OMG! Hugs for Australia

[RoadRaven]

I'm sorry folks

I don't know where to post this... crazy drivers, Australia, Press releases..........

I came here looking for answers and am stunned to see no thread about this yet...

I am sorry if a thread has been started, but in my shock and sadness and disbelief I cannot find it.

Here is the link to an article in this mornings Sydney Herald

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/05/08/1210131112608.html?page=fullpage


A few excerpts to give you the flavour...

About 50 cyclists - including Australian racer Kate Nichols, who was injured in a 2005 German road racing crash in which a teammate was killed - have been involved in a hit-and-run crash in Sydney this morning.

Also involved in the crash, at 6.35am on Southern Cross Drive, south of the corner of Dacey Avenue in Mascot, were former Olympians Ben Kersten, Kate's father Kevin Nichols, Graeme Brown, Michelle Ferris and Matthew White.

Witnesses to the crash have told smh.com.au the group of about up to 60 professional cyclists were riding south on Southern Cross Drive, just south of Dacey Avenue, Mascot about 6.30am when a driver, agitated with being held up, accelerated in front of the pack and then slammed on his brakes, giving the riders no time to stop.

One of the group said the motorist was "worrying" the rear of the pack, then overtook, pulled in front and slammed on his brakes, giving the riders no time to stop.

"Everyone's slammed into each other ... there were broken bikes - wheels busted and wheels snapped - and people lying on the road."

Mr Cooper said" "{`Three female cyclists took the brunt of the accident, careering into the back of the braking vehicle, several of them being thrown into the air landing on the boot and roof of the car.

"A perfect example of the enmity were the jeers and taunts of several drivers (more than 3 separate drivers that I noticed) making their way past the aftermath of the accident, despite the fact that a police car and two ambulances were on the scene treating seriously injured people.

"[A] policemen informed us that the back of the group was nearly cleaned up by a semitrailer locking the brakes to avoid the suddenly halting group, with its trailer jack-knifing and sliding towards the group before being skilfully brought under control by the driver, narrowly avoiding potential fatalities,'' Mr Cooper said.

[Trekhawk]

Yep I saw that on the news last night and was shocked. Thankfully no one was seriously injured from what I heard on the news report but injuries were bad enough that one cyclist may not be able to ride in his olympic selection event.

I still find it hard to grasp that there are people out there with so little respect for human life.:(

[RoadRaven]

Oh - and angry, Trek... I forgot to say I was angry...
Particularly on behalf of Kate Nichols whose father said she had only just got back on a bike on the road last week... LAST week...
After all that girl has been through!

This is such a callous thing to do. By current accounts, this guy (yes, a man) was sober and acted deliberately...

Yes, I am sad and very very angry.

[OakLeaf]

How awful. :mad::(:mad::(:mad::(

Sending good thoughts to the injured - and hopes that the driver is caught and punished appropriately -

[Trekhawk]

Oh - and angry, Trek... I forgot to say I was angry...
Particularly on behalf of Kate Nichols whose father said she had only just got back on a bike on the road last week... LAST week...
After all that girl has been through!

This is such a callous thing to do. By current accounts, this guy (yes, a man) was sober and acted deliberately...

Yes, I am sad and very very angry.

Just getting back on a bike after the German accident shows that Kate Nichols is one brave girl. Lets hope this bugger has not stolen her joy for cycling.

[Running Mommy]

I don't know aussie laws, but i hope they throw the BOOK at that creep!

Kudo's to the semi driver tho for his skillfull driving.

[spokewench]

Sick People

[LBTC]

Heartbreaking. Thankfully not enough to break the wings of butterflies on their way to help in healing of bodies and souls.

Hugs,
~T~

[Wahine]

Raven. Thanks for posting. I am appalled. How depressing. Wishing all the cyclists a quick recovery.

[pll]

That's atrocious, unbelievable. Here's another report, from a TV station, including interviews of Kersten and Nichols:

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=459198

[Grog]

Sadly, I can believe this happened. I just can't believe how stupid some people are.

ETA: I just read the comments. Unbelievable.

[Trek420]

Very sad. And I could not bring myself to read the comments from some on the news site. The ride of Silence is soon and here's another reason to raise awareness. We've recently had our own TE'er (MM_QFC & her DP) hit and recovering.

