Pizza chain founder injured in bike crash; police suspect assault
Associated Press
June 4, 2004
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The founder of the Papa John's pizza chain and a national champion cyclist were injured in a bike crash that police are investigating as a possible assault.
John Schnatter, Papa John's chairman and CEO, and Curtis Tolson, who is aiming for the Olympics, were hospitalized after the crash Wednesday outside Louisville.
The men were riding single-file, with Tolson in front, when either the door of an oncoming pickup truck opened or a book was thrown from the vehicle. Tolson was hit and Schattner fell over him. A third cyclist, Tracy Huber, avoided the crash.
Tolson suffered abrasions and possibly a broken collar bone or dislocated shoulder. Schnatter had abrasions and possible head or back injuries.
Huber said she saw an object, which she later learned was a biology textbook, thrown from what she described as an extended-cab mini-pickup.
Police spokeswoman Alicia Smiley said no arrests have been made and there are no suspects. She said nothing has been ruled out, including the possibility that whatever precipitated the crash was unintentional.
BanditManDan
06-04-04, 11:46 AM
Police spokeswoman Alicia Smiley said no arrests have been made and there are no suspects. She said nothing has been ruled out, including the possibility that whatever precipitated the crash was unintentional.
Doesn't sound unintentional to me. Everytime I've seen a door open from a moving vehicle it was "intentional". Hmmmm.
Dan.
Raiyn
06-04-04, 11:53 AM
Papa John's Pizza Founder Injured in Crash
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - The founder of the Papa John's pizza chain and a national champion cyclist were injured in a bike crash that police are investigating as a possible assault.
John Schnatter, Papa John's chairman and CEO, and Curtis Tolson, who is aiming for the Olympics, were hospitalized after the crash Wednesday outside Louisville.
The men were riding single-file, with Tolson in front, when either the door of an oncoming pickup truck opened or a book was thrown from the vehicle. Tolson was hit and Schattner fell over him. A third cyclist, Tracy Huber, avoided the crash.
Tolson suffered abrasions and possibly a broken collar bone or dislocated shoulder. Schnatter had abrasions and possible head or back injuries.
Huber said she saw an object, which she later learned was a biology textbook, thrown from what she described as an extended-cab mini-pickup.
Police spokeswoman Alicia Smiley said no arrests have been made and there are no suspects. She said nothing has been ruled out, including the possibility that whatever precipitated the crash was unintentional.
This sort of crap has to stop.
jbushkey
06-04-04, 12:27 PM
I have heard too many stories like this. Yeah right not intentional. Its just another example of cyclists being treated as second class citizens. I wish it did not happen, but since it did happen to such high profile cyclists maybe it will lead to some changes. Hopefully the police can find who it is and they wil be severely punished. More likely its some idiot teenager and they will treat him like he didnt know any better. This makes me VERY angry.
Disclaimer: I am aware not all teenagers are idiots
chuckfox
06-04-04, 02:03 PM
Sometimes you just can't be too careful! I hope this doesn't hurt his Olympic chances. I think sometimes people are unaware of the impact of their careless actions--that is, if this wasn't an accident...
Papa John's Pizza Founder Injured in Crash
By Associated Press
Published June 4, 2004, 5:26 AM CDT
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The founder of the Papa John's pizza chain and a national champion cyclist were injured in a bike crash that police are investigating as a possible assault.
John Schnatter, Papa John's chairman and CEO, and Curtis Tolson, who is aiming for the Olympics, were hospitalized after the crash Wednesday outside Louisville.
The men were riding single-file, with Tolson in front, when either the door of an oncoming pickup truck opened or a book was thrown from the vehicle. Tolson was hit and Schattner fell over him. A third cyclist, Tracy Huber, avoided the crash.
Tolson suffered abrasions and possibly a broken collar bone or dislocated shoulder. Schnatter had abrasions and possible head or back injuries.
Huber said she saw an object, which she later learned was a biology textbook, thrown from what she described as an extended-cab mini-pickup.
Police spokeswoman Alicia Smiley said no arrests have been made and there are no suspects. She said nothing has been ruled out, including the possibility that whatever precipitated the crash was unintentional.
lotek
06-04-04, 02:25 PM
I merged about 3 different threads into this one.
Due to differnt postings in the original story I did not
prune, delete etc.
Marty
Chris L
06-04-04, 05:41 PM
Police spokeswoman Alicia Smiley said no arrests have been made and there are no suspects. She said nothing has been ruled out, including the possibility that whatever precipitated the crash was unintentional.
