General Cycling Discussion - My accident today... I hate @#shole hit and run drivers...

Hello all,
Just wanted to tell everyone what is going on with me today...

I am typing this on my leptop after just spending 6 hours in the ER. I was traveling along a known business route enjoyin gmy training ride, doing 25 MPH when I guy starts yelling at me for taking the lane. I just look and move over a little. All the sudden I felt someone push me from behind, lose balance, fly up a curb, hit a power line pole and so flying, bike not with me. I was going over 25 MPH at the time and I took the brunt of the impact.

My leg was bleeding heavily, so bad I could not see the actual cut (road rash). My hip was bleeding under my shorts which were now torn in 3 places. My pinky on my right hand was sprained badlym I thougt it was broken but could not get it out of the glove. My sholder was bleeding through my jersey and both wrists were badly cut up. My face took an impact with the floor and the helmet cracked.

My bike was dameged too, the shifters were completely broke, the handlebar deformed. I still do not know about the stem, byt the wheels survived. It is now at the shop being looked at.

I am glad I survived, it could have been alot worse. I did a PD report and an officer came and talked to me. I learned not to ever underestimate someone in a car, even if you do not say anything back to them. I am not stuck off the bike for 2 - 3 weeks, whoch really sucks. I hope to get well soon. Thanks in advance for all your support...

Were there any witnesses? Maybe someone got the license number. Perhaps the local body shops have some information about repairs made to a car. I wouldn't count on the police to do any legwork. Get well soon.

Woah! Sorry to hear about your crash and injuries. It always seemed to me that Southern California was pretty bike-friendly, relatively speaking. I guess it only takes one jerk, though. Hopefully someone saw what happened and will report the guy.

Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Tom

Thanks guys. There was no witnesses that I saw on scene. I am going to go and talk to the local businesses around the area and see if anyone saw anything.

Thanks all

Get better:). Whenever I get a chance i slow down, or stop pedaling and show the car behind me to pass. I'm not in hurry, so why not. Anyways, I hope they catch the guy or girl who did this.


Thanks guys. There was no witnesses that I saw on scene. I am going to go and talk to the local businesses around the area and see if anyone saw anything.


Isn't it police job? :D

That sucks, I hope this won't affect your patrolling at work if that is an issue. More importantly hope you have a speedy recovery.

Hang in there and heal up brother. I'm a firm believer that you sow what you reap in this world. That guy will be getting his one day.

Hello all,
Just wanted to tell everyone what is going on with me today...

I am typing this on my leptop after just spending 6 hours in the ER. I was traveling along a known business route enjoyin gmy training ride, doing 25 MPH when I guy starts yelling at me for taking the lane. I just look and move over a little. All the sudden I felt someone push me from behind, lose balance, fly up a curb, hit a power line pole and so flying, bike not with me. I was going over 25 MPH at the time and I took the brunt of the impact.

My leg was bleeding heavily, so bad I could not see the actual cut (road rash). My hip was bleeding under my shorts which were now torn in 3 places. My pinky on my right hand was sprained badlym I thougt it was broken but could not get it out of the glove. My sholder was bleeding through my jersey and both wrists were badly cut up. My face took an impact with the floor and the helmet cracked.

My bike was dameged too, the shifters were completely broke, the handlebar deformed. I still do not know about the stem, byt the wheels survived. It is now at the shop being looked at.

I am glad I survived, it could have been alot worse. I did a PD report and an officer came and talked to me. I learned not to ever underestimate someone in a car, even if you do not say anything back to them. I am not stuck off the bike for 2 - 3 weeks, whoch really sucks. I hope to get well soon. Thanks in advance for all your support...

I am sorry for your injury and glad that you were not killed.

I personally would go into the life long investigation mode for some payback. . .

No one should be allowed to get away with that kind of assault.

It's boring and contained, but I personally will stay on the Rail Trail/bicycle paths.

