another cyclist hit by car

Updated: 10:39 AM Aug 2, 2011
Former Lions QB Harrington Hit By SUV
Joey Harrington is hospitalized with a broken collar bone and other injuries after being hit by a sport utility vehicle while bicycling.
Posted: 9:25 AM Aug 2, 2011
Reporter: Associated Press





Former Oregon Ducks and NFL quarterback Joey Harrington was injured when he was hit by a sport utility vehicle while bicycling in southeast Portland on Sunday night.

Harrington is hospitalized with a broken collar bone, a punctured lung and a cut on his head. He is expected to remain in the hospital until Tuesday.

Portland police say the 33-year-old Harrington was hit from behind by a passing SUV driven by a 26-year-old man who remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. The man was cited for following too close.

Harrington led the Ducks to victory in the Fiesta Bowl his senior season and was a Heisman Trophy finalist. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions and played for three other teams over eight seasons in the NFL.

Eeeesh, these kind of posts scare me. I have not been riding for too long, but the cars coming from behind give me the creeps.

What is it with all the drivers hitting cyclists from behind lately? :eek: Used to be that people said that being rear-ended on a bike was a very rare occurrence, but lately I've read several threads on cycling forums where someone was hit from behind.

This is why I always ride with a mirror. Unfortunately I don't always use it when I'm suffering up a climb and have my head down.

Not saying that this incident was from distracted driving but with the prolifiration of texting, email and smart phones + more riders out riding the chance for this to happen will be greater and not lesser. I spend more and more time out on dirt roads in my community or non motorized paths. Not to say that there aren't wild drivers going much too fast for conditions on these roads but there are just less of them.

This area of Foster Rd. in Portland is NOTORIOUSLY bad for cyclists. It is known by many who cycle in the area. Of course that's no excuse for a motorist. The local coverage on the news stated that they were both riding into the sun and apparently the driver just did not see Harrington. It can happen. Harrington's father said during his press conference, that his son advocates to all "Wear your helmet" (he was).

I try not to ride into the sun for that reason. Even as a driver it's hard to see into the sun.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by luv2climb

This is why I always ride with a mirror. Unfortunately I don't always use it when I'm suffering up a climb and have my head down.

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I can't count the number of times my mirror has save me. The latest, on my commute home last Saturday. I'm in the right turn lane, driver pulls in behind me, can't wait 5 seconds for me to make the turn, whips around me and turns when I'm less than ten feet from the corner. If I hadn't seen him and anticipated his bone head move . . . he would have totally right hooked me! :mad: I may be a dork with a mirror but at least I'm a live dork with a mirror. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bikerHen

I can't count the number of times my mirror has save me. The latest, on my commute home last Saturday. I'm in the right turn lane, driver pulls in behind me, can't wait 5 seconds for me to make the turn, whips around me and turns when I'm less than ten feet from the corner. If I hadn't seen him and anticipated his bone head move . . . he would have totally right hooked me! :mad: I may be a dork with a mirror but at least I'm a live dork with a mirror. :D

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Yikes! Glad you were able to avoid an accident. In addition to a mirror I record all my rides with a handlebar-mounted camera. Not only do I capture boneheaded motorist, cyclist, and pedestrian moves, but I get some other interesting footage too.