Man dies after fatal bike/SUV collision in Bend
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor) on August 13th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Here's the story from KTVZ in Bend:
"Callers to Deschutes County dispatch around 4:15 p.m. said a man apparently in his 30s was down near the corner of Southeast 2nd Street and Miller Avenue (north of Wilson Avenue) and was bleeding from the head and not breathing...
Officers said it appeared the bicyclist - who was not wearing a helmet - was heading north in the bike lane when struck by the SUV, whose driver stopped and remained on scene."
A little more info in their video coverage:
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Those SUVs\' flatter and higher hoods are deadly to cyclists and pedestrians alike. Anyone have links to any studies on the mortality rate compared to regular height sedans?
RecommendedWe need to start putting up ghostbikes here in Bend. Does anyone have an old bike to donate? I\'ll get the paint, lock and chain.
RecommendedYou know, what gets my goat is that the media states up front \'he was not wearing a helmet\'. I know it probably might of helped him; but it is not a state law, and NO helmet is designed for anything other than a fall from height. To suppose that a helmet can protect from a 5000 pound suv is ridiculous.
This is the first step that the police and media take in predetermining guilt. My prediction is that the driver will not be charged with anything more serious than a lane violation.
This needs to be stopped.
RecommendedClose up of the bike on the news before next of kin are notified? Hope they had the notification before anyone in the family saw the bike.
RecommendedThis story has been updated.
http://www.ktvz.com/global/story.asp?s=8837949
Reading the article it certainly jumps out how careful they are not to blame the driver (she was looking for an address... it was a tragic accident... she stayed at the scene... Stoery is devastated as well, it just happened so fast) but then place blame on the cyclist (while police say he wasn\'t required to wear a helmet because he\'s an adult, it might have made a life-saving difference...Whether he didn\'t see the vehicle making the turn, we don\'t know. She didn\'t see him, and there\'s lots of vehicles). HE didn\'t see the vehicle?! She turned right in front of him!! He saw it coming I\'m sure but if she turned in front of him isn\'t it HER responsibility not HIS?!
The subtle bias of media really gets me down sometimes! The comment section is disappointing too.
RecommendedShane, it\'s not the journalists responsibility to assign blame. What I thought jumped out of the link you provided was the clear focus on the tragic loss of Moon\'s life. I also think it\'s fair to mention that he was not wearing a helmet since it was a possible contributing factor in his death. That\'s not blaming the victim, it\'s just reporting the circumstances. Personally, I thought it a balanced piece and sympathetic towards Moon and his family.
I hope that the driver is held accountable, but let\'s not counter a \'subtle bias\' with a \'clear bias\', shall we?
RecommendedWell put, toby.
RecommendedWhat gets my goat is the media saying a helmet may have saved his life but not saying the driver obeying the law and not crossing the bike lane until traffic (the cyclist) had cleared definitely would have saved his life. The fault lies not with the cyclist but with the self-important SUV driver.
Opus
RecommendedAn inattentive driver made a left turn into oncoming traffic without due care and attention which lead to the death of another road user operating within the law. It\'s the number one killer of motorcyclists. Get a mean lawyer.
The helmet issue is plainly, simply and utterly irrelevant in this case. As is the fact if he\'d have stayed home on the couch would have also likely saved him. Other irrelevant points: The vehicle was entirely too big and innefficient for its purpose that day. The likelihood that the drivers skills were not high enough to pilot such a large and ungainly machine. Kind of literally redefines overkill.
Not unlike the person driving the Olds Delta 88 (the YUKON of the 70\'s) who made a left turn in front of myself which thank the trauma team at Denver General merely cost me my spleen, part of my liver and a 12 day stint on a respirator.
Another tragedy, what a shame. My heart goes out to this mans family.
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