Quarterback Roethlisberger Praises Paramedic

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is speaking out for the first time about his accident.

Roethlisberger said he was seconds away from dying.

Roethlisberger is in Lake Tahoe, Nev., for a celebrity golf outing.

The Steelers quarterback said he does not remember much about his motorcycle accident.

Roethlisberger told ESPN in a satellite feed overnight that he was "seconds, maybe minutes away from dying.”

Roethlisberger said he might have died if a paramedic did not stop bleeding in his mouth or throat.

"I remember very few things about the accident. I remember one car in front of me. I don't remember the car that hit me but I remember the car that turned in front of me. The next thing I remember is being in the ambulance asking, ‘Is this really happening? Tell me this is a bad dream.’ The guy said, ‘No. You're going to be OK.’ Then he asked me if there was anybody he wanted me to call. I gave him two numbers and I don't remember anything until I woke up after surgery. I find out more and more now that I have questions a lot more now. I found out literally how close I was, how bad it was. It’s gruesome. I don't even want to talk about it. They actually told me that I was literally seconds, maybe a minute away from dying because I slit a vein or artery in my mouth or throat. It was draining into my stomach. Luckily, the paramedic noticed it or I would have had too much blood in my stomach."

Making Progress

Wednesday marked the one-month anniversary of Ben’s motorcycle accident.

On Thursday, the pro-am portion began of the golfing outing that runs through Sunday.

The only thing that suggested his recent head trauma was a large black and blue bruise on the bridge of his nose.

Roethlisberger wasn't alone as thousands of Steelers fans followed his every move. Every time he walked outside of the ropes on his way to the next tee, Big Ben was mobbed by fans.

He was escorted everywhere by his personal bodyguard and by tournament security.

The golf outing will air on Channel 11 this weekend.

Channel 11 Sports anchor Bill Phillips will be there.

And Big Ben will be back in Pittsburgh the beginning of next week for the taping of a Poverty Neck Hillbillies music video at Heinz Field on Tuesday.

Taking Responsibility

Target 11's Rick Earle has been following the investigation of Roethlisberger’s motorcycle crash from the beginning, and on Thursday, he uncovered some new information.

Target 11 obtained paperwork and according to court documents Roethlisberger entered guilty pleas and paid the fines.

Roethlisberger signed both of the citations pleading guilty to two traffic offenses filed by Pittsburgh police after the accident.

According to the court documents, Roethlisberger sent two checks to traffic court at the Municipal Courts building.

The clerk received Roethlisberger's payments on June 27.

Roethlisberger paid one fine of $281.50 for operating a motorcycle without a motorcycle license or permit.

As Target 11 reported after the accident, Roethlisberger had a motorcycle permit at one time, but it had expired.

Roethlisberger also paid $106.50 for operating a motorcycle without a helmet.

Because Roethlisberger was not a licensed motorcyclist, he was required under the law to wear a helmet.

The driver who turned in front of Roethlisberger was cited as well.

The status of the driver’s citation is not known.

Watch Channel 11 and refresh this page for the latest from the tournament.

Copyright 2006 by . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.