kjc9640

TAMPA - Robert Niedbalec rode his green and white GT4000 bicycle on the weekends as a way to stay conditioned. He had the fitness to bike five or six hours, his wife said.

On Sunday afternoon, not long after the 52-year-old veterinarian left his Temple Terrace home, he died after being struck by a car at the entrance to the University of South Florida Riverfront Park


https://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/feb...news-breaking/

Senseless tragedy

10 Wheels

What the heck does this mean?

Perenzuela was driving in tandem with a 2001 Honda driven by Armando Perez Jr., 34, of Tampa.
They traveled together a half-mile or more, the sheriff's office said.

kjc9640

Two automobiles traveling side by side as i understand the article. It looks like i double posted this, I dont know how that happened???

How do I delete the original post?

Pobble.808

Not exactly double, as your second attempt included an additional link that was not included in the OP in this thread. The two threads should be combined though.

kjc9640

The post with the 2 links is gone now, I guess someone deleted it. Sorry for all of the confusion.

CB HI

Probably, and was likely included in the story due to the 20 year old driver claiming she could not move over to miss the cyclist because there was a car right next to her. That would be my guess, regardless how BS the claim would be.

Wake

Perfect logic that should be perfectly incriminating: I chose to hit YOU (cyclist) instead of the car, because I knew I might be hurt if I hit the car. If that's not premeditated, I don't know what is.

B. Carfree

The link from the other post shows it's even worse. https://www.tampabay.com/news/publics...t-park/1151447

I wonder if she'll get her left or right wrist slapped?

Pobble.808

Wandering somewhat off topic here, but the second link included the following quote:

"Last month, the Tampa City Council held a bicycle safety workshop in which members of the Metropolitan Planning Organization presented a list of suggestions on how to improve bike safety.
The ideas included such items as improving roadway lighting, promoting bicycle safety education efforts in the community and creating bike lanes along streets."

Interesting that among the options NOT reported to be under consideration is stricter law enforcement. Perhaps they're already enforcing to the max? If that's the case, it's scary to think of what might happen to the casualty rate if they ever let up.
Maybe it's just that policing is outside the purview of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, but there's still the City Council...

genec

Guess the driver never heard of BRAKES?

Pretty lame excuse eh CB?

bikecrate

If I understand the second article link, the driver came from the opposite direction, lost control of the car and crashed into the cyclist after crossing the median and several lanes. The poor cyclist was just an innocent target at this point.

CB HI

Poorly written article, but the veering appears to have occured after the cyclist was hit.

exile

It sounds like both vehicles were side by side (for about 1/2 a mile) with Perenzuela in the right lane and Perez in the left. Perenzuela struck Niedbalec (to the right of her) and then careened to her left into the oncoming traffic lane (Pinball effect).

Unfortunately it sounds like the police will ask the people in the vehicles what they were doing and hope they will be honest. Right now the stories don't seem to be matching up with the preliminary findings (1. Why were both vehicles side by side for over a 1/2 a mile? 2. How did the vehicle driven by Perenzuela hit the cyclist and then end up in the opposing traffic lane? 3. How fast were both vehicles traveling?)

The best I can find out is either the posted speed limit is 35 or 45 mph where the incident took place. It should probably be closer to 35 since it was near the school.

genec

Can you say RACING!!!

CB HI

And should result in everyone in both those motor vehicles going to prison for 10 years.

B. Carfree

I'd put the over/under at less than two years jail time. If the drivers didn't have Hispanic surnames, I'd put it at less than six months.

kjc9640

The other driver is just as guilty as the driver of the car that hit the cyclist, but I will bet he gets a lighter sentence even though he has a bad driving record.

bikecrate

I reread and now it makes some more sense. I've ridden around there and I had pictured it in my head that the cyclist was heading west since the park entrance would have been on the opposite side of the road. This makes it even harder to excuse the driver's actions.

Digital_Cowboy

Agreed, as well as after getting out having their licenses suspended for at least 10 yrs. They should also have to do at least a thousand hours of community service. And be on probation for at least another 10 yrs.

electrik

Florida:
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/us..._BRF.html?_r=1

Chris516

People as dumb as that driver, should not be driving.

Chris516

Can we say............YOU GOT THAT RIGHT!!!

bikecrate

https://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/...prison/2169061

Well, it took awhile, but there was a conviction in this case. A 13 year prison sentence. Looks like the judge wasn't going for the driver is a "good kid" defense.