BMX legends survive crash in Yukon. By Mike King

Jan 06, 2006

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 19720 times

Hope you had a better Christmas than BMX legends Mike and Eddie King as they accidently drove off a 50 ft embankment in the Yukon XL.

For those of you who may not have already heard, on Christmas morning my brother Eddy, my girlfriend Carrie, and I were in an auto accident on our way to visit my family in Arizona. My brother was driving his Yukon XL while Carrie was riding shotgun sleeping (thankfully with seat belts attached) while I was in the back bench seat (with no seat belt on) catching up on some needed sleep.

At roughly 7:45 in the morning near the Golden Acorn Casino exit (50 min drive east from downtown San Diego) the vehicle veered right, hit a mile marker sign, and then launched off the road and down an estimated 50 ft embankment. After cart wheeling several times down the hillside (which seemed to take forever to stop) firefighters were on the scene within ten minutes and were able to excavate both Carrie and I onto backboards. It was difficult getting Carrie and I out of the vehicle because the Yukon was leaning on its right side and tilting onto some bushes. I ended up curled up behind the front passenger seat while my brother was able to exit the vehicle and call for some help. A passing witness on the highway ran down to help us and luckily his cell phone had a signal. Our phones if you can imagine were no where to be found along with all our personal belongings like our shoes and sunglasses.

After finally being taped to a backboard and neck brace, Carrie and I arrive at Grossmont Hospital after an hour ambulance ride. Being Christmas morning the ER facility was quite calm and we were able to get treated for x-rays and cat scans. LUCKILY and I mean luckily ... we managed with only minor injuries like glass cuts, stitches, some internal and external bruising, swelling and a mild concussion for all three of us. It was a miracle that we discovered only minor injuries (I have one broken rib) and no internal injuries so far. I was told by my stepfather yesterday after my Mom and he traveled back the same route home to Arizona that we missed a huge oak tree on our decent off the highway and he believed the big SUV vehicle most likely saved everyone's life.

If this accident happened a few more miles down the highway the much steeper terrain would have ended all three of our lives. You cannot imagine how lucky and grateful I feel to still be alive and walking today knowing I was not buckled up or thrown out of the vehicle or severed by the broken glass and metal.

With all that said, we are all resting at home safe with the aid of pain killers and family by our side. I expect to be up and about by the end of this week as does Carrie. Thank you so much for all the emails and text messages wishing us all a Merry Christmas. I guess when you look at what actually happened ... we can all look back and claim it was a very Merry Christmas indeed.

Wishing everyone all the best and for a safe New Year.