5 cyclists struck by hit-&-run driver

[shootingstar]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1224721/

The driver later turned himself in to the police.

Ottawa cyclists were embarking on a 150 km. ride yesterday.

[witeowl]

Wow, that's atrocious. I can't for the life of me figure out how he managed to hit five cyclists in one fell swoop. I'm glad he turned himself in, and I'm horrified to think of how the six lives will be affected.

This comment, by the ironically-named "gentle reader" gave me pause:

Cars and SUVs should be mandated to carry explosive under the driver's seat that is wired for detonation instead of air bags. Drivers would be v-e-r-y careful and we would never see "accidents" such as this.

[gavin_m]

Brutal. There is a really awful picture floating around of someone hitting a group of bikers.

[shootingstar]

Another article, where a 6th cycling friend who missed the ride, went to the scene.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1224074/

This friend was a doctor.

[Zen]

Brutal. There is a really awful picture floating around of someone hitting a group of bikers.

we've seen it. Leave it out, please.

[sundial]

All five were thrown off the bikes and knocked unconscious at the scene.

How fast was he driving?? Was he drunk?

[Geonz]

Given that he plowed into all five of them and they were in a dedicated bicycle lane, I'd say either full-blown texting (as in, eyes removed from the road) or downloading ring tones or very impaired and perhaps aggressively (especially if impaired) running them down. Leaving the scene and coming back when whatever he was on wore off, perhaps...

I noticed that while there were the normal number of 'we can kill cyclists so they need to go ride in a park somewhere' posts in the comments, the "approval" and "disapproval" ticks were much nicer to note.

When we had three accidents here this past two weeks (one fatal, two serious) I suggested that I wanted an Engine Killer Ray to render trucks and vans and SUVs impotent. (This was commented as "antagonistic rhetoric" by a couple of pontificators) I dunno, maybe the explosives instead of air bags would be better...

[bmccasland]

Do the police know the cause of the accident, beside driver stupidity?


Thread drift...
I'm one of those for outlawing use of cell phones while driving, including hands free. You should be DRIVING. I find it interesting one of the biggest lobby groups fighting ban are cell phone companies. Until they rig my car to have a totaly hands free cell phone where I just talk to the air, I'm going to have to look at something to use the dang thing, which means I'm not looking at the road.

Drifting back....
I hope the cyclists recover, the idiot driver has the book thrown at him, and his assests are sufficient to cover all their costs - medical and bikes.

[Geonz]

Do the police know the cause of the accident, beside driver stupidity?


Thread drift...
I'm one of those for outlawing use of cell phones while driving, including hands free. You should be DRIVING. I find it interesting one of the biggest lobby groups fighting ban are cell phone companies. Until they rig my car to have a totaly hands free cell phone where I just talk to the air, I'm going to have to look at something to use the dang thing, which means I'm not looking at the road.

Drifting back....
I hope the cyclists recover, the idiot driver has the book thrown at him, and his assests are sufficient to cover all their costs - medical and bikes.

Driven to Distraction
Drivers and Legislators Dismiss Cellphone Risks
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/te...racted.html?em

Driven to Distraction
U.S. Withheld Data on Risks of Distracted Driving
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/te...racted.html?em

[polaris]

I've posted a link to this incident on another thread. The local paper reported that the driver supposedly frequently worked overtime. Perhaps he fell asleep at the wheel. Or he was phoning/texting wifey that he was almost home. He can't use the *the sun was in my eyes* excuse as he was heading west. How in the **** he could plow into five cyclists, and they think he dragged a couple of bikes for a distance, not to mention the flying bikes/bodies, and continue on home! What really burns me is that he'll probably get off with a slap on the wrist.

[Geonz]

Yup. What burns me, as well, is that the driver's license is taken as a right adn even a need -- a fundamental requirement for living.
This means anybody trying to get along without one ... welp, what's wrong with us???
It also means that nobody wants to deprive anybody -- for whatever reason -- of their license to drive or their car. (People with disdain for the law who'd cause injuries with their cars are rather likely not to care whether they're driving with a license or not, so I'd just as soon the car got impounded, too.)
Thus, we're not expected to have to control our cars. It's "oh, accidents happen. It's all very sad, but it can't be helped."
I am sorry, if it' can't be helped, then you shouldn't be driving. We should have alternatives- driving is a very challenging task! - but killing somebody shouldn't be met with the same regret as letting the hair clog the drain.

[shootingstar]

I've posted a link to this incident on another thread. The local paper reported that the driver supposedly frequently worked overtime. Perhaps he fell asleep at the wheel. Or he was phoning/texting wifey that he was almost home. He can't use the *the sun was in my eyes* excuse as he was heading west. How in the **** he could plow into five cyclists, and they think he dragged a couple of bikes for a distance, not to mention the flying bikes/bodies, and continue on home! What really burns me is that he'll probably get off with a slap on the wrist.

It's a constant missing gap/flaw in our law.. It would require active group from cycling community to lobby for legislative change, with support of lawyers specialized in personal injury...and knowledge of cycling itself. There are lawyers that do specifically advertise their legal expertise and do write articles for the cycling community to explain the limits of law. This is the level of expertise that is required to start concrete change in law and attitudes.

Probably a good example how cyclists and pedestrians are marginalized ..in the eyes of the law.