Helmet saved a life, says family

Motorcyclist crashed, fell four stories

NASHUA - The family of a motorcyclist says his helmet saved his life as he fell four stories after crashing into a parking garage wall this week.

Leon Belesca, 28, of Nashua, fell over the wall and to the pavement below after his motorcycle crashed on the top floor of a parking garage early Friday.

"If he didn't have his helmet on, we wouldn't have Leon," his father, Larry Belesca, told The Telegraph.

Belesca was in serious condition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston with multiple injuries, but doctors said his prospects for recovery look good, his family said.

"He's definitely holding his own," said his sister, Meredith Belesca. "He's got broken bones from head to toe, but neurologically he's in good shape. There's no spinal damage right now, and there's no brain damage."

Police have said that Belesca was not drunk or speeding and that it is unclear what made him lose control.

Some witnesses told police that Belesca waved goodbye to friends as he was driving off, Lieutenant Bruce Hansen said. Friends told his family it appeared as though the motorcycle shot forward for no apparent reason, his sister said.

Larry Belesca said he and Belesca's sister remembered being shocked by how much money Belesca paid for his helmet, $200. They have since learned that is relatively inexpensive as helmets go.

"It's the difference between life and death," said Meredith Belesca. "It's because of that helmet that my brother didn't sustain brain damage and isn't dead."

She said that Belesca is being kept heavily sedated and that his recovery is likely to be extremely long and difficult, she said.