A driver who “t-boned” a rider in a SMIDSY (Sorry Mate I didn’t See You) crash has sent an apology via a personal Facebook message.
The crash happened on 5 December 2019 when Andrew Anson, 32, of Narooma, NSW, was riding his 2009 Hyosung 250GTR down a hill behind a 4WD which was turning left.
Andrew before the crash
“I slowed down and as I was going around the 4WD, this car came out of nowhere and t-boned me straight in the middle,” he says.
Later that same day, driver Maddi Hunter sent her “sincerest apologies” in a personal Facebook message:
Words cannot describe how terrible I feel. This was the first accident I’ve ever been in and it happens to be one of the worst things that can happen.
Maddi Hunter (Facebook image)
Andrew says her apology won’t help save his foot which he could lose.
“Apologies will not help or change the situation,” he says.
“I would expect her to stop and wait if a car is turning; wait until the car is out of sight, then proceed. Look out for motorcycles. Don’t just dart out.”
SMIDSY scenario
The exact scenario of this crash is depicted in a Western Australia perception test for learner riders where a turning vehicle masks a smaller motorcyclist from the view of a driver waiting at an intersection.
Andrew, who has been riding about seven months, says he has never had an accident and is a “very careful rider and I don’t speed”.
“All I remember is that car coming out of nowhere, then putting my hand out and hitting the bonnet. I don’t even remember hitting the road,” he says.
“Witnesses tell me I ricocheted into an oncoming vehicle as well.
“The next thing I know I’m on the ground screaming in agony.”
Andrew suffered multiple wrist, rib and leg brakes, but the worst was a shattered ankle where the vehicle hit him.
“It was shattered like a tomato,” he says.
“One of the arteries was severed and I almost lost my foot. I could still lose it.”
Andrew has already had three operations with another scheduled on Monday and “a fair few” to follow.
FB apology
Portion of the personal Facebook message supplied by Andrew
When Maddi left her apology for Andrew, he was advised not to reply, but to wait for the police to contact him.
He says the officer involved is on leave and won’t be back until next week.
Andrew has not yet made a police statement and no charges have been laid.
Maddi told us she didn’t see Andrew’s bike passing the turning vehicle until she “started to pull out”.
“From where I was I could see up the rest of the hill and as far as I could see there was nothing behind him,” she says.
“From my view there was nothing either way so I turned out and as I turned there he was.
“I didn’t see him until I hit him.”
In the text message she says she noticed Andrew swerve.
“I slammed on my breaks (sic) but I believe I hit the back end of your bike with the left side of the car,” she texted.
In her apology, Maddi says she tried to call 000, but a witness had already called, so she waited until Andrew was taken away in an ambulance:
I took photos of your bike to show you and also allowed another lady on the scene to call your grandmother off my phone to notify her about the accident. I was told to go home and call the police to report the incident by both the paramedics and also the fire fighters. I proceeded to do this and was at the station giving my statement at 4.50pm.
Maddi’s photo of Andrew’s bike (and top of the page)
I was driving my mother’s car so I’ll be asking her to contact the insurance company to help assist with damages tomorrow. If there is any other way that I can help you personally I am more than happy to within my capabilities. I am so so sorry! Literally have been worried all afternoon and night as I wasn’t sure what the injuries entailed. I hope you have a fast recovery and once again I’m so sorry. The last thing I’d want to do is ever hurt someone and especially around this time of year.
‘I will ride again’
“Sorry is not going to help,” Andrew says.
“She should have looked and stopped and waited.
“She’s just assumed there was nothing behind the 4WD.
“She says she saw the car coming down the hill but nothing behind it.
“But I didn’t see her and I normally scan for everything.
“I also have a loud muffler so she should have heard me coming.”
Andrew says he would like Maddi to fix or replace his bike.
“I will ride again,” he says.
“There is no way this will stop me getting on a bike.”
