Local orthopedist recovering after a distracted driver hit him while cycling

Dr. David Savage is back in the office at Texas Orthopedics and he's glad to be there. His road to recovery continues after he was hit by a driver while cycling in March.

"I worked that morning and had the afternoon off and I like to cycle as a hobby," said Savage. Out on the road and on two wheels Savage has logged thousands of miles cycling. A hobby that he loves and one that took a dangerous and unexpected turn.

"I heard the impact before I felt the bumper hit my back wheel," recalls Savage. Last month he was riding in the bike lane on Jollyville Road when the driver of a pick up hit him from behind.

At that moment Savage remembers thinking am I going to make it or not. The impact sent Savage to the ground. "Being the doctor that I am I started taking inventory," said Savage.

As an orthopedic surgeon he quickly realized what was wrong. Once the ambulance arrived he called a colleague to meet him at the hospital to help put him back together. Three hours of surgery, a metal rod, a plate and several screws later he continues to recover. He broke several bones in his left leg.

"I feel lucky to be alive," said Savage. "My bones will heal and I should be back to doing everything I was doing over six to 12 months."

He hopes his story will remind everyone to share the road. "If they will just wait five, 10, or even 15 seconds there will be an opening," he explained.

Witnesses on the scene reported the driver wove in and out before striking Savage. Austin Police issued the driver a ticket for failure to maintain assured clearance.

Savage is grateful his injuries were not worse. He will slowly get back to what he loves but his feelings are mixed with apprehension and a little bit of fear.

"I think I'll ride less on the road alone. It didn't used to bother me but it's going to have me scared," he said.

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. In an effort to help combat the dangerous epidemic the Texas Department of Transportation has launched its Talk, Text, Crash campaign. While it focuses on using cell phones behind the wheel the agency says distraction can take many forms.