16-year-old girl at the wheel. As the big vehicle passed Jim's Yamaha, the girl turned left in front of Jim. She apparently didn't see him coming. Jim locked his brakes, leaving 70 feet of skid marks. Then he realized it was too late, let off the brakes and tried to swerve around the car.

Jim's cycle clipped the corner of the car. The impact crushed his left leg. He flew 60 feet in the air and landed in a field, on the side of his face.

In Sun Prairie, Jim's friends were wondering why he didn't show up.

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Feel no pity for Jim Winters. That's not the way he would want it.

He survived the crash. His days of serious competition may well be over. But he'll still go up north skiingfor pleasure. He'll still pedal a bicycle 20 miles on the back roads of Dane County. He'll still race canoes but would struggle to compete if he had to portage the craft.

Jim lost his lower leg in the accident. But he didn't lose his life. He wore a helmet, which likely saved his life, Cottage Grove police officer Douglas Kenney said. Still, the tremendous impact required plastic surgery on Jim's face.

Noting the outpouring of concerns from students, co-workers and those from the past 28 classes he's taught, “I learned that having people care about you is way more important than a foot.”

Jim maintains an amazingly positive outlook on life. He wouldn't sue the girl or her family. He realized doing so would only hurt her chances of going