Cyclist killed

[Warkitty]

Friday, March 6, 2009

Sgt. Jerri Weary, CPD spokeswoman, says around 6:40 a.m. this morning a box-type truck traveling in the same direction along the 1000 block of Ashland Terrace passed a the cyclist and the saddle bag on the back of the bicycle caught on the rear footboard throwing the victim off the bike to the pavement.

Chattanooga firefighters and Hamilton County EMS medics rushed to scene and attempted to save the victim but he died at Erlanger Hospital's emergency room.



I don't have the link and don't care to look it up.

the man killed was a good friend of mine. He was a very good man, safe cyclist that always, always always followed the rules. I don't know if I'll stop crying any time soon.

[Laura Rice]

My mom just called me about this. Their family went to our church and manchild went to school with his son.

This is so tragic....

[Copperhead]

I'm so sorry.

[tinkerbellybutton]

I'm sorry I didn't know him better, WK. He deserved a longer life than he got.

[Warkitty]

Indeed.

There are things about the driver's statement that don't make any sense to me at all. How could he not notice David? He was one of the most lit-up cyclists around! The driver said he didn't see him until he was laying in the street, but supposedly it was he hit the pannier with the back part of his truck. I know *I* have seen David riding on the street, fully lit and very visible.

It sickens me.

[Warkitty]

Oh, and THIS IS ONE REASON I LIKE RED BANK BEING SO ANAL ABOUT SPEED LIMITS. Fewer accidents.

[osrb]

Condolences to all the knew him.

[tinkerbellybutton]

If he had functioning lights, which I presume can be determined in an investigation, there's no way this guy can fail to be held responsible for David's death.

Cyclists have as much legal right to be on the road as motorists do. A lot of motorists don't seem to understand that.

Pardon me if I'm saying anything most of you don't already know. It's a long-standing problem for people who execise their lawful right to use our streets for transportation without motors. Also, I can tell you, they're not gonna stop riding.

David was exceptional in the community of cyclists as incredibly friendly, strong, and knowledgeable. You couldn't have found someone more conscientious about being visible and safe.

[rogue]

David was one of the nicest people I have ever met. I rode with him at the Cherohala Challenge. He made me forget how bad we were suffering up one of the bigger climbs with his constant banter.

[Dreamwebber]

Do you have a pic of your friend WK? I don't think I know him or anything but, there may be others that once they see him will remember him as a person and his life instead of this tragic news story.

[LimitedRecourse]

A very tragic incident. Sorry for your loss, WK.

[Chattanooga Police]

Friday, March 06, 2009

A bicyclist travelling in the 1000 block of Ashland Terrace was killed this morning. Police were alerted to the scene around 6:40 AM. According to witnesses, the cyclist was travelling on Ashland Terrace toward Hixson Pike. As a box-type truck travelling in the same direction passed by the cyclist, a saddle bag on the back of the bicycle caught the rear footboard of the truck and yanked the bike out from under him. The victim was thrown into the street where he suffered life threatening injuries. The victim was transported to Erlanger Hospital where he subsequently died.

The driver of the truck told police that he never saw the bicyclist and didn’t know there was anything wrong until he saw the victim in the street. The victim’s name will not be released until his family has been notified. Charges in the incident are pending further investigation.

Sergeant Jerri S. Weary,
Public Information Officer
Chattanooga Police Department

[Warkitty]

Thank you for posting the official release.


This is what makes no sense to me. The driver says he "didn't see," but he had to know he hit something to look in the rear view and see a cyclist now in the road... or did he hit David hard enough to throw him AHEAD?

I know how David kitted up for low light riding. He had a huge taillight on the back under the seat and one on either side of the back wheel. Hard to miss.

** modified to add...


While no charges are being brought forward pending investigation, I certainly hope the City does press charges for manslaughter, lest we send a message that it's OK to kill someone, as long as it's a cyclist.

[Kordax]

I'm very sorry for David, his family & all of you who are connected.

The blink of an eye ....

[Scarlet&Gray]

Very sorry to hear this. Prayers go out to family & friends.

[Police Moderator]

Bicyclist David Meek Killed On Ashland Terrace
posted March 6, 2009

A bicyclist traveling in the 1000 block of Ashland Terrace became entangled with a truck and was killed Friday morning.

He was identified as David L. Meek, 51, a biking enthusiast who was active in the Chattanooga Bicycle Club. He had been a leader of the three-day Tour de Charohala Challenge.

He lived on Wood Lane in Red Bank and owned a bike shop on N. Hawthorne Street in Chattanooga.

According to witnesses, the cyclist was traveling on Ashland Terrace toward Hixson Pike. As a box-type truck traveling in the same direction passed by the cyclist, a saddle bag on the back of the bicycle caught the rear footboard of the truck and yanked the bike out from under him.

chattanoogan.com

[Warkitty]

Y'know, the way that's written makes it sound like his bike was so big the truck couldn't help but him it.

However, if the truck were following the Tennessee Law the requires 3' of space between a motor vehicle and a bicycle to pass, the truck would not have hit him. Not that anyone cares to enforce THAT law either.


(I'm just bitter. It seems whenever a cyclist is clipped or otherwise endangered, the cops and the city refuse to do anything about it. I know cyclists that have reported incidents and been told flat out by the responding officer that they don't like to cite drivers for endangering cyclists because it raises the driver's insurance rates. Because, insurance rates are MUCH more important that a person's life, right?)

[fftspam]

Mar 6, 2009 17:32:34 GMT -5 Warkitty said:

This is what makes no sense to me. The driver says he "didn't see," but he had to know he hit something to look in the rear view and see a cyclist now in the road... or did he hit David hard enough to throw him AHEAD?

