Advocacy & Safety - Cyclist Killed - This One Too Close to Home

Man, this murder - and yes this was a murder - happened less than a mile from my place and on one of my normal routes I ride. This is horrible - it could have been me if I had decided to go out and ride early yesterday moring. These guys and gals were competing in a tri just down the street from me. The killer who did the crime is 25 years old, has a suspended license, and has another DUI arrest just 2 months prior. I hope they convict him and give him the needle - there is no excuse for his behavior.

http://www.whas11.com/topstories/stories/whas11-topstories-090801-cyclist-record.9ff6c542.html

RIP.

Looks like the legal system let us down, again.

And the first comment (in the article) is predictably anti-cycling. What an a$$hole.

We had one like that recently.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-santaclarita13-2009jul13,0,4687666.story?track=rss
Worse yet, this driver is under the legal drinking age and has 2 prior arrests for DUI. Luckily, they recently charged him with murder, which he plead not guilty to. Now we're just waiting to see the trial.

Geeeze. Totally PISSES ME OFF!!! :mad:

I read about this on a Tri forum also and the link was to the local newspaper. After the story, some of the comments were incredible. Things along the lines of they deserve what they get for riding on our roads and other similar idiocy. I thought it might be some moron just hoping for a reaction. I saw this and the link is to the television station, and another half-wit has posted similar comments. I don't think I will be looking to ride anywhere near there in the future. I don't know what these people are thinking but they sure don't like cyclists.

Geeeze. Totally PISSES ME OFF!!! :mad:

And how the heck did the driver get onto the course in the first place? Was this not a closed course?

Yeah, and did you see the comment under the story.

This was a bad thing to happen,but to change
the legal system.
There is already laws about drunk driving,
This is not the first guy to be charge with
murder for killing someone while driving drunk.
Your right...they should change the law to
keep bike riders off the main roads and roads
posted 40pmh or over.
Do you think they blacktopped all the city streets and highways for bike riders?
Bike riders should ride were there are bike lanes,trails and parks.
It's for their own safty and others.

Moron.

"But police say Yates kept driving, and dragged Carr's bike for half a mile to Collins Lane. That's when an off-duty police officer spotted the car and bike, and pulled Yates over. Police say Yates handed over his ID, then put up a fight -- trying to take the officer's gun before running away."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, looks like the cop had an excuse to plant this a$$clown six feet under and missed it.

Bad Cop, No Doughnut!

For local weekly tri races, they don't close down the roads. It wasn't closed.


And how the heck did the driver get onto the course in the first place? Was this not a closed course?

http://www.whas11.com/topstories/stories/whas11-topstories-090802-bicylce-radcliff.a00c1318.html

This story was on the same page.

whoa, tough town.

Our local mayor and council and even some in local clubs keep saying Louisville is Bike-Friendly. I think they may have even won an award. But it's not. They painted some silly bike lane markings on some busy downtown roads and now we're bike friendly.

The thing is the roads here were not engineered for bikes. This ain't Palo Alto. But they have plans to create a loop around the perimeter of the city for cycling. Now that will be awesome. But none of our roads right now will easily accomodate riders. I ride in the area of this murder all the time - it's the safest area of Louisville for riding anymore. The dude who did the crime had no business being out of jail much less driving and then driving drunk.

The attitude of that first comment on the news web site is the stuff people driving yell at me all the time in this area. Some folks are pretty ignorant.


I read about this on a Tri forum also and the link was to the local newspaper. After the story, some of the comments were incredible. Things along the lines of they deserve what they get for riding on our roads and other similar idiocy. I thought it might be some moron just hoping for a reaction. I saw this and the link is to the television station, and another half-wit has posted similar comments. I don't think I will be looking to ride anywhere near there in the future. I don't know what these people are thinking but they sure don't like cyclists.

These stories are all too common and are tragic.

I never knew John Carr but I grieve for him. Vaya con Dios and God's Peace to his family.

In light of a somewhat similar thread I feel the need to make a precautionary statement: I really hope no one feels the need to try to get contact (email) info for any of the newspaper letter writers. That's out of bounds and the last person to try actually posted the wrong person's email.

Respond to the stupid letters through the newspaper reporting this.

RIP, this truly is terrible to hear.

That being said, I don't think the legal system will let us down on this one. He might not get the needle, but even if he could get watered down charges on drunkenly killing the cyclist, which is an unfortunate reality, trying to steal a cop's gun when he pulls you over sort of seals the deal. If there is one thing that the legal system will not tolerate is someone attacking a public official, particularly a judge or officer. I actually hope this guy doesn't get the needle and has to rot in jail for 50 years and then, after a terrible, terrible waiting period, meets the same fate and judgment that he would if he got the death sentence. If the Louisville PD want some expedited sentencing, they can always send him my way.

A real shame.

Kentucky murder statute, in case anyone wondered:

507.020 Murder.
(1) A person is guilty of murder when:
(a) With intent to cause the death of another person, he causes the death of such person or of a third person; except that in any prosecution a person shall not be guilty under this subsection if he acted under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance for which there was a reasonable explanation or excuse, the reasonableness of which is to be determined from the viewpoint of a person in the defendant's situation under the circumstances as the defendant believed them to be. However, nothing contained in this section shall constitute a defense to a prosecution for or preclude a conviction of manslaughter in the first degree or any other crime; or
(b) Including, but not limited to, the operation of a motor vehicle under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life, he wantonly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to another person and thereby causes the death of another person.
(2) Murder is a capital offense.

