Accident survivor offers advice to drivers and pedestrians
My name is Jim Balogh. I was born in South River and I have lived in various Jersey Shore communities in the years following my graduation. After I began my parttime night and weekend job as a DJ, I started to work nights at a slew of Jersey Shore clubs (the Bulkhead, Big Shots, Club Bené, etc.). I was known as DJ Jimmy B, and I owned my own mobile DJ company called Justin James Music. My lady and I had to move to Edison, and you will see why after you read this.

The main reason I am writing you is to relay my concerns involving a news item that is cropping up quite frequently in all forms of news lately … namely, the number of people being seriously injured or even killed by auto vehicles in our coverage area. "Why," you may say while reading this, "are you so concerned?" People, a tad over a year ago, I was one of those whose life was changed forever by being hit by a motor vehicle.

Here was a man (me), harmlessly peddling his bicycle to the NJ Transit train station in West Windsor, on his way home after a long day's work. I was halfway there when, out of nowhere, a driver was attempting a "rushed" left turn on the road right next to me. He either did not see, or was trying to make that left turn too suddenly when he collided with another vehicle coming in the opposite direction. That vehicle he collided with spun around, flipped on its side and hit me at 45 mph. I could not react quickly enough to avoid getting hit. Here I was, flying 50 feet into the bushes, and came down on my head.

To make matters worse, it was only three weeks before my wedding day. This was Aug. 18, 2006. My wedding day was scheduled for Sept. 9, 2006. Here was a beautiful bride on her wedding day having to pray her groom-tobe lives. On that special day, I was in a coma and on life support.

As time passed, it was determined, besides my physical injuries, that I received what is known as TBI (traumatic brain injury). Not only did Jasmine (my future wife) have to deal with potential death, but when I finally came to, because of TBI, I did not know who she was and what my name was.

This is what all should learn, which I did, the hard way:

1. Wear a bike helmet. So your hair will get messed up. Would you rather have messed-up hair while alive, or nice hair while in a box being viewed?

2. Drive carefully. That car coming toward you does not expect you to try and make a quick left turn in front of him.

3. Wear that seat belt. This is a fact that needs no explanation.

4. Live each day like it is your last - it might be.

5. Thank "The Man" each day you wake up.

Even though this is a very sobering note, publishing it will have people thinking. That is why I have contributed a very dark experience of my life … one I wish to forget.

Jimmy Balogh

Edison