Tech. Sgt. Mark Hopkins poses with his motorcycle. Hopkins has loved motorcycles his whole life, but on May 27, 2012, he was involved in a motorcycle accident that nearly ended his life. Blood tests showed Hopkins had a blood alcohol level about twice the legal limit when the accident occurred, and he was wearing a helmet not approved by the Department of Transportation. Hopkins is a member of the 319th Civil Engineer Squadron. (Courtesy photo)
Tech. Sgt. Mark Hopkins suffered a motorcycle accident May 27, 2012 that nearly ended his life. The wreck had ruptured and shattered the left side of his skull, caused his brain to bleed, his eardrums to burst, and fractured his left eye socket. He was left almost totally deaf in his right ear, and with a traumatic brain injury. Hopkins is a member of the 319th Civil Engineer Squadron. (Courtesy photo)
Tech. Sgt. Mark Hopkins spent 43 days at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, N.D., after suffering a motorcycle accident that nearly ended his life. His road to recovery didn’t end there, however; it would be several months before Hopkins could have his head hardened with titanium while the healing process continued. During that time, he was forced to wear a black medical helmet to protect his brain from further injury, which his doctor said could kill him. Hopkins is member of the 319th Civil Engineer Squadron. (Courtesy photo)
by Staff Sgt. Susan L. Davis
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
6/6/2013 - GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFNS) -- May 27, 2012, is a day that Tech. Sgt. Mark Hopkins will never forget -- even though it's a day he can barely remember.
It was the day he made a choice that drastically altered his life forever, and almost ended it in the process.
"All I remember is hopping on my motorcycle around noon on my way to hang out with some fellow bikers for a friend's birthday," he said. "I woke up a month later from what I thought had been a nap. Apparently, I'd had a pretty serious motorcycle accident."
The injuries he suffered from the accident should have been enough to kill him, he said. The wreck ruptured and shattered the left side of his skull, caused his brain to bleed, his eardrums to burst and fractured his left eye socket. He was left with a traumatic brain injury and almost totally deaf in his right ear.
According to the blood tests taken at the hospital, Hopkins had a blood alcohol level roughly twice the legal limit, and had been wearing a helmet that wasn't approved by the Department of Transportation.
He said his road to recovery has been a long and difficult one. Shortly after arriving at Altru Hospital in the city of Grand Forks, he was taken into surgery where the doctor induced a medical coma in order to prevent any further bleeding and swelling on his brain. He spent the next 13 days in a critical care unit.
His injuries were so severe that the Grand Forks AFB Honor Guard began preparing for a military funeral when news of the accident got back to the base.
Once Hopkins came out of the coma, he underwent intensive speech, mental and physical therapy. He relearned how to stand, walk, brush his teeth, and feed himself. A month into his stay at Altru, he was finally able to recognize his family and friends, and speak their names.
"A staff sergeant from work who I was friends with was standing at my bedside, weeping and unable to stand up straight," Hopkins said. "Apparently after countless visits over the past month, I finally recognized him and spoke his name for the first time."
After spending 43 days in the hospital, Hopkins was released to go home, although he was far from finished with his recovery process.
"I continued therapy three days a week and had to be with someone at all times, both in and out of the hospital," he said. "My skull hadn't been repaired with titanium yet because my brain still had to heal a while longer."
It would be several months before he could have his head hardened with titanium while the healing process continued. During that time, he was forced to wear a black medical helmet to protect his brain from further injury, which his doctor said could very well have killed him.
"My days were short then," he said. "I would wake up in the morning and just be so miserable and exhausted, and I would have to lie down for a nap in the middle of the day, and wake up again around 5 p.m.," he said. "My wife, Melissa, worked, but would come home on her lunch break. My three kids (14, 13 and 11) took turns staying with me throughout the days on summer break. They would take me for walks around the base, always making sure I had my black medical helmet on, and calling my wife if I refused to wear it."
Finally the day came in November 2012 when Hopkins had the portion of his scalp hardened with titanium where fragments of his skull had been removed immediately after the accident six months earlier.
During his healing process, Hopkins endured the grueling ordeal of having staples applied to and removed from his scalp (more than once) and having the doctor insert a needle the size of a pencil into his head to drain the excess fluid that would build up.
Hopkins expressed his deep remorse over the choice he made and what it put his loved ones through.
