Community rallies around teenager injured in crash
June 9, 2010
By Laura Geggel
Hendrik Koopman is so dedicated to dirt biking, he saved his own money to buy a bright red one he could ride on the hills east of the Cascade Mountains.
“He’s a real outdoor kind of guy,” Terri Koopman said of her 16-year-old son. “He loves dirt biking. He got involved with it when he was in seventh grade, when we were living in Arizona.”
When the family of five moved to North Bend in 2008, Hendrik kept up with his dirt biking, as well as other hobbies, including tennis, soccer and fly fishing.
Hendrik Koopman saved his own money so he could buy this dirt bike, the one he was on when he had an accident near Ronald. Photo by Shannon Zinc
Conner Martin, a sophomore at Mount Si High School, said he and Hendrik go dirt biking about twice a month and they like biking near Roslyn.
“It’s a nice place to ride,” Martin said. “It has nice scenery, good hill climbs.”
On May 15, Koopman, Martin and three friends drove near Ronald, just south of Cle Elum Lake, to go dirt biking. At about 5 p.m., Koopman had a head-on collision with another biker. Although he was wearing a helmet, Koopman had not secured his chinstrap, and he suffered a major head injury.
The other biker, a 22-year-old man from North Bend, had minor injuries.
A helicopter airlifted Koopman to Harborview Medical Center, where doctors put him in a medically induced coma to help alleviate the pressure caused by his swelling brain.
Since then, Koopman has had two surgeries, was transferred to Seattle Children’s and is scheduled for a third surgery later this summer.
His mother, his No. 1 cheerleader, visits him every day and helps him with his various therapies.
“He’s made incredible progress,” she said. “He’s able to talk now. He has a huge sense of humor, so it’s nice to see him making jokes again.”
After many therapy sessions, Koopman is also able to walk again.
“He’s 6’1” — its nice to see him stand tall at his full height,” his mother said.
A friend of the family, Shannon Zinc, is rallying the community together for a garage and bake sale to help the Koopman family pay for Hendrik’s medical expenses.
“We’re accepting anything and everything,” Zinc said, suggesting volunteers, baked goods and monetary gifts as possible donations. People interested in helping with the sale are invited to join Zinc at 6 a.m. June 12, before the sale starts.
“He’s very passionate about dirt biking and everybody was worried when he woke up from his coma,” Zinc said.
Laura Geggel: 392-6434, ext. 221, or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
How to help
- What: Garage and bake sale for Hendrik Koopman
- When: 9 a.m. June 12
- Where: Sno Falls Credit Union parking lot, 9025 Meadowbrook Way S.E., Snoqualmie
- Call 425-442-2049 to help
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Best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery from a fellow rider…
have you contacted the Rider down foundation? They may be able to offer some kind of help…
Gary