Yesterday (tuesday), I had to take my truck to work for a post-work doctor's appointment. Ironically, I was giving a presentation on bike commuting and brought my bike with me for a little show-and-tell. After the presentation, I left my bike in its locker overnight and figured I would ride it home tonight (wednesday).

This morning...my friend and commuting partner, Terry, parked his truck at my house - per usual - for his ride into work. I saw him leave about 7:15 a.m. and called out the front door to him to tease him for being late and to wish him a good ride. I was bummed I couldn't ride in with him.

About a half hour later..DH is surfing the net before jumping into the shower. We hear the non-stop wail of police sirens nearby. DH checks the traffic websites and the local traffic cameras, looking for the problem, but finds nothing. Later, I'm getting ready to shut down the computer and see that the traffic camera site is still up on the screen. I refresh the camera down the street. A police car is blocking the street not letting any cars pass. Crap. That's the street that Terry just rode down. 2+2 = big worry. I call Terry's cell. No answer. Leave a message, "Call me. I'm worried." I call his office phone. No answer. Leave a message. "Where are you? Call me." "Stop worrying," DH says.

I get on the subway. I get off at my office and go to the garage where Terry parks his bike. It's not there. Now, I'm completely freaking out.

I debate calling his wife. Should I worry her unnecessarily? A half hour later, I get a call from a co-worker of Terry's. Terry's wife called him. The police had been banging on her door an hour ago. She's on her way to the hospital.

"Terry had a stroke, fell from his bike," he said. Holy CRAP! If only I had been there with him. If only....if only.... I can't concentrate. I'm a total basket case. I got a call from Terry's wife. They have him heavily sedated...going in for a SECOND CAT scan. They're in ICU. They're not sure about the stroke.

So many questions. No answers.

I talk to Terry's wife tonight. Good news: No stroke. Bleeding and bruising in the brain (yes, he was wearing a helmet), a broken rib, but there was no stroke. They are keeping him sedated and monitoring him for swelling on the brain. So far...so good. The police said a motorist found him on the ground on the side of the road and stopped and called 9-1-1. Bad news: The police said the injuries were more consistent with being struck by a car. Minimal damage appears on the bike, but they feel he was clipped in the rear by a car. Or, he swerved to avoid it and went down. There was no car around when the person called 9-1-1. Hit-and-run. Now I'm just angry.

DH and I went and drove the street tonight before sunset. We could see the white marks on the road where police had lit flares around him. It was right at the intersection of a small side street that comes out from your right. We know that intersection well. It's beyond "extremely hazardous." Cars come out of there - a rolling stop - and stick their noses well into the oncoming traffic before bursting out. It's the site of many near-misses. And, it's at the bottom of a downhill, where a cyclist in the broad shoulder can get up a good head of steam.

I don't know how to end this. It's a developing story. Oh, how I wish I were there with him. I could have yelled to the car "Head's up!" or we would have left earlier, so he never would have been there in the first place. or....

So, I guess I'll just end this with the trite: "Be careful out there. Please."