Basketball coach and RV collide

| Saturday, August 23, 2003

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Larry Luitjens hospitalized for injuries suffered in cycling accident.

By Kevin Woster, Journal Staff Writer

CUSTER — Renowned basketball coach Larry Luitjens of Custer is recovering in Rapid City Regional Hospital after being hit by a recreational vehicle while bicycling Thursday night.

Luitjens suffered six broken ribs, a broken shoulder, punctured lung and a concussion in the accident. His wife, Cherry, said Friday that he was biking on the road to Sylvan Lake near Custer when the accident occurred.

Luitjens was transferred to Custer and taken by helicopter to Rapid City Regional.

"He doesn't remember anything about it," Cherry Luitjens said. "I'm very relieved this morning. He's doing much better. He looked awful last night."

Hospital officials listed Luitjens in fair condition Friday. His wife said he was uncomfortable from the injuries and groggy from heavy pain medication but otherwise was doing well.

"They think he's pretty much out of the danger zone. But he's going to be laid up for a while. He'll be mad about that," she said.

Luitjens, who holds the South Dakota career record for high school boys basketball victories, had been biking about 100 miles a week. Diagnosed last winter with prostate cancer, Luitjens has been relying on exercise and nutrition, along with regular medical checkups, to help him combat the disease. He often rode with Mark Naugle, a middle-school principal from Hill City.

Naugle was about 20 yards ahead of Luitjens Thursday night when he heard a noise behind him. He didn't see the accident but came back to find Luitjens on the ground.

"It's not fun when a friend is lying on the ground unconscious," Naugle said.

Naugle said he intends to get Luitjens' bike fixed so it will be ready to ride when Luitjens has recovered. His wife expects that to happen, eventually.

"But it won't be for a while, which he's going to be mad about," she said. "One of the first things he said today was, ‘Is my bike all right?'"

Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com