Firecrackers

[makbike]

I decided to go out for quick spin this evening. I was about 2 miles from my house, riding on the shoulder of a busy road when a green pickup passed me and out of the passenger window came a string of live firecrackers. They exploded in front of my bike scaring me to death. The truck then took off making it impossible for me to get the plate number. Unfortunately for them, fortunately for me I saw the truck pull into the driveway of a colleague. I made my way up to the house, found the truck pulled in the back with not a soul around. I rang the bell, no answer so I calmly called 911 and requested an officer so that I could file a complaint. I rang the bell again, no answer. Eventuall two young men came out of the house and I asked who owned the truck, one claimed ownership. I then asked who tossed the firecrackers and the other one admitted to it. I then informed them I had called the police and was simply waiting for an officer. They told me it was an accident, the firecrackers weren't intended for me but the guy in the back (there was no one in the bed of the truck when they passed me). I told them to save it and share their story with the police, I really wasn't interested, simply very angry. It was at this point I went into the "do you realize you could have caused me to have an accident" mode. In the meantime the youngest son arrives home, they explain what has happened and he simply says "you all are so stupid" and walks into the house. Before I left the young men again apologized and told me the firecrackers weren't intended for me but for the "guy in the back" to which I replied "there was no one in the bed of the truck." They told me he was in the back seat. I stopped them and asked "let me get this straight, you were tossing live firecrackers into the cab of the truck?? Oh my gosh, all I could do was shake my head and tell them for college students who were suppose to be intelligent that was one of the dumbest things I've heard. Maybe I'm getting old but please those firecracker were tossed at me, they know it, I know it and the police office knows it. Before I departed I explain to them that as I cyclist I'm entitled to the road and they actions could have had some serious ramification had I lost control of my bike. The police office simply let me vent, again complimented me and wished me a good ride. I simply headed home for it was too late to get any miles in before the sun called it a day.

I was given the names of the three young men and encouraged to make a visit to the county attorneys office tomorrow to file a complaint. The office was as helpful as he could be, complimented me on how calm I was and told me he would file an incident report. I'll make the trip into town tomorrow and see what I need to do and what they think will come of this.

[Denise223]

Dear Makbike:

I am very sorry to hear about what happened to you this evening .

Before I departed I explain to them that as I cyclist I'm entitled to the road and they actions could have had some serious ramification had I lost control of my bike.

I am extremely happy to hear that you are physically okay.
Please do keep us all abreast on how you make out tomorrow at the county attorney's office.

Wishing you & yours a peaceful evening!

Denise

[tprevost]

MB,

I am so glad you weren't hurt in this incident! How did those guys get into a college given that they are so STUPID!!!????? UGH!

I commend you for your follow up; I'm sure they thought that you wouldn't or couldn't do anything about it... hopefully next time they will think twice before being such idiots.

Again, I'm really sorry you had to go through this!

Tracy

[Bad JuJu]

Jeez, I got angry just reading about that! Kudos to you for remaining so calm and clearheaded through it all. And what a couple of knuckleheads you had to deal with?

Glad to hear you're OK, and I hope you'll let us know what comes of your complaint to the police.

[donnambr]

I am also glad to hear you are ok. I hope you follow up on it. In the long run, you will be doing those young men a service by holding them accountable for their actions.

[Lise]

MB, I am really impressed with your calm presence of mind and focus. Good for you. Keep us posted. Stay safe. Lise

[Brandi]

I do a job that puts me right in the middle of the public. Once I had some kids throw stuff at my art. The client had them arrested ( I don't think they went down town or anything) but the client was really upset. Well these two boy's who were like 17 years old had to do community service. Well I was part of the community service. They had to come help us. It was great! They had much more appreciation for what we were doing after they had to spend 6 hours with us. To bad you can't do something like that with them.
I hate it by the way, when a car drives up behind me and honks just to scare me! I can't imagine what a bunch of firecracker's would do to my nerves! I am glad you are ok!!!

[DrBee]

MB - I'm so glad you're okay. That must have been scary! You're composure and focus is amazing. Let us know how it goes today.

[Tater]

Glad to hear that you are physically okay. Kudos for staying calm!

[mimitabby]

You did well. I hate firecrackers.

[SadieKate]

I also commend you for your follow-up but I have to throw some cold water on the elation due to your confrontation without law enforcement present. This was extremely risky. There are b'zillions of stories by folks who have a violent response when talking even in a reasonable tone to offenders. Follow-up from a safe distance, always remain respectful and wait for law enforcement. You describe it as the "house of a colleague." In my world, that means you know the person only at work and truly have no idea who and what may lurk at home, such as unsupervised teenagers at home during the day drinking or doing drugs.

I hate posted stories of cyclists killed because we are all at risk every day of our lives whether we are on our bikes, in our cars, or out walking. The "stay safe" declarations are true no matter what, but please don't go looking for trouble. You were very lucky.

From the Martinez Gazette, Thursday, June 15, 2006
By Ben Bush, Staff Reporter

DETAILS EMERGE IN ROAD RAGE DEATH

Kit Kohler, the brother of Thomas Cooney, the bicyclist who died following an apparent road rage incident on May 31, explained that Cooney likely died not from a physical fight with a driver but from an apparent collision when the driver got out of his car attempting to stop him. While biking down Alhambra Avenue, Cooney believed that a driver in a black pickup truck had cut him off. Kohler recalled the driver's version of events as told to him by the police. The driver claims that Cooney punched and then spit on him through the truck window while biking alongside the vehicle. The driver pulled over further up the road, got out of his vehicle and stood in the road gesturing for Cooney to stop. The two collided and Cooney flipped over, landing on his head and sustaining severe injuries. "The driver tried to stop Tom and Tom tried to get around him, and they collided," said Kohler.

Cooney was transported to John Muir Medical Center, where he died the following day. According to Kohler, the police confirmed that Cooney had been wearing a helmet at the time of the incident. "Apparently, the helmet split or broke," Kohler said, "he hit hard enough to do that."

According to Kohler, when police arrived on the scene, *Cooney lay in the far left lane on Alhambra Avenue at the junction with Berellessa, on the opposite side of the road from the bike lane. This as led to speculation that Cooney had veered away from the driver and that the driver had gone out of his way to chase Cooney across the street to block him.

[makbike]

SadieKate: Thanks for the concern but I know this colleague quite well. I've taught her kids, attended her husband funeral , attend school functions at her home, etc. In this case I felt very safe where I was but I do appreciate your words of worrying. Had it been a stranger's house I would have waited at the entrance to the drive for the officer for I hate confrontations and know there are some very crazy people out there.

I did file the compliant today and my gut feeling is nothing will come of it given I did not suffer any injuries nor was my bike wrecked. However, if the county attorney does wish to take this I'm going to ask that he assign these young men to some community service, working with individuals who have suffered brain injuries. I guess all I can do now is wait and see what the attorney decides to do with my compliant.