’t it odd how society adores certain risky sports but condemns others?

Alas, despite my concern for the disregard of self-preservation hoodbombers demonstrate, I must raise my glass in toast for they have brass balls that clank.

Marcus Griffith
Marcus Griffith
14 years ago

Think the guy can get a beverage sponsor to pay for his medical bills?

Bike commute = lemonade day
Hoodbombing = Mike’s Hard Lemonade time.

I can only imagine how the energy drink industry could mike this one.

dan
dan
14 years ago

Ouch. Best wishes for a quick recovery. There’s a lot of gravel still left on 26 and 35 for this time of year, probably due to heavy spring snowfall. Haven’t been up the T-line access road this spring/summer, but wonder if that could have contributed.

Jerry_W
Jerry_W
14 years ago

“daredevil bicyclist” that was participating in “a hell-for-leather race from Timberline Lodge down Mount Hood organized by the underground biking community.” You make it sounds like criticism by the legitimate press, isn’t this the description these people would want to use? That’s the vibe they give off, always have. Up on Mount Hood you need to “be good, or eat wood”!

old&slow
old&slow
14 years ago

Huh, Marcus, did anybody condemn this?
To describe this as an “underground” bike ride is accurate and it can be dangerous which is obvious.
The news coverage was not anti-bike, it was the truth.
People get hurt taking risks and this is risky which is why they are getting hurt.
Geez, take a break from the victimhood, I am sure the bombers are not offended. They probably enjoy the publicity.

Barney
Barney
14 years ago

Hey, it kind of goes with the territory. WGAF, Whatever…

Red Five
Red Five
14 years ago

Was he wearing a helmet?

Elliot
Elliot
14 years ago

How sad to see a story on this in the evening after reading the article on Amici Di Giacomo earlier today. Best wishes to the man who crashed and to his family.

How about making each year’s Hoodbomb a fundraiser to help the health-insuranceless victims of the previous year’s Hoodbomb?

Jason
Jason
14 years ago

His name is Cedar. He’s pedicabber with PDX Pedicab. His back was broken in a few places but none of it life threatening and he should make a full recovery, from what I’ve heard. He’ll be in a back brace for a while though.

Not sure about the details of the crash beyond that.

steve
steve
14 years ago

Below is my post from last years crash, funny how it is still relevant. This ride should be shut down, at least until they learn to have someone looking out for the riders other than random, passing motorists. 2 life flights in as many years, what a mess.

Post from last year-

If it was well organized, they would have a rider with some medical training riding down behind everyone else in a ‘sweep’ mode. This rider should have a cell phone or other communications device to instantly call for paramedics and should also have first responder training.

It is absurd that this poor girl had to lay on the side of the road until a motorist found her. I do not fault the girl, I fault her ‘friends’ who left her for dead on the side of the road.

How about a new motto for all you bombers?

“No Rider Left Behind!”

Hart
Hart
14 years ago

Also heard last year the riders vandalized a few buildings and did a bit of breaking and entering to steal booze. But again, just “heard” that last year.

Course it’s not everyone’s responsibility to ensure it’s a safe ride, but is it so hard to tell somebody that they aren’t experienced enough yet?

Red Five
Red Five
14 years ago

How about finding employment with better health coverage instead of putting yourself at unnecessary risk, inuring yourself, and then complaining you can’t pay your medical bills?

Jack
Jack
14 years ago

@Marcus – Re: “Isn’t it odd how society adores certain risky sports but condemns others?”

Somewhat agree. If you looked into which sports land on each side of the line, you’d probably find that the condemned ones are those where the risk is very real, and the adored ones are those where it’s more of a perceived risk.

Skydiving is a good example. People perceive it as ‘extreme’, but participants rarely have serious injuries.

Additionally, something like Hood Bombing, taking place on open highways, is potentially putting more than just the participant at risk. These roads exist primarily for transportation. Many responsible cyclists are continually working to make sure they are also welcome on these highways for recreation (touring). But something like Hood Bomb is surely violating traffic laws that exist for good reasons (I’m sure there’s a cycling equivelant to reckless-driving). If people want to use the highways in a manner beyond their intended purpose, they should get permits to close them down…and take a few more safety precautions while they’re at it. LifeFlight is crazy expensive, and whether the injured cyclist is insured or not, we’re all paying more because of avoidable accidents such as this one.

matt picio
14 years ago

Whoever it was who bit it over the weekend, I hope you have a full and rapid recovery and get back on the bike. Best of luck and keep on rolling!

