This week has been a very upsetting one for Texas cyclists with the death of Houston cyclist, Leigh Boone, the accident involving local cyclist, Anthony Kaim, and the struggles with the Safe Passing Bill in the House. I read about Anthony's accident on Austin 360's Fit City blog and just now took a stroll on over to read the comments. I was quite taken aback by the number of comments saying how lucky he is to be alive (which is true) and the sentiment that his accident just goes to prove that cyclists do not belong on highways. Why does it have to be such an uphill battle all the time?
Thoughts go out to the families, friends and communities of the following cyclists who died in or as the result of this week.
Chandler man dies in car-bicycle accident
by Cathryn Creno - Apr. 17, 2009 09:48 AM
The Arizona Republic
A 43-year-old Chandler man died Sunday after his bicycle and a car collided on Maricopa Road on the Gila River Indian Community, tribal police said Thursday. Alia Maisonet, community public information officer, said Michael Gray was dead at the scene, in front of the Koli Equestrian Center, when medics arrived about 3 p.m. The Maricopa County Medical Examiners Office said Thursday that Gray died of "multiple blunt force injuries." "The investigation revealed the victim was struck by a vehicle driven by a white male non-community member," she said in a statement. "Alcohol may have been a contributing factor."
Stuart Man Killed In Bicycle Accident
posted 04/17/09 7:29am
Arpelar, OK - (AP) A 72-year-old Hughes County man has been killed in a bicycle accident in Pittsburg County. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says Charles Gore of Stuart died in the accident on U.S. Highway 270 near Arpelar in western Pittsburg County. Troopers say Gore was riding westbound on the highway when the bike overturned and he hit his head on the pavement. Investigators say the state medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death.
Canton man killed in bicycle accident
By Beacon Journal staff
POSTED: 09:04 a.m. EDT, Apr 13, 2009
A 49-year-old Stark County man died Sunday after crashing his bicycle on South Royal Avenue Northeast near 25th Street. Michael Callaway of Kalahari Street Northeast in Canton was riding southbound when when the right pedal of the bike apparently struck a clay sewer pipe, causing him to fall, the county coroner's office said today. There were no witnesses to the accident. Callaway, who was found lying in the street, was pronounced dead at Mercy Medical Center at 6:16 p.m.
West Palm Beach area school boy killed by SUV driver.
2009-04-16 01:18:51 (GMT)
JusticeNewsFlash.com - Justice News Flash, Personal Injury
West Palm Beach, FL (JusticeNewsFlash.com)–An SUV killed a little boy riding his bicycle to school this morning in Palm Beach County, Florida. Julio Chino was on his way to Berkshire Elementary School where he was a fifth grade student, when the fatal SUV accident occurred. The automobile accident took place at the intersection of Military Trail and Summit Blvd. According to the Palm Beach Post, the tragedy happened around 7:41 a.m., when Chino was crossing traffic. As the young school boy rode his bicycle across the street at Summit, he was hit by the SUV truck driver. Authorities stated the boy had been struck, thrown underneath the SUV, and dragged over 25 feet. Read more.
No citations expected in fatal bike crash south of Madison
By Tom Held of the Journal Sentinel
Apr. 17, 2009 4:47 p.m.
Based on the preliminary investigation, authorities expect no citations will be issued in the fatal car and bicycle collision in southern Dane County Thursday. It appears the cyclist, a 68-year-old woman, pedaled into the path of a car that was southbound on Highway 14, at the intersection with Rutland Rd., according to Elise Schaffer, public information officer for the sheriff's department. The cyclist was eastbound on Rutland Rd., less than a quarter mile from home, and appeared to be crossing into the northbound lane of Highway 14. She died of the injuries suffered in the crash about 3 p.m. Thursday. The identity of the victim was not made available Friday morning. The motorist, a 73-year-old woman from Beloit, had little opportunity to avoid the cyclist, according to Schaffer. The Dane County victim is the first cyclist killed on a Wisconsin roadway in 2009. The Department of Transportation recorded eight cyclist fatalities in 2008, slightly below the five-year average of 11.
Please note that there are probably more fatalities that my alert didn't pick up. Please comment with others. Thanks.
