Sand Springs Bicyclist Recovers After Being Hit By Semi

A Sand Springs man is recovering in the hospital after being hit by a semi-truck while on his bicycle early Monday morning.

His family is asking for people to pay attention and use caution when they are on the roads. 

According to a crash report, 21-year-old Ethan Bates was riding his bike at 6 a.m. Monday on Highway 51 near West 113th Street in Sand Springs when he was hit by a semi-truck. 

"He has a fracture in his left leg, he's getting that operated on this morning, he's getting his right hip operated on also this morning where they are putting bolts in his leg," Bates' mom, Catherine White, said. 

Catherine said she got a text from his boss, saying Ethan never made it to work and was now in the hospital. She said she knows Ethan is strong and he's a fighter. 

"He told me yesterday, '"mommy.. cowgirls don't cry..'" that's not something you want to hear from your kid when you feel helpless, and you can't be there with them," Catherine said. 

Ethan's step-father, Daniel White, said he's also a professional truck driver, and he wishes the road was safer for cyclists and that people would pay more attention when driving. 

"How many people are going to have to get killed or injured and put in the hospital having to have the surgeries [Ethan's] having to have to before they realize 'hey look, we've got to do something,'" Daniel said. 

Ethan's family said the crash is being investigated as an accident, and they are thankful Ethan is alive, knowing it could have been worse. 

"As a matter of fact, it's my understanding he blocked traffic to keep anyone else from hitting him with his truck and that we're both grateful for because it could have been way different," White said. 

Ethan's family said he should be in the hospital at least a couple more weeks.