[MM_QFC!]

oh no! and OWWWWWW! were my reflexive responses...I could only scan the info but, trust me, I got the gist of it...more cyclist senselessly mowed down - arrrrghh! To read of the human callousness is sickening too...heartfelt wishes for their recovery...
Mary

[Sheesh]

These kind of stories make me so angry!

Unfortunately, this happens in the US, too. A group of riders in Chicago-land had something similar (http://www.chicagobikeracing.com/index.php/site/post/hit_and_run_on_st_marys2/) happen this year.

[effy]

This is just unbelievable, the lack of mental capacity of that driver, to endanger so many lives because he was behind them, what an IDIOT. I'm angry beyond belief that this could happen, but it also makes me aware that there are people out there that really are dangerous and think nothing of a human life. My prayers and speedy recovery for those injured.

[GLC1968]

That is just plain sick. What complete and total disregard for human life. :eek:

Did that driver really think that causing an accident like that would get him/her to their destination any sooner? Too bad he/she had to wait a few seconds to get around the cyclists... Now I hope he/she has to wait a few YEARS in prison. :mad:

[RoadRaven]

I hope they charge this guy with attempted manslaughter.

Because thats what his actions were... an attempt on human life.

[Geonz]

I believe I read over at bikeforum that he claims to have stalled out, oh gosh, and therefore no charges are being filed. I do hope that's not true ...

[Trek420]

Depending on his car I think there are ways to check that. Some have the equivelant of a "black box" :mad:

[cyclinnewbie]

I am disgusted. I am disgusted and very very pissed off, even though I don't know any of those riders. I wonder how that jerk would feel if he had killed one (some) of those riders. Thank God the semi driver was so skillful...he saved some lives for sure.

A@@hole. I hope he gets the stiffest charge that can be thrown at him.

[sundial]

I am absolutely appalled and angered by the driver's actions. I don't know what's happened to decency, but it seems to be waning.

[smilingcat]

reading the article and watching the video really made me angry. People with road rage really need to have their license revoked.

Our culture has gotten so auto-centric that we differentiate between killing someone with a car versus killing someone with a traditional weapon: guns, knives...

I also wish that on driver tests, they need to add few questions regarding cyclist so that drivers who do not ride a bicycle understand what is allowed and not allowed for the cyclists.

My hearfelt sympathy to those injured physically and emotionally. I wish them speedy recovery.

--------------

Reading the comments of non-cyclist, I see two distinct thoughts. One is that of ignorance of not knowing what the law really says and the other is frustration with the cyclists who do not adhere to the law i.e.cyclist riding to their convenience, blowing through red lights, sidewalk/traffic, against traffic, riding in disregard to the traffic law. The two are no excuse for the road rage though.

The first can be fixed by better education, possibly adding questions to the drivers exam. public announcements (like the ones put out by the Ad Council).

The second is, the few bad apples are spoiling for the rest of the cycling community. We need to do a better job at organized ride to adhere to the law. Teach other riders on rules of the road. Don't blow through the light. Be curteous on the road. I've seen clubs holding up traffic on two lane road with long "funeral procession" behind. NOT COOL :mad: No wonder the non-cyclists get mad at ALL the cyclists.

smilingcat

[Fujichants]

This makes me sick!!

[Trek420]

OK, I'm not particularly religious, nor Catholic, or even Christian for that matter (lapsed Jewish) but this whole thing reminds me of the recent thoughts on driving by the current Pope who wrote these 10 Comandments to make the roads a little safer

I especially like; 2, 4, 5 9. This goes for the driver and the jeering crowd.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=16763

cudos and hat's off to the truck driver dude! :D

[solobiker]

That is awful. I can't believe some people. My thoughts are with everyone involved.

[pll]

The driver was charged with "failing to stop" and will appear before court in June:

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/sydney-driver-charged-over-crash-16338

[wackyjacky1]

"Failure to stop" sounds a little tame. Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon would be more fitting, eh?

[RoadRaven]

This is NUTS!
But...

Maybe they just want to charge him and get him "done" for something, before they develop a fuller case of 'intent to injure' or 'using a vehicle as a weapon' or 'attempted manslaughter' (wouldn't that be a sweet charge to file against this ar*ehole?)

Maybe they just want to get admission or recognition of guilt while the interview all the cyclists and motorists who witnessed this and c develop a really good case...

Maybe...

[horsemom]

Oh man, I am sitting here bawling. What a horrid person this driver must be.

Laura