It was quite deliberate. Had it been two pedestrians walking on the footpath, arrests would have been made and charges would have been set up by now.
nualle
06-04-04, 09:46 PM
I think sometimes people are unaware of the impact of their careless actionsBlithe = privileged. Heads should roll over this but I doubt that any will, yet again. Grrrr.
BeTheChange
06-05-04, 08:08 AM
Stuff like this makes me want to become a vigillante. If it is a bio text book from a high school they can trace it back to the owner I'm sure.
Oh, and I hate when my 5 lb biology or chemistry textbooks just seem to fly out of my car. Just once I'd like for something like this to go the way I want it to. That is me finding this prick in a back alley at night. Or at least having some sort of real justice served.
bluejack
06-05-04, 09:27 AM
it may have been .... some dumb christian...
Hunh???
Raiyn
06-05-04, 10:21 AM
Hunh???Don't even bother to acknowledge that stuff it only encourages him.
lovemyswift
06-06-04, 06:19 PM
This may be far fetched but my friends from Louisville think it might have been done by someone trying to keep Curtis Tolson out of the Olympics.
Kathi
seely
06-06-04, 07:35 PM
...or some dumb christian
This sort of crap has to stop, too. :mad:
BeTheChange
06-07-04, 12:26 PM
that part was a little bit of a jokke. yeesh. just push the ignore button if you don't like me.
I like the reply, I'm going to have to steal that one from you.
madpogue
06-07-04, 12:46 PM
This may be far fetched but my friends from Louisville think it might have been done by someone trying to keep Curtis Tolson out of the Olympics. Hmm, Tanya Harding's brother?....
hollow
06-11-04, 11:57 PM
I just saw on CNN Headline News that the driver who hit Schnatter and Tolson was located and charged. Don't have any further details, but it's definitely good news.
John E
06-12-04, 06:37 AM
I just saw on CNN Headline News that the driver who hit Schnatter and Tolson was located and charged. Don't have any further details, but it's definitely good news.
... but only if the charges stick and the clown is appropriately punished. The incident needs to be publicized, because many motorists do not realized how vulnerable cyclists are to stupid stunts such as the one recounted in this thread. In San Diego, one of our top female cyclists was seriously injured when some bozo deliberately opened a car door next to her.
slvoid
06-14-04, 11:12 AM
The kid's been charged.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040612/ap_on_fe_st/brf_papa_john_injured&e=4
bac
06-14-04, 12:44 PM
The kid's been charged.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040612/ap_on_fe_st/brf_papa_john_injured&e=4
YES!
Did the kid think that throwing a school text book would not warrant a few clues as to who did the crime? Well, I guess the kid didn't think @ all, or else he wouldn't have done it. Punk.
Raiyn
06-14-04, 10:38 PM
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A Kentucky man was charged with assault Friday in connection with a bicycling accident that injured the founder of the Papa John's pizza chain and a competitive cyclist.
Some "accident" :mad:
hollow
06-15-04, 10:49 AM
How Many Years Can He Get?
Depends. He could probably be charged with eithe 1st, 2nd or 4th degree assault. 1st degree is a class B felony which carries a 10-20 year sentence; 2nd is a class C felony which carries a 5-10 year sentence; and 4th is a class A misdemeanor which carries a 3-12 month sentence. I don't know Kentucky law as I know Missouri law, but I would imagine a plea on 4th degree assault (the suspect seems to be cooperating and assuming a clean record), with suspended imposition of sentence, probation, communty service, fine, etc.
redfooj
06-15-04, 11:43 AM
Don't even bother to acknowledge that stuff it only encourages him.
i just found bliss in the ignore list!
joeprim
06-16-04, 10:10 AM
Depends. He could probably be charged with eithe 1st, 2nd or 4th degree assault. 1st degree is a class B felony which carries a 10-20 year sentence; 2nd is a class C felony which carries a 5-10 year sentence; and 4th is a class A misdemeanor which carries a 3-12 month sentence. I don't know Kentucky law as I know Missouri law, but I would imagine a plea on 4th degree assault (the suspect seems to be cooperating and assuming a clean record), with suspended imposition of sentence, probation, communty service, fine, etc.
He was the driver. It's possible he didn't know it was going to happen and maybe took a bit to realize that it did happen. He came on his own so we'll see what's up and what they do to the one that actually threw the book.