a(nother) cyclist killed - so sad

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trishie

2009-08-06 7:26 AM

Pro

5169

Burbs

Subject: a(nother) cyclist killed - so sad

http://wjz.com/local/cyclist.killed.2.1116387.html

Cyclist Struck And Killed In Baltimore

Reporting
Gigi Barnett

BALTIMORE (WJZ) ?

: A person on a bike in downtown Baltimore was struck and killed.

A fatal hit and run between a truck driver and cyclist has city police searching the truck driver and investigators may have the accident on tape. Gigi Barnett has the details.

Just before noon Tuesday, 67-year-old John Yates decided to take a ride. He was an avid cyclist and his wife, Ellen Yates, says he had some errands to run.

"So he left and he yelled over his shoulder, he says, `I'll be gone an hour. If I'm going to be any later than that, I'll call.'"

Mrs. Yates says she never received a call. Instead, police visited hours later.

"Immediately my world just went--you know--'cause I knew," she said.

John Yates was dead, hit and killed by a double-axel box truck.

Police say it happened on the intersection of Maryland and West Lafayette avenues. Investigators believe the truck turned right on West Lafayette, broadsiding Yates.

"Witnesses state that the rider got some kind of way stuck under the back wheels of the truck," said Detective Donny Moses.

Now police are searching for the truck driver and surveillance video from that intersection may help, but police won't say how much. That's why Yates' family wants more information.

"My whole world is shattered," she said. "I would like to have it cleared up."

Police say it's too early to tell if the hit and run was intentional but they believe the spot where Yates was hit may be a part of the truck driver's daily route.

"So if anybody who passes by that way on a regular basis has seen a truck with the description of a white box truck, we're hoping they can call us as well," Moses said.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Yates says she wants the driver to come forward, but she isn't concerned if the accident was intentional or not.

"If he saw what he did and he took off, then it's on his conscience. God will take care of him," she said.

Baltimore City Police say anyone with information on the accident or the truck driver should call their hotline at 410-396-2606.

_______

This is in my city and it just breaks my heart.

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merlin2375

2009-08-06 7:37 AM

in reply to: #2331155

Master

1963

Subject: RE: a(nother) cyclist killed - so sad

This is very sad, many condolences to the rider's family.

Just as an aside, I've been hit once in a similar fashion (I was riding straight and the driver made a right turn). Luckily just my rear wheel got mangled. I think when you get to an intersection like this you have 2 choices. 1 is you get ahead of the car so they clearly see you or you drop back and let them clear the intersection and you go through behind them. You can't count on 100% signaling so you never know if they are making a turn or going straight. Often times, I will actually break into traffic and drive like a car until I clear the intersection, that way I'm in the flow of traffic and I am seen.

Edited by merlin2375 2009-08-06 7:38 AM

GomesBolt

2009-08-06 7:55 AM

in reply to: #2331155

Austin, Texas or Jupiter, Florida

Subject: RE: a(nother) cyclist killed - so sad

That sucks to hear. Trishie, I really hope one of your friends in the city takes this case seriously. The driver had to notice that he hit something. Then again, maybe he thought that he got too close to the curb and that's what he felt going around the turn.

Be safe out there everyone.

My condolences to the family as well.

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bartturner

2009-08-06 8:39 AM

in reply to: #2331155

Regular

408

Subject: RE: a(nother) cyclist killed - so sad

What I find odd about this story is the word "intentional". What on earth are they talking about. This guy killed lthe cyclist on purpose?

Reread the story. I get it. Not sure if the hit and run portion was intentional. Like maybe the guy did not even know he hit the cyclist.

Edited by bartturner 2009-08-06 8:41 AM

andysrc

2009-08-06 8:45 AM

in reply to: #2331166

Subject: RE: a(nother) cyclist killed - so sad

merlin2375 - 2009-08-06 7:37 AM This is very sad, many condolences to the rider's family.

