Pct. 4 worker skids off bike, now in ICU
By SHANNON CRABTREE newsdesk@leader-news.com

SURVEYING THE SCENE: El Campo Police Officer Rey Longoria examines the motor scooter Precinct 4 worker Rudy Bednar was driving Wednesday evening as El Campo EMS workers treat the injured man in the background. Bednar apparently lost control of the vehicle and fell. He was not wearing a helmet. L-N Photo by Shannon Crabtree

An El Campo man is recovering in a Houston trauma center after his motor scooter wrecked Wednesday on East Jackson Street.

His unhelmeted head reportedly struck the pavement as he fell from the small motorized bike which co-workers say he purchased several years ago in an effort to save gasoline.

Rudolph "Rudy" Louis Bednar, 58, is in stable and fair condition in ICU at Houston's Memorial Hermann Hospital suffering from head injuries as well as a broken elbow, nose and ribs.

He is recognizing family members, according to co-workers at Wharton County's Precinct 4 barn.

Bednar has been a dozer operator with Precinct 4 since Jan. 1, 1988.

"He's the best darn dozer operator in the county," said Precinct 4 Commissioner Jimmy Kainer, who raced to the scene of the accident.

Bednar was riding a motor scooter home from work at the Precinct 4 barn in Pierce Wednesday evening at 5:08 p.m. when he apparently lost control in the 1800 block of East Jackson.

The motor scooter skidded more than 140 feet and apparently blew out the rear tire at some point, according to investigating El Campo Police Officer Rey Longoria.

"Witnesses said he lost control of the bike," he added. "He lost control and went sliding, the bike went sliding, about 141 feet. He traveled 50 to 60 feet with the bike before he fell off."

The motor scooter was likely traveling at 40 to 45 mph when the wreck occurred.

Bednar's head struck the pavement, prompting emergency responders to quickly summon a helicopter ambulance to race him to the Houston trauma center.

An El Campo EMS crew worked to stabilize Bednar on scene.

"He wasn't wearing a helmet," Longoria said. "If he would have worn a helmet, you don't know. I don't think the head injuries would be as severe as they were. Hopefully he'll pull through and I can talk to him."

At this point, there is no indication of mechanical error or problem with the roadway. It was not raining when the wreck occurred.

"Right now it's driver error unless I determine something else (after talking to Bednar)," Longoria said.

Traffic was briefly shut down on East Jackson while the helicopter landed.