Posted on: Thursday, May 29, 2003

Ching's accident wakes up Wilton

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

In the aftermath of his former player's serious moped accident, University of Hawai'i men's volleyball coach Mike Wilton has vowed to wear a safety helmet when he rides.

"I plan on getting (a helmet) after I get back," said Wilton, who leaves this week for a one-week vacation in California.

Tony Ching, an All-America outside hitter who completed his NCAA eligibility last month, suffered injuries to his head, left lung and both legs from a moped accident Friday. He is recovering in The Queen's Medical Center.

Ching was not wearing a helmet. During Saturday's news conference, Dr. Deborah Greene, the hospital's neurointensivist, lobbied for a helmet law in Hawai'i.

For a motorcyclist or moped rider involved in an accident, not wearing a helmet is "a frequent reason for patients to come to our intensive-care unit," Greene said, adding, "Tony was very lucky. ... He needs to wear a helmet."

Wilton, like many of his players, uses a moped as primary transportation.

"I live close to the school and there are hardly any cars on the road when I go to work (at 5:30 a.m.)," said Wilton, a resident of St. Louis Heights. "I don't have to deal with any traffic. It's still not an excuse for not wearing a helmet."

When asked why he has avoided wearing one, Wilton said, "No good reason. Meaculpa."

UH has had a long history of moped problems. Two years ago, several football starters, including defensive end Travis Laboy and quarterback Nick Rolovich, suffered moped-related injuries. Wideout Mark Tate missed the 2002 season because of a leg injury suffered in a moped accident, prompting head coach June Jones to ban his players from riding mopeds during the season.

In 1991, Bob Wagner, who was UH's football coach at the time, assigned assistant Chris Smeland to serve as the team's "moped coach."

Wilton does not favor restricting his players from mopeds, but acknowledged, "Obviously, one knee-jerk response is, 'Those darn mo-peds. Nobody should ride one.' "

He argued: "There are other factors. From a financial standpoint, you can buy an OK used moped for what it costs to park a car on campus (for a year). You're talking $350-plus to park a car, and a moped costs $70 a year (in UH parking). No insurance is required for a moped. I spend a dollar a week on gas. So that's the deal."

But Wilton added: "I recognize they're dangerous. You can be totally obedient to traffic laws, and yet, if a car screws up, you lose. That's just a fact."