Motorcyclist has friends at his side during recovery
PENNY COLES
POSTMEDIA NEWS
A 20-year-old Niagara-on-theLake man is in hospital with lifethreatening injuries following a motorcycle collision with a car on Lakeshore Road Sunday evening.
At about 7:25 p.m. June 25, paramedics, the Niagara Regional Police and NOTL firefighters were called to a motor vehicle collision on Lakeshore Road at Stewart Road.
Initial investigation indicated a 20-year-old man from Welland was driving a 2008 Dodge Nitro eastbound on Lakeshore Road and was making a left turn at an open gravel parking lot on the north side.
At the same time Cole Heinrichs of NOTL was riding a 2015 Yamaha R6C motorcycle eastbound on Lakeshore Road and was attempting to pass the Dodge. He collided with it and was thrown from his motorcyle. He was taken to a hospital out of the region, the NRP reported, with life-threatening injuries.
Linda Epp is the mother of one of a tight-knit group of friends of Henrichs, and has watched the boys grow up together. The news of their friend has been devastating for them, she said.
“This small-town friendship is a gift these Niagara boys started in the small town of Virgil at Virgil Public school and through sports, hockey, soccer, the gym and a variety of extracurricular activities,” she said. “It will last forever.
“‘‘Saturday nights are for the boys’ is the logo they have created and they have great times playing beach volleyball, soccer, pond hockey or just hanging out at the local craft breweries every week after work.”
Heinrichs found his passion for motorcycles from his father who rides a Harley himself.
“He is a big guy with a huge heart with a one of a kind personality,” she said.
“Along with all the fun, he lives a healthy lifestyle of hard workouts and healthy eating, and he adores his family.”
The recent tragic passing of their long-time bestfriend Ben Jefferies in a plane crash last fall “made them realize how strong their friendship really was and brought this group of guys even closer together,” said Epp, who explained she was speaking on behalf of the young men, helping them put their feelings into words.
Within moments of the accident on Lakeshore Road, everyone was notified, and wanted to be by their friend’s side. They gathered at the Epp house with her son Tyler “for a somber evening while everyone waited for news.
“The best news the boys heard was that Cole was taken off life support, and that he was breathing on his own again. He will have a long road of recovery but it’s a miracle that this strong boy is getting a second chance at life. The Niagara boys (and girls) are so thankful.”
They are grateful to the first responders, said Epp, the Virgil fire department, including one of his friends, who treated him at the scene without realizing who he was, “and the help from up above. Cole survived a horrific accident but soon will be out with his friends again on a Saturday night.”
The driver of the car was taken to a local hospital and later released.
This collision remains under investigation by detectives of the Niagara Regional Police collision reconstruction unit.
Any witnesses with information regarding this collision are asked to contact investigators at 905-6884111, extension 5500. Trusted by 120,000 Homeowners like you since 1990