Accident can’t keep cyclist down
TAYLOR — Just a year after an accident in downtown Taylor nearly cost bicyclist Carla Hoffman her life, she is riding again, building friendships with rescuers and ramping up her community service.
Determination and perseverance have helped her get through the past 12 months, a period in which she refused to allow a brush with death to cripple her physically and mentally, friends and supporters said.
They note that just 90 days after the life-altering incident in which a car struck and dragged the cyclist, Hoffman was back on her bike for the 55-mile Texas Mamma Jamma Ride to benefit breast-cancer care.
“Some people would call me hardheaded,” she said with a laugh. “The bicycle obviously helped save my life from mental health and some things I was going through. Being on the bike is like my medicine.”
Once the doctor told her she would be able to get back to pedaling, Hoffman knew she would ride again no matter how long it took.
“I plan to be stronger than I was before the accident,” she said.
MOVINGAHEAD
Hoffman is not one to let even a debilitating accident slow her down, said friends and supporters who noted her many accomplishments during the last 12 months
(Carla Hoffman) has always been very passionate about working with kids and bikes.”
— JULIE RYDELL, GOOD LIFE TAYLOR, TEXAS after the mishap and well before.
Last year, the Taylor Area Businesswomen recognized Hoffman as Taylor Woman of the Year for “her exceptional qualities of leadership and integrity,” according to the officials.
The honor is a sign she is moving in the right direction despite what she endured after the deadly episode on a downtown street, Hoffman said.
“It felt good. It reaffirmed that I was doing the right things in the community and taking this accident and making the best of it,” she said. “It feels good that the community respects that in a way and shows how hard I have worked this past year.”
In addition, Hoffman has been lauded for community service and volunteer hours with the Bill Pickett Foundation, Good Life Taylor, Tx and raising thousands for the Mamma Jamma Ride benefiting the Big Pink Bus, which offers low-cost or free mammograms.
The accident also led Hoffman to spearhead a helmet drive in which more than 100 sets of protective headgear went to children free of charge, as well as providing helmets for kids getting a bike in the Bill Pickett Angel Tree program.
LASTINGFRIENDSHIPS
On June 14, 2024, Hoffman suffered severe injuries after she was dragged under a car on North Main Street in the early morning. She was pedaling west on Third Street when a black sedan headed east on Third turned north onto North Main, striking Hoffman in the intersection, according to police.
“People say it’s like an out-of-body experience, kind of like a dream-state. I remember it, but it was like I was dreaming basically,” Hoffman said, recalling the accident.
Hoffman was pulled along under the car about 100 feet before the vehicle could stop. Witnesses rushed to help pull the her out.
The injuries proved extensive. She suffered a fractured femur, a wrist fracture, four rib fractures, a collapsed lung, pelvic fractures, liver laceration and severe road rash to her face and shoulder. She spent 10 days in an intensive care unit and a week in a rehab hospital.
“I’m thankful everyday for the good Samaritans that stepped into action that morning, stopping the car and rushing to lift it off of me just like my helmet,” Hoffman said. “Without them in the right place at the right time, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Mark Anthony Palacios, who was on his way to work when he witnessed the incident, helped extricate Hoffman.
They have stayed in touch. “To overcome all of these obstacles that she’s faced over the past year, she’s wonderful,” he said. “I’m honored to have her as a friend, a lifelong friend.”
Cindy Lopez with Williamson County Emergency Services, who responded to the scene and feared the worst, said she was pleasantly surprised when she checked on Hoffman a few days later.
“She was up and moving,” Lopez said. “She was in good spirits...I was pretty amazed at how she was doing.”
Lopez said Hoffman stood out from other patients because of her humor while recovering. Those visits led to a lasting friendship.
“(Hoffman is) truly an inspiration. She’s a true warrior,” Lopez said. “This is not something that’s easy to overcome. She’s a fighter for sure.”
Hoffman said the near tragedy has yielded some friendships that continue to grow, including with Palacios and Lopez.
“I have enjoyed keeping in touch with them and gaining new friends for life throughout my recovery,” Hoffman said.
HELPINGOTHERS
In addition to creating new friendships, Hoffman said she found ways to raise awareness and help prevent future accidents.
“I will always remember the moment in the hospital my family showed me the helmet I was wearing that undoubtedly saved my life,” she said. “I knew I wanted to start a program giving helmets away to kids that very second.”
