What do you think of someone who would hit a cyclist (me) and then leave the scene? Talk about crazy drivers! Homicidal driver!
A week ago this very night! It seems like longer. I was on RAGBRAI, in the overnight town, heading back to my campsite. It was night, but I had an array of lights on the back panniers of my bike. Flashing, blinking, all with new batteries. Plus a bright headlight on front. Plus a large, reflective safety triangle in the middle of the back of the bike. Riding uphill, on the side of the road. So not going fast at all! One friend behind me. He saw it happen. A car came flying up the hill, sideswiped my rear pannier, sent my bike and me airborne and kept going. There is no way the driver didn't realize he hit something. I had an 80 lb. loaded touring bike. The mirror from the car was found at the scene. Three of my panniers flew off the bike, one of which broke open. My rear rim was taco'ed. Front is probably too far gone to trued, also. Frame is dented, but might be okay. Left pedal shaft is bent down towards the ground. My left ankle was my worst injury, but to see that pedal in that condition was really frightening! A couple driving up the road stopped, called 911, helped gather up all my stuff. The ambulance came, whisked me away to the hospital, they x-rayed my left ankle and right elbow, nothing was broken. I was SO LUCKY! Lots and lots of bruises, tho, and aches and pains. Very swollen ankle, but not even sprained. The friend I had been riding with called his group. They picked up my bike (which was not rideable) and all my stuff, took me to where they were staying and I got to stay in a house and sleep on a couch instead of camping. Very nice people! I had bad dreams for the next few nights, believe me! Even tho' I didn't actually see what happened, I remembered the impact and flying through the air and then not knowing at first if I was okay or not. Very scary! Very, very scary. I guess it took me this long to post about it because I really didn't want to re-live it. Now I'm better with it. I've been out riding again, more than once, on a different bike. My ankle, while still not normal, is improving. All is well. I just wish they would find the driver that did it! I've been in touch with the officer that interviewed me that night and he says he's had some leads, but nothing has panned out. My feeling is that the more time goes by, the less likely they are to find anything. There was no fatality. I am not terribly injured. I suspect they'll just let it fade away. So there's my "crazy" driver story, ladies. I sincerely hope none of you experiences anything like it. There's no moral to the story....... I don't know that I could have done anything to avoid the accident short of not being there at that time, and who can predict such a thing! Just be careful everyone!! Take care of yourselves.
annie
annie
