‘Luck beyond belief’: Motorcyclist credits safety gear for surviving Niagara crash

A Stoney Creek, Ont. man says he is lucky to be alive following a devastating motorcycle crash in the Niagara region last month.

Steve Bolton did not come out unscathed, he had to have one of his legs partially amputated, but he says he believes if he wasn’t wearing the proper safety gear he would have lost a lot more.

“Even if it was 90 degrees out, I wore my protection,” says Bolton. “Dress for the slide not the ride.”

A saying the 61-year-old says he is glad he followed one Sunday night two weeks ago.

“I have zero recollection of the accident at all, I just remember waking up [in the hospital].”

Niagara police told Bolton he was riding his motorcycle in the area of Smithville and Caister Gainsborough Townline roads, when he was struck by a pick-up truck.

“The point of impact was on the right side of the bike so I kind of lost my right leg below the knee,” says Bolton.

He is now recovering at Hamilton General Hospital and aside from an amputated leg and a gash on his head, he says he is fine.

“Just to have a right amputated leg below the knee at the point of impact is luck beyond belief,” says Bolton.

He says he believes he wouldn’t be alive today if he wasn’t wearing the proper safety gear.

“I’m sure by the look of the pictures and the accident I didn’t just hit that, fall off and stop, I was whipped around a little bit,” says Bolton. “If you’re dressed properly it could save your life.”

“A lot of people say, ‘Oh Steve, you should stop riding, it’s unsafe’ and I was always like, ‘it’s not gonna happen to me, I’m too aware, I care, I pay attention’ and this and that and then it happened to me.”

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Ontario Provincial Police say so far this year, there have been 47 motorcycle fatalities in OPP-patrolled areas, that doesn’t include municipal roadways.

That number is slightly higher than this time last year, when there were 45 motorcycle fatalities.

“That number is extremely high, and just one fatality is extremely concerning to any member of our police service here in the Ontario Provincial Police,” says Sgt. Ed Sanchuk.

Sanchuk says it takes everyone on the road to prevent crashes, especially with warmer weather lasting longer.

“Even though we’re going into November, I can see motorcyclists on our roadways yesterday as well. Just yet another reminder, please when you’re out driving your motor vehicle, please make sure you pay attention to your surroundings, double check your blind spots and when you come up to intersections, please check twice. It’s going to save a life,” says Sanchuk.

As for Steve, his road to recovery will be difficult but he doesn’t regret getting out on the road on his motorcycle.

“It’s like a passion that gets into your blood and you can’t explain it. The freedom when you’re riding when it’s a beautiful day, curvy roads,” says Bolton. “There’s no regrets at all. No.”

Of those 47 motorcycle fatalities this year, police say two were not wearing a helmet, four were alcohol or drug related and three were caused by inattentive driving.

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