David Batrouney’s weekend getaway turned into a nightmare when a routine motorcycle ride ended in a major collision.
This incident, which occurred on AFL Grand Final weekend along the Melba Highway near Yarra Glen, serves as a reminder of the importance of road safety.
David and his wife Alison Welsby decided to surprise their son, by arriving early for their short break on AFL Grand Final weekend last year.
As Mr Batrouney and his wife rode their motorcycles along the Melba Highway near Yarra Glen, a car pulled out of a side street.
“It’s a 100 kilometre an hour zone and I had the cruise control set on 100,” Mr Batrouney said.
“I had time to react, but not a lot and I t-boned he car.”
Mr Batrouney broke his pelvis, fractured a vertebra in his spine and shattered his shoulder and arm and ruptured his bladder, requiring extensive surgery.
He was wearing full leathers, which he believes helped reduce the severity of his injuries.
The motorcyclist said the crash has impacted his whole family.
“My wife was following behind on her motorcycle and when she saw the crash, she initially thought I was dead. It affected her in a big way. Our son came around the bend ten minutes later and saw me on the road,” he said.
“As a motorcyclist we must look out for other drivers, but in this instance, there was no avoiding it.
“This two second lapse of concentration has left me facing months and months of rehabilitation.”
The crash has put Mr Batrouney’s work as a transport company supervisor on-hold and he isn’t sure whether he will be able to return to full duty.
Mr Batrouney spent three months in hospital and in rehabilitation at Epworth Hawthorn.
He was able to get home in time to see his son get married just before Christmas.