"I have no one to blame except myself, for what happened," he said. "I failed to practice my own safety techniques that I'd learned throughout my years of riding, and I nearly lost my life for it. My wife, children, family, friends and co-workers nearly lost me because I was selfish and I chose to drink and wear improper safety equipment while operating my motorcycle."
Hopkins, or "Hopper," as he's known to his friends, had 14 distinguished years of service behind him when the accident happened, but he will be discharged soon and will lose his career.
Surprisingly to some, however, Hopkins still has an unwavering love for riding, and plans to work on motorcycles after he separates from the Air Force.
But, he said there are two things he will never ride without again:
"A DOT-approved helmet and sobriety," he said.
Hopkins has a firm grasp of the gravity of his situation, and said he is very thankful to have been able to come out on the other side.
"This is my second chance to continue to be a better father, a better husband, and a second chance to do something I love," he said. "I am the living example of what may happen to a biker who does not put safety first and respect his bike, and the trauma it can cause. If I can help save one life just by sharing my story, that makes it worth it to me."
Comments
6/12/2013 11:34:04 AM ET Haters gonna hate... smh
Thor, Asgard
6/11/2013 12:43:44 PM ET How many other times did he ride drunk endanger my family and not get caught He should be in jail for DUI.
Not a Rider, SAFB
6/7/2013 10:23:15 PM ET Risk is important to life. Don't go through life untarnished go through life and know there are trials and tribulations and a few scars. With all risk there is danger no matter what you do. Sgt. Hopkins took a risk that day and nearly died. Why do people do the things we do and try to take bigger risks than the other guy Because the other guy made it first so why can't I Sgt. Hopkins wasn't the first man to crash and nearly die after having a drink. Nor did he learn it on his own he saw it by the people he would have rode with and looked up to. We are all shaped by the people who have gone before us we all access risk based on the probability of survival when we've seen others make it. So let this story be a moral to all in all situations. You are being watched someone is looking up to you your actions are being copied. There is risk with everything. So stop bashing Sgt. Hopkins and take a look within your self What kind of person have you been to minimize risk unto your se
Unk Amn, ND
6/7/2013 9:29:05 AM ET This TSgt had a flawless military record in the 14 years he served prior to his accident. Yes a choice was made and it ended his career and he did not get retired so in some of your eyes justice was served and of course he was held accountable for his actions. Physically mentally financially and emotionally he has suffered beyond your imagine. It shows great humility for him to share his story with everyone while being transparent and vunerable so someone doesn't make the same choice. If you have never made a bad choice in your career or have never stood on the other side of disciplinary action your lack of compassion is apparent in your comments. People in the military drink and drive or ride and NEVER get caught and some do. He wasn't told he had to share his story he did it to be an example.
MamaHop, Grand Forks AFB
6/7/2013 9:11:42 AM ET He'll probably go to the VA claim a service connected disability and get tax-free compensation for the rest of his life. Whatever happened to those old rumors of line of duty survey and if you were doing something reckless the government wouldn't foot your medical bills
Taxpayer, LA
6/6/2013 9:25:13 PM ET I wonder if he was ever cited for DUI and if he was demoted for it too Will he also get disability pay on top of his retirement check when he separates from the military
TSgt, DM
6/6/2013 7:37:26 PM ET If you read the full article you'll see that he is going to lose his career. This is a cautionary tale and very appropriate. You get to make choices but you don't get to choose the consequences.
A Chief, Kadena AB
6/6/2013 6:29:35 PM ET You're right Matt how dare we read about other people's mistakes and learn from them.
JD, KC MO
6/6/2013 6:28:54 PM ET The story said his career is over. Poor choice made to drink and then try to operate a motor vehicle of any sort.It is said there are two types of motorcycle riders. Those that have been in an accident and those that will be.
Old Guy, Okinawa
6/6/2013 4:24:50 PM ET The reason some exist is to be a warning to others. There should have been a line of duty determination and he should be held liable for the untold thousands in health care costs because of his stupid choices. But probably not and the military health system will have to pick up the bill.
Fed Up, DC
6/6/2013 1:16:11 PM ET The fact that this story made it to AF.mil is crazy. This man made a choice to ride drunk and without approved equipment. The fact that a story was ever written is beyond reason. He should lose his career for the choices he made.
