Cyclist Robert Lee Baxter was killed while crossing Independence Blvd (I-74). He was hit in the center lane by an outbound driver. The accident occurred at 3pm on February 8, 2010. Robert was taken to CMC with life threatening injuries and died during surgery. My thoughts are with his family.
There are no pedestrian or cyclist facilities in the area to cross the expressway.
Cyclist and first grader, Ravion Cunningham, of Rock Hill, SC was riding his bicycle on Rich Street when he was attacked by a neighbor’s pit bull. The attack on occurred on January 18, 2010, the MLK holiday. He sustained permanent injuries to his body and face, including a severed right ear. It’s a common understanding to keep your bike between yourself and an attacking dog, but in Ray-Ray’s case, I doubt there was much he could do.
The Rock Hill police cited the dog’s owner with violating the city’s vicious dog ordinance. A report was filed with Animal Control just days earlier when the dog, Macho, bit the owner’s son. Macho has been euthanized.
I wish “Ray-Ray” a speedy recovery and hope he gets back on his bike real soon.
Cyclist Matthew Koch has obvious injuries as a result of a bike-car collision. He broke the car windshield in two places. The accident happened at 4pm on Prosperity Church Road near Mallard Creek, 3 houses away from the driver’s home. Matthew was riding in the dedicated bike lane. The collision was the classic ‘left cross’, where the driver turns left across traffic into the path of an on coming cyclist. According to the Police report, a jogger, jogging against traffic in the bike lane (west bound in the east bound lane), signaled for the driver to go. The police report notes “Improper/No Signal” as a contributing circumstance for the driver.
Matthew was taken to CMC, I wish him a speedy recovery.
The new portion of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway opening in April, will feature bike racks. Three racks have already been installed near the new fountain. Usually people ride the Greenway, not stop and lock up their bikes. But this new section is different; it has a split-level destination area. The upper portion includes the fountain, while the lower portion features the creek. The creek level is accessible via stairs from the Greenway (20 stairs), stairs from the fountain or a ramp from the fountain. The structural wall has a kind of castle feel to it. It’s a great space.
The sentencing was today for the shooter, Charles Diez, who pleaded guilty to the charge of Assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.
The judge gave him 120 days in jail, 30 months of probation and anger management class. This is a big victory for Diez who should have received a minimum of 15 months in jail.
Admitted into evidence was a performance review from a former fire captain that stated that “Diez complained and often escalated arguments and was quick to anger.“ That evidence might have been offset by the particularly effeminate manner in which Diez spoke in court.
The cyclist is in the early stages of organizing a ride in Asheville. I plan to join him. I hope he pursues a civil case.
http://www.wlos.com/shared/newsroom/top_stories/wlos_vid_1278.shtml
A judge reduced his bond from $500,000 to $200,000. He posted it and has been released. A grand jury also reduced the charge from Attempted Murder (1st degree) to a special North Carolina offense of ‘Assault With a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill’. Without serious bodily injury, as in this case, this is only a Class E felony punishable by 15-31 months in prison. The trial date has not been set.
Original Post:
July 26, 2009
I suppose you read about the firefighter that shot at the family cycling in Asheville, striking the father in the helmet.
I consider this a hate crime. As a cyclist, I sense a clear bias against cyclists from the general population in Charlotte; but I always thought Asheville was different, with its Subarus, brown rice and pop-up canvas dog bowls. I was wrong about Asheville.
Now, you can find a homicidal beserko anywhere, but this story drew very familiar comments in the local paper (on-line). The readers [drivers] cried about Asheville traffic having to slow down for cyclists and how they unfairly pay for road with vehicle taxes and registrations fees. Does this culture sound familiar, Charlotte?
I’d like to see the city of Asheville react and do something to prevent this from happening again. “Watch for Bikes” signs, like the one pictured below at the spot of the shooting, didn’t calm the shooter. Perhaps they should start by training cops, fireman and bus drivers on how to share the road.
Here’s the story:
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090727/NEWS01/907270323
David Sherman
Cyclist David Sherman died from injuries resulting from a bicycle-truck accident on October 24th, 2009. My sincerest thoughts are with his family and friends.
11/3 State Police and Rockingham County Sheriffs charged the driver. She’s a 48 year old licenseless woman. She was charged with felony hit and run, misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and driving while license revoked. She claims she was driving northbound on North Church Street just north of N.C. 150 when she steered her truck left of center and hit David Sherman head-on.
10/26 Police found a Silver Dodge Durango matching the suspected vehicle on Monday October 26th. The vehicle was found at a home on Moir Mill Road in Eden. Police say charges are pending against a person of interest, but those charges haven’t yet been filed.
Police are looking for the driver for the driver of the Silver Dodge Durango that should have heavy damage to the front bumper and windshield. The driver fled the scene of the accident that took place on North Church Street near the intersection with Highway 150 in Church.
Anyone with information regarding the hit-and-run can call the North Carolina Highway Patrol at (336)334-5500.
The Burrito Bikers got some press in today’s Observer (archive) for their efforts feeding the homeless hot burritos each Sunday morning. Congratulations to the grade school cooks that provided the burritos, the bikers and the organizers on this particular Sunday. Outreach, Social Capital, bicycles, breakfast…this is a good stuff. The volunteer pictured (in helmet) is wearing a custom ‘Burrito Biker’ non-cotton performance T provided by Sport Science USA (local). You might remember the Burrito Bikers from this post.
A 51 year-old man wrecked his bike and was charged with driving while impaired Thursday night. He was riding on Bessemer City Road near I-85 around 2am. He scored a .22 on the Breathalyzer. I’ll try to follow up on the case.
I understand that a bike is a vehicle and that cyclists must obey the rules of the the road, but I’m not sure the punishment should be the same. I feel the same way about the punishment for drunken bus drivers.
On Tuesday September 29th, cyclist Matthew Newell of Charlotte was involved in a bicycle-car collision. According to the police report, he was not administered any medical aid. He was riding on Camden just after dusk. He stopped and proceeded through the Park Ave. intersection where he was hit by the car. The responding officer reported statements from 2 witnesses, plus Matthew and the 76 year-old female driver from Derita. It seems the officer got 4 different stories.
Camden and Park Ave is a 4-way stop with one of those yellow flashing traffic lights. The new Charlotte bike map (Charlotte Cycling Guide) highlights Camden as an Off-Street Path, but the Camden section is really more of a sidewalk compared to the wide Tremont to Clanton path. Most cyclists ride on the street on Camden; it is a popular route connecting Southend and Uptown that avoids South Boulevard. Thanks to Larry, who was eating at Phat Burrito, for the tip.
Correction: I heard from CDOT about Camden, the bike map actually shows a green line for the “Off-Street Path” AND a yellow line that designates Camden as a “Suggested Bike Route”. I am color blind and could not distinguish the yellow line; my bad. Thanks Ben.
September 22, 2009
Cyclist Richard D. James Jr. of Statesville is in critical condition as a result of a bike-car collision. The accident happened at 9:30pm on Hickory Highway near Old Mountain Rd. According to the state trooper on the scene of the accident, James was traveling west in the eastbound lane and was not using lights. No charges have been filed against the Statesville driver.
Richard is at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. I wish him a speedy recovery.
