When I read things like this it makes we wonder:

1. What were the people doing who were hit? Were they riding in a legal manner (correct side of the road, stopping at stop signs, using signals, light at night, etc.)? What are the riding behavior patterns?

2. Are there specific roads, intersections, types of roads, etc. on which most of the accidents took place?

This kind of information would be useful, in that, it could help inform the rider about what specific places to avoid, and which riding behaviors prove to be most dangerous. Without specific information, I take these "reports" as just another form of sensationalism/entertainment with which our culture seems to be enthralled.