By ELLIE MALCHIONE
Assistant news editor
Poly students and faculty have been missing Tom Allard’s familiar and friendly face on campus in the past few weeks. Middle and Upper School technical theater teacher, Allard was caught in an unfortunate motorcycle accident on Saturday, May 3.
After a matinee showing of Poly’s spring musical, The Pajama Game, he headed to North Hollywood to support a friend’s work in an art gallery. Allard’s accident occurred on his way home that evening.
Running a red light, a young woman struck Allard as he was going through the intersection of Cahuenga Boulevard and Oxnard Street. Fortunately, a nurse who was on the scene was able to help Allard until the paramedics arrived.
Upon arrival at a local hospital, he underwent surgery, which lasted from midnight until four in the morning. The severest of Allard’s injuries include three breaks in one of his legs.
“I’m just glad he’s alive,” comments Cynthia Crass, drama teacher and chair of the school’s Performing Arts Department. “Maybe now he’ll stop riding that stupid bike.”
The majority of motorcycle accidents come from the failure of motorists to detect and recognize the smaller vehicles. Because motorcycles offer very limited protection in crashes, approximately 80% of motorcycle accidents result in severe injury or death.
The following Friday, Allard was moved to a Kaiser Permanente location closer to home. He is now recovering at a friend’s house with regular visits from a nurse and a physical therapist. He is already making much improvement.
“He’s in really good spirits: he’s making jokes, and every time I talk to him he’s stronger,” says close friend and fellow Poly technical theater teacher Richard Sherrell.
According to Crass, Allard is using the opportunity to spend time with his sister, and holds no resentment towards the woman involved. Even so, Allard’s story emphasizes the need to drive safely and be aware of smaller vehicles such as motorcycles, which can often hide in the blind spots of larger cars.
Thankfully, Allard’s well-known manner of making any situation positive is clearly spilling over to his recovery. “He’s all about making lemonade out of lemons… that’s just what Tom does,” Crass adds.
After ten days at a friend’s house, Allard plans on moving back home to his apartment. The Poly community should keep an eye out for a possible appearance at commencement in June. Also, Crass and Director of Technology John Yen are trying to obtain a computer to give to Allard so that he can receive get-well emails from the Poly community.
“His absence is definitely missed,” Sherrell concludes. “We’re all looking forward to his return next year.”
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