Hoffman partnered with Julie Rydell, of Good Life Taylor, Tx, to host events and promote bike safety.
“(Hoffman) has always been very passionate about working with kids and bikes. It’s just a natural thing for her to want to work on,” Rydell said.
Rydell said after Hoffman’s accident, the community showed a lot of support, and Hoffman wanted to pay it forward. A helmet drive was the first step. During the Taylor Independent School District backpack drive in August, dozens of helmets were given to students.
The helmet drive was started through a grant by Central Texas Network Weavers.
Tia Stone, president and CEO of the Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce, worked with the Taylor Rotary Club to help get helmets the first year.
In addition, Good Life partnered with the Taylor Parks and Recreation Department to host a bike rodeo in March 2024.
Houston Fish Law, a firm that specializes in bicycle accidents, sponsored the purchase of helmets for the 2025 bike rodeo. Good Life also worked with the Texas Department of Transportation.
The bike rodeos included stations that gave information on bike safety including turn signals, always wearing a helmet, reminders about looking both directions and other important safety tips.
Hoffman has played a key role in local bike-awareness events, Rydell said.
“She’s a complete inspiration,” Rydell said. “She wanted to be there.”
To help educate young riders, Hoffman showed off her helmet to help emphasize why wearing sturdy headgear is crucial to cyclists’ protection.
LOVEOFCYCLING
According to Hoffman’s mother, Joan Maxfield, Hoffman became interested in bikes after high school. Her brother worked at a bike shop in San Antonio, which piqued the sister’s interest.
“For her it’s just a joy for her to ride,” Maxfield said.
Maxfield was on vacation with her son when she heard about the accident, and rushed back to be with her daughter.
“I was just so happy that she was alive,” Maxfield said. “I couldn’t believe that this had happened.”
As a nurse practitioner, Maxfield spent much of her time with Hoffman, including during her daughter’s convalescence at Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital in Round Rock. The mother said she was helping make sure everything went well and to clarify explanations from the doctor.
“She had some great nurses there at Seton Williamson,” Maxfield said. “They took really good care of her in the ICU at Seton Williamson, but it doesn’t hurt to have a nurse in the room to make sure things are going well.”
When riding was taken away from Hoffman, she not only battled with injuries, but with stressful days.
Hoffman recalled waking up having a panic attack at the hospital, but calmed down once she saw her boyfriend Gerald Anderson, a former Taylor City Council member, resting on the floor next to her.
“He stood by me on good days, bad days,” she said. “It’s been incredible having him there for me.”
The accident happened on Anderson’s birthday. Hoffman had just left Anderson’s house, and he was starting his morning walk. Anderson made it to the scene shortly after the car was lifted off Hoffman.
“The only way I can describe it is she was destroyed,” he said after seeing her injuries at the scene.
Yet in spite of the trauma, Hoffman displayed good humor with medical staff, visitors and loved ones as she recovered at the hospital, he added.
“The crazy thing about it was...she was making jokes,” Anderson said. “She kept my mind and their minds off it by being fully engaged with everybody around her.”
Anderson and Maxfield took shifts being in the hospital with Hoffman to make sure someone was always there when she woke up or when she needed help with simple tasks such as going to the bathroom or getting a drink of water.
During his time at City Hall, Anderson made bike safety one of his priorities; Hoffman’s accident occurred the morning after a City Council discussion about bicycle lanes.
Hoffman said motorists need to be more aware of cyclists.
“Bikes are allowed to ride on the road. I try my hardest to stay safe,” she said.
While she struggles with the memory of what happened that fateful June morning, Hoffman said she is blessed to be alive.
“I just set my sights on a goal. It’s taken a year to get there, but I feel like I’ve reached it being determined,” she said.
Maxfield knew it was just a matter of time before Hoffman would get back on her bike.
“It was hard, but I do believe she had to make that decision...I’m just so proud of her for pushing through the difficult days and difficult times. She is one of the strongest persons I know,” Maxfield said.
In preparation for the Mamma Jamma Ride, Hoffman worked with local trainer April Green to restore her endurance and get herself back into shape.
“When something like (the accident) happens, it’s easy to take the love for it away from you,” Anderson said. “She took the opposite approach and now she’s back riding her bike. It’s inspiring to anyone who knows her and even those who don’t know her ... they’ll be inspired by her toughness and perseverance.”
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