NEWPORT — Harry Koziorynsky of Pickens, S.C., got five broken ribs, a punctured lung and a new nick name from friends — "the Bear Man" — after a black bear ran in front of his motorcycle as he rode Sunday afternoon on Interstate 40 in Cocke County.
Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Jeff Coffey reported that the collision occurred at 1:40 p.m., near the 441 mile marker between Newport and Hartsford. The bear, which Coffey estimated was about a year old and weighed about 75 pounds, died on impact, the trooper reported.
Koziorynsky, 59, said in a telephone interview that he was released from the University of Tennessee Medical Center on Thursday. The motorcyclist said his friends have given him a good-natured hard time.
"Everybody has been calling me 'The Bear Man.' I understand it is pretty hard to believe," he said.
Koziorynsky said he thought the bear was at least 200 pounds based on what he saw just before impact.
"I do remember actually hitting him and his back was taller than my front wheel, which was 18 inches tall," he said. "This bear was on all-fours and his back was 2 feet high. That is a pretty good size."
Koziorynsky said that on the day of the wreck, he was traveling in the right lane and started to gain on traffic in front of him and pulled out into the left lane to pass. Koziorynsky got four cars from the front of the line, saw brake lights on the cars and backed off the throttle to slow down, he said.
"By the time I reached the front of the line, here comes 'Little Smoky Bear' trucking across the highway," he said. "I hit him in a perfect t-bone shot. I went down on my right side and somehow, we all separated."
Koziorynsky said he doesn't know how he got where he did, but thought he ended up in the right lane and that traffic stopped behind him after the crash.
"I remember rolling over and my side was hurting real bad and I laid back down," he said. "I spun around a little bit so I could see where the motorcycle was and if the bear was still there, and people made sure I laid down."
Koziorynsky said ambulance personnel showed up and took him to Newport Medical Center and he was then transferred to UT Medical Center for trauma care.
"I've got five broken ribs and a punctured lung, but they got the lung reinflated, put a tube in me to reinflate it and drained it. My lung has no infection," he said. "I'm sore and I have road rash, but I don't have one bruise on my body.
Coffey said personnel with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency were contacted to take the bear's body. The trooper said he had never seen a motorcycle hit a bear.
"This is the first time," Coffey said. "I've had vehicles hit bears, but nobody on a motorcycle who was so unlucky that they hit one."
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Comments » 18
SouthChapman writes:
Brake lights are there to warn other drivers. Anytime I see brake lights I slow and look for the danger instead of passing at normal speed in the other lane. When riding a motorcycle I stay behind the slowing vehicles until I know what the hazard is. Passing stopped vehicles and having to suddenly stop is a good way to ensure being struck from behind.
tlc1st_2000#359073 writes:
Riders like you are what gives motorcycle riders a bad name. I am however glad you were not hurt more.I am sorry the bear was killed.
poston24 writes:
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knox99 writes:
Good thing the rider was wearing a helmet. I hope he rides with one at home in S.C.
lindatotenn writes:
IF this driver had been 4 cars back , he had time to slow down or atleast been able to avoid hitting this bear. BUT, OF COURSE, WHEN THE CYCLE WAS GOING WAY OVER THE SPEED LIMIT, WHAT YOU EXPECT ??? When he say the stop lights on the other cars, that should have given him a clue, but oh no, he had to speed down the road. I hope he damaged the cycle beyond repair, and his drivers license needs to be pulled. If he doesn't know how to drive and be safe about it. If one of those cars had decided to pull in the the fast lane to avoid the bear, he would be 6 feet under by now. These bike drivers go in and out traffic, pull out in front of other drivers, go over the speed limit, and then wonder why they get hit.
saveourearth#227093 writes:
Whew - some heartless comments about the motorcycle rider! I guess the detailed account in the article leading up to the accident encourages even more armchair analysis. Just glad that Mr. Koziorynsky is okay, which may be due to his wearing proper gear and car drivers behind him being unusually alert.
DavidAllenGarrettJunior writes:
Wow. Not the story, but the comments. Wow.
tnhiker writes:
Comments like yours are what give commenters a bad name. I hope you don't have to learn the hard way that predicting the behavior of wild animals along roadways is nearly impossible. Otherwise, this rider would not have collided with the bear.
Bearman writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
cutebratt writes:
Where did it say this rider was "going way over the speed limit"? I read the story, actually ready his account of what happened twice, and only read where he said he moved to the left lane to pass slower driving vehicles. The right hand lane is typically for slower drivers, you know? It's not like he flew down the shoulder, and given the fact of his pretty minor injuries (considering the situation), I'd say he wasn't hammered down and recklessly "speeding".
docholliday1851 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
c103110 writes:
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gpig writes:
Why, why, why did they have to print a picture of the poor, pitiful, crumpled bear carcass in the Sat. paper I know animals are murdered everyday by Goldwings, however, I don't wish to see it while eating an English muffin.
Sanfu writes:
Ha ha. As a fellow biker, I'm glad you came through the crash OK. And you're right, we do have some strange commenters.
MDKramer writes:
I cannot believe the number of judgmental internet savants who can't comprehend simple English as it's written, and blame the motorcyclist for this accident.
Read the article again, he saw traffic in the right lane of the Interstate slowing, so he changed lanes to pass. AS HE WAS LEGALLY PASSING THE SLOWING CARS he saw brake lights and let off the throttle to slow when the bear ran across the Interstate directly in front of him.
For all any of you know, the bear could have darted out from between 2 of the braking cars faster than the rider had time to react.
Simply put, if you don't know all of the details of the incident, you only look like a complete fool when you pass judgement on the people involved.
Bearman writes:
Again I say HA HA HA. Animals are murdered everyday by Goldwings? Your right If I havent run something over with my bike at least once a day. I don't feel that I have accomplished anything. I also noticed that the person eating and looking at the bear carcass didn't mention anything about me being OK. Thanks for all who sent me well wishes. 43 years of riding experiance and over 500,000 miles ridden and people still keep me amazed. Ride ON!
AndThatIsFinal writes:
Thankful you are okay - could have been a lot worse. Ignore the trollers. Glad, too, mama bear wasn't right on Junior's heels; could have been a problem for you and your caregivers (at the scene).
greendragon writes:
I guess it's fortunate that it was a bear in the road, and not a person and/or another downed motorcyclist.