Tsuru

Columbus, OH cylist Steve Barbour was hit by a truck on his way to lead a COP ride on Saturday morning. The accident occurred July 18th on Cemetery Rd. just at Norwich in Hilliard, OH. The accident occurred at 6:00 a.m. According to the Hilliard police, the driver of the truck was arrested for Aggravated Vehicular Assault and is presently in jail. (We heard that alcohol might have been involved but I have no current information to confirm that).



Steve was transported to OSU University Hospital where he remains in critical condition. The family has asked that there be no visitors and no calls.

Steve suffered severe head injuries as well as spinal injuries. Right now the major concern are the head injuries. He underwent surgery yesterday to stop the bleeding and reduce the swelling in the brain. He is presently unconscious. The doctors told Mrs. Barbour, Steve's mom, that the next 72 hours are critical. They won't know how extensive the damage is until the swelling is reduced.


* NBC WCMH-TV accident report *

https://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/...ccident/19494/


.......

He's a Westerville Bicycle Club member and ride leader, apparently he is still in very critical condition with injuries to the left and right sides of his brain. It looks like he has also sustained damage to some vertebrae, he is in a coma and has had surgery in an attempt to stop the bleeding in his brain.

I don't know him personally, but have probably most likely been on a few rides with him. Based on the comments on the news link, he rides his commutes full decked in fluorescent vest, mirrors, the works.

I don't know, I guess the reason I started the thread is just to say, be careful out there. Odds are he was just doing his ride over on his side of the road in his few feet and some truck barreled right into him. He does everything right and gets hit.

If the truck was at fault, and my money says yes, I just hope they go after his ass....

Mash Master

please keep us updated, prayers to the get well gods....

Overwhelming

Best of luck to him, that is horrible.

mattcatt85

I googled the Hoosua character who is pushing the legalization of riding on the sidewalk. I only wanted to see if he had pearls of wisdom on other subjects. I instead found his myspace page. https://www.myspace.com/hossua34

He's in law school. God help us all.

Tsuru

Unreal, the logic is "there are no cars on the sidewalk".... they forget that at every curb, you are either at a cross-street or a driveway, where there are cars, that can't see you, that you can't react too. That's IF there are sidewalks!

Can you imagine if we HAD to ride on sidewalks?

politicalgeek

There are two local threads on this at the moment:

Yay Bikes!


Columbus Underground

as well the update from NBC4:

MissKristen 

Ugh... this is one of those things where you know it happens, but it doesn't really hit home until it's in your backyard. How horrible.

John E

From the photo, it appears that Mr. Barbour was taking the narrow left through lane, in proper vehicular fashion if he did not intend to turn right, for which a separate dedicated lane was provided. The motorist's judgment reportedly may have been impaired by alcohol, but he also may have been road raging against the concept of destination appropriate lateral positioning that many of us, myself included, consistently practice. Couple an attempt to "scare" or "brush back" a vehicular bicyclist with an error in speed or distance judgment, and one has a recipe for disaster. In any event, we can only hope that the judge throws the book at Mr. Miller and that Mr. Barbour's physical fitness helps pull him through a long and arduous recovery process. Steve, all of us are rooting for you!

Do any of you locals know the speed limit on that particular stretch of road or have any other information on the intersection they were approaching? Under Ohio law, what constitutes Aggravated Vehicular Assault?

Tsuru

Not 100% of the limit over there (though I've ridden over there, it's probably 35/45 mph, unless it's residentual) or the levels of assault in Cbus, but I AM well aware of that situation where you approach a turn lane but are continuing forward. It can be quite hairy. Had a woman yell at me when I didn't take the turn lane ONTO A HIGHWAY..... wow.

The WBC is filled with super safety conscious older riders, like Steve, tons of Freds, vs race-wannabe clubs.... I have no doubt Steve was probably being 1000% legal in his actions. Honestly, unless it was a complete accident, I really hope they nail this guy.

John C. Ratliff

From having investigated a number of accidents (mostly industrial), I know that it is very difficult to make any judgements based upon a photo such as this. We probably don't have the bicycle in its original position, and don't know where the pickup truck was located, so let's be careful about surmising anything until we know a lot more.

I wish Steve Barbour the best in what will be a very long and difficult recovery. I also hope that the judge/jury throws the book at this guy if the initial reports coming from the authorities show he was at fault and alcohol was involved.

John

politicalgeek

If any of the CMH cyclists remember back to the Tracy Corbin case on Alum Creek Drive, Columbus police spent several months investigating and charged the driver following the investigation months later. The resulting charge was a misdemeanor Vehicular Homicide.

I am very curious to see what resulted in the on scene arrest and higher, felony charge.

Map of where NBC is reporting the crash site.


Anyone have an update on Steve's condition?

Tsuru

I've ridden over there a couple times I think, can't remember the conditions. Alcohol or not, I'd bet it was Steve going west and the truck heading to the turn lane (on purpose or not) and hitting him.

On my commute in, once I hit about mile 7 (of 20) there were no more sidewalks. I kinda ranted on it today at tsururadio.com, probably incoherently, but man.... what am I to do, ride in the grass??

I'm trying to imagine riding north on Broad St on the sidewalks heading into downtown on my commute in about an hour or so. No way, man! So many cars jetting in and out of the side streets, the people all over the sidewalks?? Ugh.

Tsuru

One of the WBC visited Steve and family last night and they did confirm that the driver of the pick up that hit Steve was intoxicated. Saturday morning, on your way to a ride, and some drunk piles into you........ man.

politicalgeek

IF I am reading things correctly the AVA charge can be applied if the driver was @ .16 or higher for BAC.

Tsuru

"from the family ..............that today is the day to talk to Steve as they may need to make a family decision today or tomorrow."

No one's said if he's conscious or anything, but judging from that email, I think you can determine his state.

Just horrible.

Mr IGH

Praying for the family and Steve.

John E

Please keep us posted. From everything I have read, Steve is the sort of person I would have enjoyed meeting and befriending.

Tsuru

Will do.... It's just such a frustrating situation...

politicalgeek

NBC 4 here in Columbus has updated. Steve has passed on following the collision.

More Here

Tsuru

oh man........... If that guy was under the influence, they better bump this up to murder.

politicalgeek

I'm not a legal expert, so I have no idea where this goes from here.

I've butted heads with local cyclists here in the past over how to treat these cases. Usually it happens to be a tragedy of circumstances in which no malicious intent was present. I'm biased towards the cyclists, of course, but have never really seen the need for reactive punishment.

This is without a doubt a case where the ******* needs to rot in jail.

Tsuru

Hopefully, if a DUI is involved, it will push it up to a something really serious, jail wise. Drunk on a Saturday morning???? Driving a truck and killing a cyclists???

Damn.....

politicalgeek

Drunk on a Saturday morning at like 6 am...

paktinat

I'm not a legal expert either, but you can't charge someone with murder unless they were intentionally trying to kill the other person.
I'm hopping this comes out with a vehicular homicide charge. It would be nice to see manslaughter, but that would be hard to prosecute.

This is quite sad.

politicalgeek

Vehicular Homicide is a lesser charge, if I am not mistaken.

The AVA is a felony charge.