Community to help woman seriously injured in crash that killed...

STATESVILLE, N.C. — Last August, Robinette Tilley and her husband, Don Tilley, were riding their Harley on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville on the way back to their Statesville home when they crashed.

Don Tilley was killed and Robinette Tilley was seriously injured.

The community is coming together to help Robinette Tilley, who has mounting medical costs due to her injuries.

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She told Channel 9 on Friday that she doesn't know what caused the crash, and doesn't even remember it.

"I mean I didn't see it coming and the next thing I knew I was in ICU," she said. "I had to come home to an empty house, that has been the hardest."

She suffered an injured spine, broken pelvis, broken arm and more.

She spent six months in and out of hospitals and rehab.

She almost died a second time from the flu and double pneumonia.

During this time, the biking and NASCAR communities were supporting the longtime owners of two local Harley Davidson stores.

With mounting medical bills, the family said a scheduled benefit ride called Ride for Robinette is right on time.

"The life insurance policy is being contested and until they clear that we don't even have that," said daughter Donna Tilley Pierce. "We've got Medicare and AARP."

The family told Channel 9 that Medicare won't pay for a possible stem cell procedure the family is exploring to help Robinette Tilley recover.

The great-grandmother remains hopeful.

"I've come back a long way and I'm still here and I'm thankful for that," Robinette Tilley said.

"Her attitude is 99 percent of her getting better and with that being said I'm going to do everything in my power to get her better," Pierce said.

The Ride for Robinette is May 17.

For more information, contact Harley Davidson of Statesville at 704-872-3883.