Yes investigation is the polices job but nothing will happen if I do not take the ignititive. I was going 25 in a 25 zone and I did everything to let the guy go... I guess he was in a hurry...

Well I am doing a little better this morning, still having problem with my leg and hand. Thanks all for your support...

sorry to hear that, not much you can do in a situation like that. was it a single lane road? If so I'd say you shouldn't have taken the lane, if not that ahole should have went around you not THROUGH you. worst thing about this story is that the driver will probably get away with attempted murder.

Oh yeah, talk to the news (tv and paper) and tell them what happen. Don't know how well off you are but maybe you can offer a reward for info leading to the arrest.

You mean you didn't have your significant other ahead of you with a rear-pointed video camera? ;)

Seriously, I hope they can find the guy - people like that shouldn't be driving a multi-ton vehicle, they should be walking in front of said vehicles :P

dude, that is my worse fear. getting struck from behind. must have been terrifying. what kind of car was it? who was the driver (middle aged, young, etc..)? it's a long shot, but maybe he has a history of screwing with people and someone on this board has had an encounter before.

Sure hate to hear of your bad luck..Take care of yourself...Yes, we all hate these azz holes..Wish a way we could help one another..Some kind of support group/networking link of cyclists ready to defend one another...
No clues, leads, ID's...? Saw nothing of the car...Wish we could get em... VW...We share opposite ends of the same county...About two months ago I had to attend a defensive driver training class at the insistance of my employer...Instructor said Riverside, San Bernadino, Conta Costa counties had the highest rates of road rage for all of southern California..Wish had an id..What they really did is endangerment, or assault and battery, or attempted murder?
Maybe a Riverside bike advocacy group might have some ideas..

Black Ford Pickup, F series, older (Early 90's), young male, Unfortunitly I have no more discription on the driver. It was a two lane on both sides of the road and I was taking the right 1/3rd of the road in the right lane because there was no bike path. I was going only 10 or so below the speed lmit when it happened.

I relize the guy will probably get away, hapefully next time this happens they will catch him. I still do not know what part of the car hit me but nothing my laying on the ground. All I remember is lots of blood on the ground and multiple peices of bike laying there...

This is not an accident. I know you know this, but you still wrote 'accident' in the title - no doubt you are still in a bit of shock and the full anger has not set in yet.

I have never had some some attempt to murder me. That is horrible.

Best of luck on your recovery and with getting legal justice for whoever did this.

Al

Absolutely. This was not an accident but vehicular assault if not attempted murder. It's a felony and the driver should go to prison.

Hang in there.

Black Ford Pickup, F series, older (Early 90's), young male, Unfortunitly I have no more discription on the driver.

Wow, so sorry to hear of your incident with a maniac. You are lucky just to be alive. I went through a very similar situation a few years back, so I can appreciate your situation.

You may consider nailing up flyers around where the incident took place. I would list everything you can remember (truck description, time, etc), and offer a reward only if information leads to an arrest. I did this once with a hit and run (this time it was my girlfriend's car that was hit), and despite the cops (they actually were more trouble than worth in terms of the investigation), we got the guy. It was sweet revenge.

Go after this lunatic before he kills someone. Good luck on your recovery!!!!!! :)

Attempted murder is the right word......Let's do all we can to not let him get away with it...

OMG did this guy DELIBERATELY hit you? If so, I agree, go to the newspapers and tv and tell them the story. If he did it once, he could do it again. I know someone who was also hit deliberately from behind by some idiot who'd been DRINKING!

Consider yourself lucky that you weren't killed or crippled, it could have been a lot worse. As for your bike, hopefully it will be okay as well. I sympathize, about the emergency room. After I was hit by a car 2 years ago I was there 8 hours; and of course, they don't give you anything for pain so you just have to moan and groan. Of course, it's the ones who CAN'T moan and groan who get in. Anyways the whole thing really blows, I hope they get that shmuck.

If he did it once, he could do it again.

