I've never been so afraid to ride on the road

[OakLeaf]

I'm so sorry, zoom-zoom. Hugs and healing thoughts to you, the families and the witnesses.

[Crankin]

I understand how you feel. I started a century 2 years ago, where 2 women got killed. We were just far enough back, that we didn't see it happen, but we knew something bad had happened. We had to re-route ourselves and at the 40 mile mark, I let my attention wander a bit and hit DH, which ended our ride. We learned about what had happened in the support van, that took us and our damaged bikes back. I saw those women in front of me, picking up our packets. It is quite likely that we would have been victims or very near the crash, if DH had not stopped to pee at mile 15.
I was really shaken up and had some acute stress disorder symptoms for a couple of days. I have not done a big organized ride since. It didn't stop me from riding my normal routes with my friends, alone, or leading groups (small), but the incident totally made me lose my desire for large events.

[lauraelmore1033]

That's so awful! Dealing with very similar feelings myself these days...

[Crankin]

I knew that I certainly did not want to stop riding, and I also knew the symptoms were normal. Plus, this was all over the news, locally and nationally, so it was like talking about it/seeing it discussed helped me process. I took some short, fun, easy rides for about a week, and then I was back to normal.

[zoom-zoom]

I'll be headed to our shop ride in a couple of hours. I'm hoping that will help knock me out of the funk. I've been angry today. Apparently the motorist contacted an attorney and has turned themselves in as of noon today. The attorneys' statement is disgusting. I know it's their job to try to make their client pitied and not look at fault...but they're claiming the responsibility lies in the event (which I help organize) not providing adequate safety measures (like, what...closing 145+ miles of road to traffic or hiring snipers to take out moron motorists who can't give cyclists a safe passing distance?) and the lack of marked bike lane. Because a 6" painted lane would have prevented their client from failing to control his truck...right. Several witnesses saw this guy driving aggressively, even before the incident and afterwards. After he hit her, dragged her a ways, then sped off without stopping.

[ZoneFive]

I live in Lake Orion, and while I didn't know Susan Cummings, this hits pretty close to home on a lot of levels. I've only seen this update from the Freep; do you have any more news?

[pinsonp2]

Our Club, Downriver Cycling Club, posted the following info on Facebook:


This from one of our club members in regards to the ODRAM rider who was killed near the very beginning of the ride this past weekend.

"I just spoke with the Muskegon County Prosecutors office. Letters of concern regarding this case can be sent to the Muskegon County Prosecutors office at 990 Terrace street Muskegon MI 49442. ALL LETTERS WILL BE READ AND ADDED TO THE CASE FILE. The prosecutor's office assured me they hope to fight this to the full extent of the law."

Here is all the pertinent contact information if you'd like to convey your thoughts to the prosecutor's office:


Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson
990 Terrace St., 5th Floor
Muskegon, MI 49442
Phone 231.724.6435
Fax 231.724.6685

Website: http://www.co.muskegon.mi.us/prosecutor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muskegonpro...c_location=ufi

Twitter: @djhilsonpros


P2

[zoom-zoom]

I live in Lake Orion, and while I didn't know Susan Cummings, this hits pretty close to home on a lot of levels. I've only seen this update from the Freep; do you have any more news?

All of the articles floating around pretty much say nothing of substance. Of course the defense attny specializes in hit-and-run and is trying to make a case that country roads without formal bike lanes would have made all the difference. No, dipschit, your client actually watching the road would have prevented this senseless loss. We lived in the town where this happened for 13 years. We rode on that road all the time. Where the collision happened there are clean lines of sight down a gradual downhill. This happened because he was likely going too fast and not looking at the road. I hope they are looking at cell phone records.

There was a statement that they had ruled out alcohol. I really don't know how that is possible when it appears that he only turned himself in 48 hours or so after the incident. How can authorities even make this claim...?