Brad
Brad
14 years ago

Will Mayor Adams commission a new monument to honor the injured bombers? I’m sure we could find some unused sewer money.

Quentin
Quentin
14 years ago

For once I agree with all the bike-haters over at Oregonlive. Speeding down a huge hill on a bike that OBVIOUSLY wasn’t designed for speeding down a huge hill is completely asinine. “Blah blah blah they knew the risks they were taking…” Oh yeah? Then why the f. didn’t they take a reasonable precaution to minimize that risk by riding an adult-sized bike with steering and brakes designed for an adult on a steep descent?

Anonymous
Anonymous
14 years ago

And last year they quickly removed the photo from their web page showing the pre-bomb activities up at Timberline, which included alcohol.

How well prepared were they this year?
Medical staff present?
Did they make sure all the first timers had training or were accompanied by someone more skilled?
Did they ban alcohol from the event?

Lindsay
Lindsay
14 years ago

#10 Elliot: Brilliant and ironic! : )

PDXbiker
PDXbiker
14 years ago

Quentin #20, right on. I’m all for having some fun, but this is starting to cross the line from “daredevil risky” to just flatout stupid.

Ed
Ed
14 years ago

Best wishes for Cedar.

This is so obviously a potentially dangerous activity that I doubt anybody would even consider it unless they had the self confidence. I don’t feel its our job to baby sit other adults.

I’ve ridden down this hill before, but on a road bike. Cars were passing me. Shouldn’t we castigate them for going too fast?

There’s nothing illegal about riding a bike down a hill. If they were racing they’d need a permit.

solid gold
solid gold
14 years ago

Wow you pathetic troll-ish a-holes who are the first to point a finger when someone gets hurt deserves only the worst broken bones and no one to pick you up when you fall out of your LazyBoy, and press your little communicator and scream “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up”.

And if there’s any justice in the world, you’ll just lie there suffering, and I’ll post on a blog somewhere, “It serves that lazy a-hole right, just sitting on his ass at his computer! We should just let him die”. And then, maybe if there’s really any justice in the world, you will die!

Kisses,

KWW
KWW
14 years ago

If there is any fault to be assigned, it is the conventional wisdom of rim brakes at speeds of 40+ mph – it just doesn’t work.

PDXbiker
PDXbiker
14 years ago

#25 – Ah, I see we finally got one of the ZooBombers to post

Adams Carroll (News Intern)

a few thoughts.

first, there is no “The Zoobombers” because it is not a club that you join or become a member of. Zoobomb is an activity of riding down from Washington Park… to “bomb” down from the “zoo”. anyone who has done that as part of a group of people who do it weekly is technically a “zoobomber”. (myself, my wife, and my two kids are proudly zoobombers because we’ve all done it!).

Also, I think the Oregonian coverage was suspect because who are they to say what is “daredevil” and what is not? Do all of you realize that high-speed motorcycle crashes are a major cause of death in oregon? Do you think The O would cover a motorcycle crash that same way?

Also, what type of real journalist would include things like “underground biking community” and “hell for leather race” in a story? I could have joined the Hoodbomb… am i part of an “undergound community”? And does anyone know if they were racing or just riding? The O repeatedly frames bike-related stories in a certain way in order to continue their chosen narrative and to get a big response from commenters. whether the individual reporters do it purposely or not, it’s part of the culture over there and i see it happen over and over and over again in their coverage.

Jerry_W
Jerry_W
14 years ago

solid gold @25

I’m not sure what you’re belly aching about, but it seems some did in fact pick this daredevil up. With a helicopter with two skilled nurses and expensive life saving supplies and equipment, will Cedar pay for this expense? They took him to a well staffed and equipped hospital where he received prompt care, X-Rays, meds, CT Scans, highly trained and skilled doctors and a back brace. Will he pay for any of this? Who will? My guess is that the doctor and the hospital will eat the bills, fair? Hope Cedar had a hell of a good time before the fall.
Don’t be too upset solid gold.