And to follow up wabbit's reaction, most likely (since people tend to be creatures of habit, and do most of their driving in small localities) that driver and vehicle generally use that same route on a regular basis (although he may avoid it for a week or so). If you think you would recognize him again, perhaps you can case the area at about the same time of day (but not on a bike). Get a photo, license info; use a paintball gun to mark it as he zips by...

use a paintball gun to mark it as he zips by...

Or better yet a rocket launcher :mad:

But seriousely, good luck in your recovery.

I like Seamless' idea...Stalk the guy, so that he can be turned into the police...Newspapers...You might get support from the local bike clubs'.After all, all our well beings are at stake.. Maybe there is some kind of mark left on the front of this black pickup.

As far as I know yes he did delibertly hit me. I am quite sure that it was a young person driving the car, kind of like one of those people who take out a gun and shoot someone for cutting them off. I am coming to the relization 24 hours later that I am lucky that I came out as I did. I am still having trouble walking and moving my leg and hand, I am still also a little shaken up over the whole thing. I am getting better though. I got a call from my local LBS today asking how I am doing, very nice. My bike is getting better, I guess santa is bringing new shifters and a handle bar this year.

I am trying to get over this and get back... after being on a bike almost daily for the last few months this is quite a hard time for me. Oh well, I guess the next week off of work will give me a chance to reflect on things and chat with nice people like those on this forum.

Thanks for all the support.

Michael

Sounds like you are hobbling around a little better...Take care of yourself first. Maybe some bike friends can help out with getting your bike back and any other business about this accident...Do you belong to a club or bike group...
Was it your 05 Trek. ? And a new bike?

Ya with 500 or so miles on it... first major road bike crash. I was most worried about the wheels than anything and they surrvived. I am going on Sunday to talk to Riverside Bicycle Club on Sunday (the club I ride with) and see if there is anything they can do. My LBS is very nice and said they will have no problem with holding it for me until I am ready to take it back.

Now getting back to work may be a problem, work on a bike as a bike security officer. I think I am going to be stuck in a car for a while... not fun. Oh wellI am not going back for a few weeks so I hope I will be ready by then I hope...

Thanks all again...

Here in San Diego when a cyclist has been killed we have very large mass rides. Has not happened of late thank god.Once, the DA did little to investigate an attack on a cyclist...With many cyclists lobbying the DA's office, that changed..There is lots we could do to help one another...Get better soon.

First, I'd have to agree that that is probably one of my biggest fears about being out on the bike... getting hit from the rear. However, I must say that I'm lucky to live in a smaller city where people seem to be more willing to share the road with cyclists. We don't have any bike lanes, but in the couple of months I've been cycling regularly all over town I've been yelled/honked at for riding in a lane only once(always in the far right of a lane, no less). As far as your situation goes, I would be quite shocked to see the police do anything at all to try to catch the guy that tried to kill you. Seems that they don't put much stock in bicycle-related crimes in most areas. Had the guy come up to you and shot at you in your own home, they MIGHT make some sort of effort to catch him, but it seems that hit-and-run episodes with cyclists get pushed to the back burner. I agree with the suggestions here to take it upon yourself to find the guy that did it. Call newspapers, TV stations, local businesses, put up flyers, etc. Also, I'd have to agree that he would have to have SOME sort of damage on his truck from the impact with the bike. Given that it was a black F-150, it may not be a large amount of damage, but surely something noticeable. Hope you get better soon and get back on the bike ASAP. Don't let a sorry excuse for human flesh like him get you down. :)

Cryo..That might be the role of bike clubs/advocacy..Don't let police /cities get away with denegrating the value of cyclists' lives..Remember, I mentioned bike advocates hassled the states' attorney until he did something about it.

That is a truely sh#tty story. I agree with the "reap what you sow" comment. We all get what's coming to us eventually. Just hope that arse gets his sooner before he kills some one. Glad to hear your still alive.