Senior Jake Knight had his life altered in a split second, and he doesn’t even remember it. While racing around a motocross track, Knight hit a jump that hit him right back.
“I don’t remember the jump or hitting the ground. All I remember is waking up after and asking my friend what happened,” said Knight. “The pain really set in once they [paramedics] tried to put me on the stretcher.”
The accident happened earlier this year in May, and was caused by Knight over-shooting a 60 foot gap and landing violently flat on the ground. Colby Williams, former North Harford student and friend of Knight’s, found him and called 911.
“He sat me up until the ambulance got there, and I just kept asking him what happened,” said Knight.
After riding in an ambulance for about a mile, Knight was flown to shock trauma where he stayed in the hospital for two weeks. Knight’s accident resulted in injuries such as a concussion, lacerated lung, and numerous breaks in his hip and leg.
“My helmet actually cracked in half, I would’ve been dead if I wasn’t wearing it,” said Knight, who was also wearing protective boots which he claims protected his ankles from injury.
The injuries definitely put Knight at a disadvantage. He couldn’t walk at all for about two months and had to persevere through numerous sessions of physical therapy.
“The nurses were bad, they didn’t really help with the pain but I had a friend that’s a nurse at John Hopkins and he helped with my blood pressure. And I was throwing up from the medicine they were giving me… I told them it would make me throw up.”
After the incident, Knight stayed with his aunt and uncle over the summer to recover, saying that they had the best situation to be able to help him.
Knight said that one of the most devastating parts was when the doctors told him that he was done playing sports. Little did they know that Knight would make a stunningly quick recovery and play football for the Hawks the following fall.
Another rough stretch for Knight was the school year. With the accident happening in May, Knight still had to finish his junior year. However through a great liaison and HCPS’s home-school program Knight was able to succeed academically throughout his recovery.
“The injury brought my family and friends together through all the support I was getting. It really helped me form stronger relationships,” said Knight.