Jack
Jack
14 years ago

@Jerry_w #29

The doctor and hospital will not eat the bill. Either we pay them directly or Cedar’s insurance provider pays them and we pay Cedar’s insurance provider.

PDXbiker
PDXbiker
14 years ago

Jonathan, I don’t think most of us are down on Zoobombing, but there”s a BIG difference coming off Washington Park vs rolling down a steep long mountain highway, aka Timberline road. If you’re picking up major speed on a kids bike you’d best know when to start slowing for the upcoming hairpin turns. I do agree, the O is a rag when it comes to bike related stories.

Darwin
Darwin
14 years ago

Whatever the sport or activity, if one pushes the line between safe (meaning relatively safe, with some training, some protection, staying within some speed/control boundaries, etc.) and stupid (lacking most if not all training, protection, control, etc.) the Darwin awards will be awarded every year, and this bomber could be a good recipient, sorry as I am that he is hurt.

KJ
KJ
14 years ago

IIRC there have been at least two climbing accidents, on with a fatality as them men fell into a crevasse in the last week or so, a hiking fisherman who is still missing and a BASE jumper got caught in a tree while jumping to honor the memory of a BASE jumper that had died jumping.

All presented as somewhat tragic stories with no sensationalism.

rigormrtis
rigormrtis
14 years ago

If there is any fault to be assigned, it is the conventional wisdom of rim brakes at speeds of 40+ mph – it just doesn’t work.

My Dura Ace brakes work fine at that speed. The rider should know the limits of his/her bike prior to a ride like this.

rigormrtis
rigormrtis
14 years ago

Where is the outcry that we now have to make this road safe for cyclists riding kids bikes at 30+ MPH? Is there no justice?

Anonymous
Anonymous
14 years ago

“The O repeatedly frames bike-related stories in a certain way in order to continue their chosen narrative and to get a big response from commenters. ”

Replace “The O” with “Jonathan Maus” and you have a completely true statement about BikePortland. Everyone has a viewpoint, yourself included. Get upset at the state of journalism at “The O” and you just erected a whole lot of glass walls in your house.

I seem to remember some rather contentious items you posted on the “Hawthorne Squeeze incident” that got a big response from your readers.

“The O” panders to their readers, you pander to yours.

Adams Carroll (News Intern)
Reply to  Anonymous

anonymous,

i knew a response like yours was coming… and I understand where you’re coming from… but I disagree. Yes I have a viewpoint but I am very very judicious and careful about how and when I share it. The Hawthorne Squeeze incident is not a fair example at all. In that case, I presented the story with the information I had. when i found out new information i changed my story and followed-up immediately.

i do not “pander” to my readers in the same way The O and many other outlets in this town pander to theirs. Yes, sometimes my emotions lead to errors of judgment, but those errors are always corrected immediately and i am very careful and thoughtful about how i frame issues…. the same cannot be said for the clearly biased, insensitive, and incorrect stories about biking that come from The O, KATU, and other local outlets.

This is not my opinion, this is simply what’s going on our media culture. I can cite many many examples of erroneous and sensational local reporting that has had a real impact on our transportation policies and the safety and general civility of our city.

and “anonymous”… you have left 90 comments on this site since February and many of them are very critical of my work… any chance you’d consider sharing your name?

thanks for the comment.

Brad
Brad
14 years ago

KJ@#32

Easy answer, there are no prevelant urban myths or commonly accepted descriptions of “out-of-control” mountain climbers or “self-entitled d-bag” hikers. Those athletes are generally regarded as serious, thoughtful, and properly equipped individuals that know the dangers of their avocations.

BASE jumpers? They are a rare breed that the common man has likely not encountered and has no strong opinion about. I’d even venture that if a professional cyclist crashed like this during the Mt. Hood Classic, it would be treated as a serious sports story.