Just as an aside, I've been hit once in a similar fashion (I was riding straight and the driver made a right turn). Luckily just my rear wheel got mangled. I think when you get to an intersection like this you have 2 choices. 1 is you get ahead of the car so they clearly see you or you drop back and let them clear the intersection and you go through behind them. You can't count on 100% signaling so you never know if they are making a turn or going straight. Often times, I will actually break into traffic and drive like a car until I clear the intersection, that way I'm in the flow of traffic and I am seen.

It's so sad. I agree with you about intersections. Even when I'm in a bike lane, that doesn't help much if a driver is turning and not paying attention to me going straight next to them. If I can't make eye contact with the driver to make sure they know I'm there, I drop back.

All of these accident reports make me even more nevous for riding in traffic. Right now I pretty much ride on residential streets (in Brooklyn, so still lots of cars) until I get to a park that is closed to road traffic. That's where I do all my workouts. I don't know how everyone else manages to ride every day on the roads.

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rbtrumpet

2009-08-06 8:47 AM

in reply to: #2331155

Veteran

351

Subject: RE: a(nother) cyclist killed - so sad

trishie - 2009-08-06 8:26 AM
Just before noon Tuesday, 67-year-old John Yates decided to take a ride. He was an avid cyclist and his wife, Ellen Yates, says he had some errands to run.

HOLY CRAP!!! I work with an "Ellen Yates" in DC....

**off to read the rest of the story and do my own investigating**

ETA: the Ellen Yates I work with claims to be a "single mom" so I don't think she's married...either way, it is very sad for all involved...

Edited by rbtrumpet 2009-08-06 8:56 AM

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mrtopher1980

2009-08-06 8:56 AM

in reply to: #2331155

Extreme Veteran

417

Buford GA

Subject: RE: a(nother) cyclist killed - so sad

Terrible to hear about this again so soon.

When I Was in HS a friend of mine was hit and killed walking. 3 cars hit him the first two left the second stopped immediately. They basically said it was cars or SUVs not a big box truck like this and there would have been no way that the first two cars couldn't have known.

Anyone realize that the victim in this case and the driver in the other one from the tri on saturday had the same last name?

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2009-08-06 8:56 AM

in reply to: #2331155

Subject: ...

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popsracer

2009-08-06 11:10 AM

in reply to: #2331155

Pro

6520

Bellingham, WA

Subject: RE: a(nother) cyclist killed - so sad

It is quite sad but 725, 629, 665, 732, and 693 cyclists died per year in 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, and 2000 respectively (NHTS). That is a couple a day every day of the year.

You just cannot be too careful.

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F1longhorn

2009-08-06 11:54 AM

in reply to: #2331350

Expert

1139

Austin

Subject: RE: a(nother) cyclist killed - so sad

bachorb - 2009-08-06 8:56 AM I feel like these types of situations are the biggest problem with cycling accidents - driver making a right and either a) not seeing the cyclist or b) not being able to properly judge the cyclist's speed. I have had it happen numerous times where I am flying down a hill at 30+ mph, and a car will just eke past me then 100 feet up the road make a right turn onto a side road, not realizing that I am still RIGHT behind them.

I think this is one of the biggest reasons they should have cycling-related questions on driver's license tests. If everyone knew to look out for cyclists on the shoulder when making a right, or understood that that cyclist you passed might only be going 2-3 mph slower than you, it could prevent a lot of accidents. I think a lot of people just really have no idea and then stuff like this happens.

+1 I don't think most people can really judge how fast a cyclist is actually going. I've had the exact same experiences when a car pulls out right in front of me as I'm cruising by and I nearly hit them/have to get ont he brakes hard.

IMO you have to be 10X more defensive when you are on a bicycle in traffic rather than in a vehicle.

Condolences to his family, always sad news to hear.

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GaryGnu

2009-08-06 1:26 PM

in reply to: #2331155

Veteran

139