Lee Ridge aka Trainzz

[Bigfoot]

Lee has a fractured femur, pelvis and sacral. Lacerated kidney on left side, lacerated spleen. All ribs on left side are broke. Flail chest with a punctured lung. He has received 4 units of blood. It seems to be pretty bad so everyone keep him in your prayers. They have stabilized him, put in a chest tube to help with the collapsed lung, and sent him to Fort Smith, AR. He has quite a bit of surgery to go through.

As for the accident, we are not sure exactly what happened. Lee was riding with the group and had just come around a corner not really going especially fast, maybe 40mph. Bohn was riding behind him and said it looked like he was just pulling off onto the shoulder. There were no skid marks and it did not appear that he locked up the brakes at all. He went across a gravel driveway and into a ditch and had heavy contact with a tree. Here are a couple pics.

This is the tree


This is the corner. You can see the track he took as he came off of the road. He was out of the corner already.


From the other direction.


Here is the bike

[Bigfoot]

Things are certainly not looking good for Lee. We just received word that on the way to Fort Smith, something must have gone bad so they detoured to Poteau, OK. It is a small town not far from here. He is now in critical condition and they are trying to stabilize him.

[Bigfoot]

We just found out that Lee has passed away due to the injuries sustained in his crash.

Please keep his wife Terry in your thoughts and prayers.

[Bigfoot]

Hey Bug,

I hate to say it but I doubt much, from what I've seen of the Texas contingent's previous ride reports. They often have just helmets, due to the extreme hot weather they often encounter. I hope that this may demonstrate the need for a bit more than helmets and shirts/pants are needed to try to preserve life and limb during rides. This is why I got a nice armored mesh jacket for my hot midsummer riding vs. my very sweaty leather one.
T.C.

FWIW, Lee was wearing boots, jeans, helmet, heavy leather jacket, and gloves. Sometimes it doesn't make the difference.

[Bigfoot]

Lee had a pulmonary embolism in the ambulance on the way to Fort Smith. He was already gone when they got him to the hospital in Peoteau. Terry made it down here but too late. She is now here in Talihina with us. She has some family on the way that will be here in the morning.

[Bigfoot]

Go with God Lee

[Wildkat]

Friday night


In KC with Ivan's bike... showin the love


At the MoM


He will be missed

[Wildkat]

Lee Ridge aka Trainzz

Richard "Lee" Ridge, 55, died Oct. 10, 2009, in Poteau, Okla.
(I will add the copy of the obituary once it is published completely)

Lee was a good man with a quick smile and an easy going personality.

I'm going to miss you, Buddy

[devilschld]

hello,

for those who did not know lee. he was a true friend. i have had problems with my bike over the last few month he and ivan both have tried to help me get it fixed. as for me; i will miss not only a fellow rider but a true friend. he was a great guy after his last accident terry asked him to wear a helmet which he did. i know as soon as ivan knows anything i will get a call from him.

i will be there when the services are.

terry i am sorry to hear what has happened. true friends are hard to find. its hard for me cause i have lost a friend.

let me tell u all about the last ride me,ivan and lee had together.
lee showed up after me and ivan got back from cassidy. wanted know if we wanted to go for a ride if ivan was not to wore out from the ride. we all went up around lake cheeney and back. i can remember his comment i can always tell when ur coming by the sound of ur exhaust albert. when we got back to town. we sat at his place for a while and talked about the new bike he was looking for and about how old his dad was and he was still riding motorcycles. he told terry he was going to get up on the roof and caulk where the awning was and get it to stop letting the water in. we talked about how much my seat cost to be redone.

[Bigfoot]

Lee was a character and almost always had a smile on his face. I did not know him extremely well but we had ridden together quite a few times and I considered him a friend. He proved what kind of man he was when Ivan went down. He was there to help Ivan and Shawna through a very tough time. He made a trip up to Kansas City to help rebuild Ivans bike even though he had broken his wrist just weeks before.

Lee loved riding and was really excited about the Talimena rally. He was pretty sick the week prior to the rally but wasn't gonna miss it. I remember seeing that big old grin of his as we got ready to ride.

I am gonna miss you Lee.

[Montreux_Blue]

I still feel sick to my stomach and trying to hold back my tears. I feel so bad for Terri, Ivan, his family and friends.

[FANNING507]

Ivan and Lee came to Turon to entice me to come along. My father-in-law passed away and the funeral was scheduled for the day Ivan and Lee were leaving.
Ivan called last nite as I didn't get on the site yet to see the news. We are all pretty broken about this news.
I know this is part of life, but it sucks sometimes. Terri I'm so sorry!

[edkoynock]

my condolences and prayers are with you

[Brent]

condolences

my condolences and prayers are with you

me too. SO sorry for Terry, Lees family & friends.

Any news on funeral arrangements?

[Bigfoot]

Friday, October 16 2009 at 11:00 am. The service will be held at Elliot Mortuary, 1219 N Main St, Hutchinson KS, 67501.