Why do the bombers get the flak? The perceived notion that adults riding department store kiddy bikes down mountain descents that would test the skills of a Pro Tour rider is both dumb and dangerous. Throw in memories of previous bad crashes, antics on the OHSU tram and MAX, plus the general public image of bombers and “rebel” bicyclists in general and you get this sort of coverage. Especially on OregonLive which lives for contrived controversy to boost site traffic.

SkidMark
14 years ago

Jerry_W all you are doing is underlining the need for Universal Health Care in The United States, so we can step into the 21st century with all the other 1st World Nations.

KJ
KJ
14 years ago

@Brad,
Word.

I wanted to point out those stories since many include the use of resources like life flight etc that rile folk up as wasitn resoruces on stupid people as if they are less deserving of life for taking a risk.

But we’re ok with some risk taking more than others since some inherently dangerous sport/activities are socially acceptable or normalized, generally the public isn’t phased by it when someone gets hurt. It doesn’t make the activity any less risky. Which I think is basically what you said so well. =)

Jerry_W
Jerry_W
14 years ago

Skidmark, I couldn’t agree with you more, yes, we need single payer healthcare for all.

BURR
BURR
14 years ago

one correction and one comment:

1. the crash happened on Saturday, not Friday.

2. there was a sweep medic on the run.

BURR
BURR
14 years ago

rhetorical question: should we also not waste life flight and/or other emergency resources on your average run of the mill distracted driving motor vehicle crash?

Or is all motoring ‘serious activity’ that deserves special consideration in this regard?

beth h
14 years ago

Lessons for those who wish to engage in ANY riding that could be considered “risky”:

1. Ride with buddies, NEVER alone; and make sure they’re people you trust to know how to help you if you get hurt.
2. A helmet is the law for kids and a VERY good idea for grown-ups.
3. If possible, recon the course (on foot or at a very slow speed) before you go all-out.
4. Make sure someone at home knows where you are.
5. Make sure your riding buddies know how to reach them if something happens to you.

This is as true on a bike tour in the backcountry as it is at an organized bike race or group ride.

And one more thing…

6. Blaming anyone for not having health insurance in this country is just plain tacky. Better jobs do not abound and most no longer come with real health benefits anyway.

matt picio
14 years ago

Quentin (#20) – You obviously have never zoobombed, nor seen the equipment most of them use. The majority of these folk wear helmets, have brakes designed for a steep descent, and are well-acquainted with their equipment. Small bikes are arguably safer, since the rider is closer to the ground and less prone to injury in the event of a fall. Many of them wear motorcycle leathers, or other padded clothing. It’s certainly a risky activity, and certain aspects of it violate the law and / or common sense. Characterizing it as such is warrranted, but asserting that these people have no common sense, or consideration for any of the involved factors is not the case.

In any case, even if they were doing something well and truly stupid, there’s no joy in saying “I told you you were an idiot” to someone who had to be life-flighted to the hospital and may have permanent injuries – I think they can assess the wisdom of their actions without your help.

Let’s all try to remain human beings when talking about the seriously injured, even (especially?) if they are directly or indirectly responsible for their injuries. We all do stupid things – do you want to be publicly condemned by dozens of others for yours? There’s too many a$$holes in the world already, we don’t need to add to them.

matt picio
14 years ago

Quentin – the “a$$holes” comment isn’t directed at you personally, just a general comment. I don’t know your motivations or personality, so don’t take that as a comment on you.

Adams Carroll (News Intern)

big update: the Oregon State Police and Clack. Co. Sheriff’s have just issued a statement saying they are going to get tough on Hoodbombing. Full story here.

Jack
Jack
14 years ago

Re #45: “We all do stupid things – do you want to be publicly condemned by dozens of others for yours?”

People are terrified of humiliation…which makes it a very cheap and effective deterent to repeat behavior. If we replaced the standard practice of citations for traffic violations with a few hours in stocks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stocks), I think we’d see far fewer violators.

Not to say that the hood bomber belongs in stocks.

Chris Shaffer
Chris Shaffer
14 years ago

It is sad that we live in a society where one of the major concerns is how he will pay for the health care expenses.

jim
jim
14 years ago

“Stupid is, Stupid does”
Forest Gump

jim
jim
14 years ago

Correction-
It was Mama Gump