Another Vermont cyclist killed
 

Two Dead in Hinseburg crash

A high school senior was speeding, lost control on a bend in the road, and ran over a 47-year-old cyclist who worked for the Vermont Bike Touring company. Both are dead.

awful :(

Really tragic. : (

In reading their comments, always amazes me how many people blame the cyclist for being there. When, in fact, the car driver committed manslaughter...............

I hope they sue for every penny the other family has!

Agree..

It shows that, living in a rural town, does not shelter it from the stupidity of speeding.

Awful simply awful! Most of the comments I saw we're fairly respectful and subdued.

Sad for all. I hope more forensic evidence is released. The photo of the Civic shows a huge amount degree of damage.

Small tinney japanese cars dont seem to fair to well when they hit a bicycle.

And yes I too hope the family of the cyclist sues for a huge sum of money. Note the report says the car crossed the hiway to hit the cyclist.

Tinny, or tiny? The impact pattern on the car is pronounced. It looks like a bomb hit it. Nothing like other photos, or bad bikes accidents I have come across.

Also, hard to start litigation when the evidence isn't in.

This is A&S Court, Judge R* presiding. No evidence is necessary.

And here comes the bailiff, right on time, to whack everybody's pee pee.

Why would you all want the family of the teen driver to be punished?

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
I suspect that damage was from something other than the cyclist.

Probably because of some wacky theory that parents are solely responsible for everything their (almost adult) children do (presumably, forever).

The car driver was, in effect, punished by death. (An "eye for an eye" and all that.)

Very unfortunate but not really a "bicycling" issue.

It could have been a pedestrian or even an occupant of a motor vehicle that was killed. And you would not have mentioned that.

Pretty much covers it.

Unfortunately the comments were not about being financially responsible for the loss of life, but more towards punishing. The law makes a parent financially responsible, but not for being "sued for everything they have". If the judgement is for more than either insurance provides of the family's resources then it may be into the "everything they have" territory, but not as a punishment but as a make the family as whole as possible under the law.

Similarly, a the family would not be held criminally liable for the teen drivers actions if there was criminal activity such as DUI. Or would you all also want the parents to lose their licenses for that too?

I didn't say I did.

Isnt a dead body evidence enough????

Darn you, I almost soiled myself.......:roflmao2:

Bodies. Not body.

Until a forensic report is completed somewhat hard to begin litigation. And if there is litigation - someone is going to hire a independent coroner. It will gone on for a long time and both sides plaintiff and litigant will all suffer. Mostly, I feel bad for both decedents and their families.

Probably won't come to that. There may be a lawsuit, but it'll be a traffic accident suit, with little disagreement (if any) about cause of death, though there might be a need to verify whether drugs or alcohol are involved.

I don't know about Vermont, but in NY and many other states liability & insurance attache, not to the driver but the owner/operator of the car so, odds are that it will be the parents (or their insurance) that pays.

This isn't good for anybody, and as noted, from a moral standpoint the driver has paid the ultimate price. (assuming he was at fault, otherwise both paid the ultimate price for any responsibility)

Hi everyone. If you're in Vermont this weekend, there's a memorial ride for Richard this Sunday at 11am. https://www.facebook.com/events/477113802454652/

The Ride for Richard
Where: Meet at CVU High School Parking Lot. Link to ride route and parking: http://thegmbc.com/Route%20and%20Parking.pdf
When: 11 a.m., Sunday, May 3

Area cyclists and friends,

Tragically, two lives were lost on the morning of April 26. There is resulting pervasive pain and sadness within the cycling community and also within the Hinesburg community and CVU teachers and students. Richard was a friend and was well respected and even loved by many. Cycling was Richard’s passion, both professionally and socially. He had so much more to offer to us and to me personally. I will miss him.

Whether or not you knew Richard, or whether or not you plan to ride with us, you are invited to come to this gathering. After our short ride, we will come together to share stories about Richard or others. This is a time of reflection for those affected by this tragedy, whether it be for the driver or for Richard or for Kelly Boe (a Vermont cyclist, who very recently died as a result of a car/bike collision), or for others.

While this accident is tragic, it is going to propel us to think of long-term strategies with an objective to make cycling safer for us through education and communications at many levels.

As a side note, advocacy groups and local businesses will be collaborating on strategies to promote roadway safety and shared responsibility. For additional information or to become part of the conversation, visitlocalmotion.org.

I hope to see you Sunday morning.

John Williams

GMBC VP

The ride: After some words about Richard, at about 11:20 we will begin our ride with police escort to the crash site and to Richard’s home (in a way, bringing Richard home). The pace will be slow, during which time, we will reflect on Richard and perhaps other loved ones during the ride. We will pass the location of the crash site where Richard and the driver, Joseph Marshall lost their lives. At the crash site, we may dismount, so that you will have a moment of peace, prayer, or communication before reversing direction. We then will ride to Richard’s home (in a way, finishing Richard’s ride) which is only a few hundred yards from the crash site. From there, we return to CVU. A route map will be provided.
Helmets are required to participate in the ride. Helmets may be removed briefly at the crash site as an offering of respect and tribute to lives lost.
Riders, Friends, Family
This is an invitation for area cyclists, CVU students and families, or others affected by the recent collision that took two lives, including Richard Tom who was riding alone in Hinesburg. Please join us for a ride in Richard’s memory. Richard was valued within the cycling community for his comprehensive knowledge of bicycle mechanics and equipment and also for his leadership of group rides in the US and Europe while working with Vermont Bicycle Tours. While at Earl’s Cyclery and Fitness, Richard guided many of us through the complexities of bike selection and fit. More importantly, it was Richard’s ever-friendly, but professional, manner that drew many of us to develop a strong and trusting relationship with him. There has been a huge outpouring of love and caring for Richard from throughout our cycling community. While our ride will mingle depths of sorrow for this loss, we also want to celebrate Richard’s life by gathering together to pay tribute to him. Those preferring not to cycle are welcome to join us either before or after the ride for conversation and remembrances.

Thanks for the info. I'll try to do a little research on applicable laws in Vermont.

On a forensic note here's a link which provides more information. The car is greatly mangled and seems to sport very wide tires. Wider than I've seen on a typical Civic sedan (older). Sad.

CVU student, bicyclist both dead after crash