Easy.

You are driving on an early morning before sunrise and you feel and hear a 'THUNKA THUNKA THUMP." As that is something you are unfamiliar with you scan the windows and the mirrors behind to explain unknown noise....thinking that the truck might have lost a drive shaft or run over a kitty or a squirrel.. and then you see in one of your side view mirrors what looks to be a body in the road. Putting 2+2 together, you get the idea.

[Warkitty]

Fine, but that still suggests to me that his taillights are better than his headlights.

[frayne]

Anytime you take to the road on two wheels you literally take your life into your own hands.

[Warkitty]

I'd say rather that you put your life in the hands of all the driver's around you.

[frayne]

Mar 7, 2009 8:07:06 GMT -5 Warkitty said:

I'd say rather that you put your life in the hands of all the driver's around you.

True

[Babs]

So sorry, WK. I know you are hurting.

[xterragirl]

Mar 6, 2009 20:56:20 GMT -5 Warkitty said:

Y'know, the way that's written makes it sound like his bike was so big the truck couldn't help but him it.

However, if the truck were following the Tennessee Law the requires 3' of space between a motor vehicle and a bicycle to pass, the truck would not have hit him. Not that anyone cares to enforce THAT law either.


(I'm just bitter. It seems whenever a cyclist is clipped or otherwise endangered, the cops and the city refuse to do anything about it. I know cyclists that have reported incidents and been told flat out by the responding officer that they don't like to cite drivers for endangering cyclists because it raises the driver's insurance rates. Because, insurance rates are MUCH more important that a person's life, right?)

Coming in way late on this but I certainly agree with WK here. How close was the truck driver to him for the truck to have snagged one of the panniers (sp??). Definitely closer than he should have been.

To WK and all other cyclists - I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. Hugs to you all.

[daworm]

I hate that anyone on a bike was killed, or anyone at all. I also can't figure why anyone would ride on Ashland Terrace in the first place. It's a narrow, high traffic road, with lots of truck traffic. I certainly wouldn't ride there, especially at the start of morning rush hour. (And you can rail all you want about how the roads should be rebuilt, but until you come up with a way to pay for it, including paying for people's yards to widen them, you will have to deal with the fact that some roads just aren't safe to ride on). Were I driving down that road in a big truck and I had oncoming headlights coming at me in the other lane, I can easily understand not seeing a bicycle tail light. Those trucks are hard enough to keep in their own lane, and there isn't any room on that road for three feet separation and still keep in your lane, even if he did see him.

It's easy to look with hindsight and say that driver "should have seen him" and so forth, but put yourself in his place for a moment. Do you people really, really think he saw the guy and ran him down on purpose? Because you're acting like you do. Maybe its the grief talking, I don't know, maybe its because some of you already have an axe to grind with the whole cyclists versus motorist debate, but really, its ugly to watch. Sometimes an accident is exactly that, an accident.

[Deleted]

> think he saw the guy and ran him down on purpose?

On purpose? Not likely. Negligent or inattentive to safe driving? Yes.

[Warkitty]

Or thought he'd put a scare into David?


There's a driver, don't know if it's the same as this one, that's been known to buzz cyclists before. There are plenty of driver's that think it's funny. Same one's are likely to lay on their horns while passing close enough for their sideview mirrors to brush my arm, or that like to throw bottles at us out the windows.


But I'm sure none of THOSE drivers saw me either.

[Warkitty]

I've spoken at length with an investigator regarding this. I am satisfied that in this case the driver could be telling the truth.


that does not change the fact that there are plenty of drivers out there that have purposely put me in danger because they thought they'd "put a scare" into me. At least, I assume that's what they're doing when they drive up nice and close and, while still just a tad behind me, lay on their horn to see if I'll jump, or drive close enough to brush their sideview mirror by me at mid day.

[tinkerbellybutton]

My beef:

There are lots of motorists who are attentive and polite enough to give cyclists the room needed to use the roads safely. Share the Road doesn't spark road rage for most people out there behind the wheel of a car, even if they are a little nervous or even annoyed at having to slow down for 30 seconds or so.

But there are enough people out there who are 1. not attentive, or 2. think it's fun to harass people on bicycles, or 3.feel compelled to show their displeasure with deadly force. As an example of this last, I've had more than one motorist passing me on the left side when I'm trying to turn left, stomping on their accellerators and screaming at me as they nearly take me out.

Incidentally, motorists will attempt to do this with people who run on the streets in Chattanooga, also. I know at least one person to whom this has happened.

As long as the attitude is that people will not be cited for endangering and/or injuring cyclists and pedestrians, there will continue to be people who feel justified in their road rage. I'm of the opinion that ignorance of the law is a big part of the problem.

Like driving drunk, you should go to jail for threatening to run down pedestrians and cyclists. These aren't freeways, they're city streets. We don't ride on freeways.

[BlackFox]

Since this thread has already devolved down to policy....

Maybe it would better if cyclist did ride on freeways. There is plenty of room, and it's almost completely straight so you would be more visible.

I've never understood why people are allowed to ride bicycles on secondary roads. One person on a bicycle for an hour probably creates 10 or 15(numbers pulled from ass) hazardous situations. If I top a hill, and there is a vehicle coming the other way, and a bicycle there, bad things are going to possibly happen. I can get a ticket for crossing the yellow line, but it's perfectly fine for me to cross it while getting around a 100 yard long line of bicycles?

As far as I'm concerned, the roads should be used by licensed vehicles only, that can maintain at least the posted speed limit. I'm not a hater, but it just seems genuinely unsafe to me.