Ronald Sloat, 74, of Godfrey's Pond, Bergen, is recovering from four broken ribs and a possible broken collarbone after the motorcyclist struck a bear in Caledonia Saturday morning.
According to his wife, Clare Sloat, her husband also has multiple bruises and swollen hands. The family expects Sloat will be in Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester for several more days to do more testing.
At the time of the accident, Sloat was riding his trike, a three-wheeled motorcycle, in Caledonia on the way to his cottage on Conesus Lake. He was traveling on Route 5 when a black bear ran out in front of his motorcycle at approximately 11 a.m. He briefly saw the bear come out of thick brush near the road but couldn't avoid hitting it, Clare Sloat said.
Ronald was thrown off the trike and landed on his back. The helmet he was wearing protected his head from injuries.
Sloat was transported by Caledonia Ambulance. He had requested to be transported to United Memorial Medical Center, but due to the extent of his injuries he was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital instead.
The Livingston County Sheriff's Office and Caledonia police, fire and EMS responded to the scene.
According to a report issued by the Sheriff's Office, the approximately 300-pound black bear was put down by responding deputies due to its injuries. The carcass was turned over to a local taxidermist. Residents said they had seen the bear several times in the area before the accident occurred.
