Advocacy & Safety - Attention Magnolia, TX riders and residents

If you are in the Magnolia, TX area please keep a lookout for a light colored (possibly tan according to one of the witnesses) late model Ford pickup with a missing passenger-side mirror. A member of our club was hit this morning by a vehicle fitting that description, and the force of the impact was enough to knock the mirror off the truck and send the rider to the hospital. This happened about 11:30 this morning on Texas 105 in front of Magnolia High School. I'm not sure if it was a full-size truck or a smaller one, and no plate number was given. I have this info second-hand, but supposedly the driver deliberately drove onto the shoulder to hit a rider that was approximately 3 feet away from the lane (the shoulder is pretty wide at that point). I know this is a long shot, but if by some chance you live or ride in that area and see a truck matching that description, please contact trooper Rodney Lott of the Texas Department of Public Safety with a plate number or some other way to identify and find the assailant, or if you prefer you can PM me with the info. Not every Ford truck with a missing mirror is guilty, but one of them is and we want to find 'em. :irritated

Someone find that scum :mad: Is your person going to be ok?

Thanks for asking... I'm getting everything second-hand but from what I've heard it's serious but not life-threatening.
[edit with update]
He has been diagnosed with a broken rib, a bruised lung and possibly a bruised kidney. His left hand was hurt and he has lots of road rash. Says it is hard to stand up. Other than that he's fine. He sounds much better than one would expect.

The Houston Chronicle ran a story in the Sunday paper regarding this incident, page 38A. Here's an excerpt with a contact number if anyone has any information:

'The Department of Public Safety described the hit-and-run vehicle as a late-model tan Ford pickup with passenger-side damage including a missing mirror. Anyone with information is asked to call 936-442-2831. [Bill] Oswald, who said he feels the crash was deliberate, plans to offer a $1,000 reward for information leading to the driver's arrest.'

Grendel -

Best wishes on your club members recovery. Occasionally I ride out there with some members of my club (SCCC), but we dont get out there very often. (Generally head to Huntsville / New Waverly if we are heading north.)

Though it hits close to home any time a rider anywhere is hit, it really tugs at me when it happens somewhere I have ridden / will ride again.

I hope he has a quick recovery - AND that that catch that scum who did this.

Well, they found the driver and the truck -- here's a couple of stories from the local papers:



By: Heather Yarbrough, HCN staff
June 11, 2003

An 81-year-old man has admitted to driving the vehicle involved in a hit-and-run accident that injured a member of The Woodlands Cycling Club early Saturday morning. James Price said he struck Bill Oswald with his Ford F150 pickup truck on Texas 105. Oswald was riding with a group of cyclists from the club near Montgomery High School when the accident occurred. Oswald sustained a bruised lung and kidney, cracked ribs and extensive road rash, according to Bruce Cunningham, a member of the cycling club and Bicycle Action Committee.

Oswald was treated at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital and released. "This was an accident, it was not an intentional act," a Department of Public Safety trooper said. The DPS trooper said Price stated he wasn't sure whether he had hit something until he noticed the right-side mirror of his truck missing. The trooper also said Price had intended to return to the spot where he thought the accident might have occurred, "but he didn't want to get back out on the highway." The investigating DPS officer at the scene will file appropriate charges, if necessary, with the District Attorney's office; and the DA will determine whether any charges should be filed.

Accidents like this and aggressive attitudes toward bicyclists prompted The Woodlands Cycling Club to form the Bicycle Action Committee about a year ago. The group's purpose is to work toward public education about bicycling and to work with local and state politicians to make road conditions safer for those who cycle. Cunningham said most members of the club use rear-view mirrors to see the traffic behind them, they ride on the shoulders of roads when possible and cyclists are required to wear a helmet.

"As a cyclist, it is much safer to ride in a group," Cunningham said. Another precaution the cyclists use is a set of signals developed to inform other cyclists of obstacles in the road or other hazardous conditions. Before each cycling outing, members are reminded of road rules and safety precautions. Accidents, such as Saturday's incident, "happen more times than I care to think about," Cunningham said.

The Bicycle Action Committee is working with the Texas Department of Transportation to have Texas 105 designated as a bike route, which Cunningham hopes will give the cyclists a bit more protection when out on the road. The committee also works with local and state politicians to make road conditions safer. They have been successful in getting "Share the Road" signs put up throughout the county. "It certainly makes me more cautious, but I'm going to continue cycling," Cunningham said.


Sheesh... the guy was so out of it he wasn't even sure he hit something!



Elderly driver admits to hitting bicycle rider

An 81-year-old Montgomery man told state police Tuesday he struck a bicyclist with his pickup Saturday and left the scene.

Officers did not identify the man because he had not been arrested. Sgt. Patrick Hernandez said the man didn't realize he hit Bill Oswald on Texas 105 near Montgomery High School, but later noticed the passenger-side mirror was knocked off and called his attorney.

The Montgomery County district attorney will decide whether to file charges. "It wasn't intentional," Hernandez said. "This is an elderly man with health problems."

Oswald, hospitalized for five hours, said he plans to sue the man for civil damages and wants his driver's license revoked. "I don't want to give him the opportunity to do this again," he said.


"This is an elderly man with health problems." Oh yeah? Well now Bill has some health problems too, thanks to this road menace who should have had his license yanked years ago. :irritated

Sgt. Patrick Hernandez said the man didn't realize he hit Bill Oswald on Texas 105 near Montgomery High School, but later noticed the passenger-side mirror was knocked off and called his attorney.

If I didn't think I had hit anything and then found my side mirror gone, I would think that someone had damaged my car and call the cops. Why would you call an attorney if you didn't think you'd done anything wrong?

I'm thankful to hear that they found the driver. Prayers coming Bill's way for a speedy and complete recovery.

Here in Washington, a similar incident occurred which killed a 13-year-old racer doing an organized time trial. The elderly motorist struck him for no apparent reason, and came to a stop on top of him with her Lincoln (a very big car, for those who aren't up on American land yachts).

If I have my facts straight, the auto was eventually lifted off of the lad by a large group of his fellow cyclists, but he died a week later :( This led to the Cooper Jones Bill, which requires that motorists retake their drivers' tests to retain their licenses after collisions of this type.

You'll be glad to hear that justice was done, however... the motorist was eventually fined $250 :irritated [/sarcasm].

Originally posted by MediaCreations
If I didn't think I had hit anything and then found my side mirror gone, I would think that someone had damaged my car and call the cops. Why would you call an attorney if you didn't think you'd done anything wrong?
Excellent question! It's hard to say without talking to the driver, but some parts of the story just don't seem to add up.

Most importantly, how is Bill doing?

The story sounds fishy to me - calling an JD before calling the cops. Hmmmm..

At least he had a change of heart and reported it.

Bill's on the mend and getting around -- the doctors are keeping an eye on the possible kidney damage, and the rest should heal normally.