Who thinks that "calstheman" would be willing to pay for new bike paths in his city?

i don't want to sound like a jerk, but i think the assaulting the police officer charge will make a huge difference. i've heard too many stories where the driver gets a slap on the wrist for killing a cyclist... the assault charge should be 'nough to get him punished.

Hi guys,

Moving this to Advocacy & Safety... thanks-

Why? No one goes there...I think it belongs here.

Our local mayor and council and even some in local clubs keep saying Louisville is Bike-Friendly. I think they may have even won an award. But it's not. They painted some silly bike lane markings on some busy downtown roads and now we're bike friendly.

The thing is the roads here were not engineered for bikes. This ain't Palo Alto. But they have plans to create a loop around the perimeter of the city for cycling. Now that will be awesome. But none of our roads right now will easily accomodate riders. I ride in the area of this murder all the time - it's the safest area of Louisville for riding anymore. The dude who did the crime had no business being out of jail much less driving and then driving drunk.

The attitude of that first comment on the news web site is the stuff people driving yell at me all the time in this area. Some folks are pretty ignorant.

Agreed, but I've ridden part of the "Jerry-go-Round" that's finished out here in the southwestern part of the county, and the main portion of it is on regular roads with those bogus bike lanes they paint on the pavement around here.

As a matter of fact, they just widened the street in front of my house and put "bike lanes" on it. The thing is, the lanes connect to absolutely nothing. If you'd like to ride back and forth for about a mile in front of my house, it's grand! But, for safely getting from one place to another, forget it.

Ain't it great living in a state that ranks in the top 2 or 3 of everything undesirable, and in the bottom 47 - 50 of everything that is desirable?

I hope that "calstheman" guy isn't representative of the jury pool.

I'm really all for more government in our lives when it comes to DUI enforcement.

Our local mayor and council and even some in local clubs keep saying Louisville is Bike-Friendly. I think they may have even won an award. But it's not. They painted some silly bike lane markings on some busy downtown roads and now we're bike friendly.

The thing is the roads here were not engineered for bikes. This ain't Palo Alto. But they have plans to create a loop around the perimeter of the city for cycling.

We have such a perimeter path around the city of Miami (more of a service road in reality but still displayed on the bike map) and at the first underpass we found a homeless campground, and my girlfriend got real nervous and we turned back.

So good luck with the perimeter loop and hope there are no bridges around. :rolleyes:

When a problem (DUI) deadly to everyone is present, motorists shouldn't blame the canary.

i don't want to sound like a jerk, but i think the assaulting the police officer charge will make a huge difference. i've heard too many stories where the driver gets a slap on the wrist for killing a cyclist... the assault charge should be 'nough to get him punished.


Sad but probably true that the assault on the LEO will be more of a major factor in getting a substantial conviction than just the killing of the cyclist by itself.

oh, yaeh, hey thanks for the link.

that was in our local news Fox 2 - KTVI StL.

I want to find contact info for the associated LEOs and prosecutor to write notes of thanks and encuoragement.

I hope they hang it in that moterrorist's ass.

I'll be down for Misaligned Minds later this month.

That's sad...really sad.

As a matter of fact, they just widened the street in front of my house and put "bike lanes" on it. The thing is, the lanes connect to absolutely nothing. If you'd like to ride back and forth for about a mile in front of my house, it's grand! But, for safely getting from one place to another, forget it.


Well, I've learned to look at the bright side of things. So on the bright side, the bike lanes are a start. Now hopefully when they get around to resurfacing/expanding the streets adjacent to that street in front of your house, they will expand the bike lanes. If there are other stretches in the area that are similar, a good case can be made to have the next phase of expansion connect these pieces.

Even if they never do get to that, the mere fact that the bike lanes exist can help remind people of our existence. A decent case can be made to have yellow share the road signs installed at the end of those lanes, if they're not there already.

Markwebb- I do a fair bit of cycling in Louisville and find it wonderful to ride. No troubles.


Although I have never encountered a suspended license, dui idiot while in Louisville

A bar of cement soap, a shower that doesn't drain, and turn on the gas--dui final solution final solution final solution final solution final solution!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Geez. that is just terrible. The laws are just not tough enough to keep these people off the road. In this case, not only was the guy drunk, but his license was previously suspended because of a past DUI. Fines are not enough. House arrest is not enough. These people need to serve jail time, but far too often the justice system gives them too much leniency.

jail is expensive.

jail is expensive.

+1. Sieze their car, sell it at auction. If they're driving someone elses' car, give the someone else the choice of letting the car be impounded and sold or filing grand theft auto charges against the driver.

To often jail is seen as a solution, and I think judges are reluctant to impose it in auto-related offences. Hit 'em in the pocketbook and take away their favorite toy if you can instead.

This guy, however, needs to be put away.

Update: murderer was arraigned today on murder and a host of other charges, including resisting arrest as he wrestled with arresting officer and tried to grab his gun.

This dude is just a model citizen, isn' he !

BTW he pleaded not guilty. Amazing. The bike was still on top of his car and he pleads not guilty. Huh?????????

The guy's a drunk, a doper. Consequently doesn't have a steady job. Can't pay for the car, insurance, rent, etc.

Somebody was subsidizing his murderous lifestyle - I suspect Mom, or the "friend" in the car. Enabling behavior is deadly.

You guys need the services of one of my heroes, Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice. (See 60 Minutes segment on DWI.)