Adventist leaders in motorcycle accidents

South Pacific Division (SPD) general secretary Pastor Lionel Smith had to be airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle (NSW) following a motorcycle accident.

Pastor Smith was on his way home from a meeting at SPD headquarters in Wahroonga when he crashed coming off the ramp at Morisset.

Associate CFO Kelvin Peuser was on the scene minutes after the accident. He was impressed with the professionalism and diligence of the ambulance officers and medics.

“We know God was looking after him—it could have been a lot worse!” Mr Peuser said.

Pastor Smith expressed his apologies that he was unable to attend the SPD’s annual year-end meetings. “What some people do to get out of annual meetings,” he joked.

Meanwhile, on the way to the same meetings, Professor Ben Thomas, vice-chancellor of Pacific Adventist University, was also in a motorcycle accident during a three-day ride from Caloundra, Queensland, to Sydney.

Professor Thomas was riding along an open road with grass on both sides when two small kangaroos jumped out of the grass. 

“I hit the brakes hard but one of them ran directly into my front wheel,” Professor Thomas said. “I seem to have blacked out during the accident as I can’t remember anything between the time the kangaroo hit my front tyre and the time I got up from the accident. The kangaroo died within seconds.” Fortunately his riding gear protected him from suffering serious injury. It is likely the bike will be written off.