After writing about how long it’s been since there was a cycling death in Baltimore City, last week, two cyclists were killed in Ocean City in one week.
The first, Kristin Anne Stormer (23), of Hollidaysburg, PA, was reportedly crossing in the crosswalk against the traffic signal. Witnesses report that she was wearing headphones. This was in broad daylight. The driver is not being charged. (Source.)
Then on 2:30 Friday morning, Daniel Bren (like the machine gun) struck Edward Zisk (41) and Maxim Matuzov (20), both of Ocean City, Maryland. The two were cycling on the Route 50 bridge when a drunk driver struck them both and left the scene. Thanks are due to the witness who followed the truck and helped identify the driver. Daniel Bren, this “dirty pig of filth“* is being charged with a list of offenses, including negligent homicide by vehicle while under the influence. Homicide, when you kill a cyclist. That’s what you should be charged with. The authorities got it right this time. (Source.)
Our condolances and well-wishes go out to everyone affected by these tragedies.
*[Maybe he's a "nice" guy, but he hit two people with his truck and left the scene, killing a man -- after being irresponsible enough to drive drunk in the first place. Even if he's a saint who drove drunk for the first time last week, it's hard to feel badly for his plight. Not with a life cut short. Cut short by his behavior.]
Johnny
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10 comments
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06.29.09 at 11:17 am
Lapiernanegra
How terrible! What a horrible tragedy for that town. Are ya’ll going to put up ghost bikes? Let’s be careful out there.
06.29.09 at 11:39 am
Johnny
Not sure about ghost bikes, but that would be a great thing to do.
07.01.09 at 7:20 pm
A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.
Drivers who hit bikes deserve extremely harsh penalties. PAY ATTENTION FOLKS! Last year I was knocked off my bike by a car while riding in the a marked bike lane on a quiet, wide, straight residential road. No excuse for this crap.
Years ago, while on bike patrol with the police department, I was also knocked off my bike. Too many people take the privileged of driving for granted and don’t have respect for safety and etiquette on the road.
P.S. Nice site here, my first time. Looks cool, will save to favorite.
07.02.09 at 3:34 pm
Johnny
Geez, sorry to hear about your run-ins! Glad you’re Okay though. We need a law like the one recently passed in Colorado. Barry (from BaltimoreSpokes) is a tireless advocate for getting cyclists fair treatment in Maryland.
Thanks for the kind words about the site:)
07.02.09 at 3:36 pm
A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.
I’m ok now! Months of physical therapy, aches and pains aside, I’m still riding!!!
07.02.09 at 9:39 pm
marylandonmymind
Ocean City is probably the most bicycle-friendly town in Maryland, with wide, well-marked bicycle lanes on Philadelphia Ave., Coastal Highway and St. Louis Ave., and of course, the Boardwalk.
In addition, the many bicycle-mounted police officers, raise the awareness of drivers that bicycles are everywhere in Ocean City. (Bike riders could take some safety lessons by noting the lights on police bicycles, the officers’ white shirts for visibility, and the helmets worn by officers.)
Bicycle riders in general are very safety conscious in Ocean City. (Except that you rarely see a rider wearing a helmet.)
Some places are safer than others. The very best place to bicycle is on the Boardwalk, where bike riding is allowed from 2 a.m. to 11 a.m. weekdays during the summer season, and 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The Boardwalk runs from the inlet to 27th St., so it’s a great choice for commuting to work in the morning in the south end of town. Slow down on the Boardwalk for pedestrian safety.
Ocean City and Maryland state highway officials should be commended for planning and implementing bicycle lanes on the main routes.
St. Louis Ave., which runs from the inlet north to 17th St. on the bay side of town, has good bike lanes and lighter traffic. Also, bicycle riders don’t have to share the bike lanes with buses on St. Louis Ave., as we have to on Philadelphia Ave. and Coastal Highway.
Traffic lights every few blocks on Philadelphia Avenue and Coastal Highway help moderate automobile speeds. But the unexpected can happen at any intersections, with vehicles turning in all directions, including U-turns.
Personally, I prefer to dismount at busy intersections, wait for the green light, and then walk the bike across in the crosswalk.
The Route 50 Bridge into Ocean City, is a challenge. It was built in 1942, with no thought given to bicycles. Traffic is heavy on two lanes on each direction, with no median, no shoulders, no bike lanes. There are narrow sidewalks on both sides, separated from traffic by chain-link fencing. But bicyclists must share these sidewalks with numerous fishermen and pedestrians. The walk is barely wide enough to allow a walking biker to squeeze past other users on the sidewalks. You shouldn’t even try to ride on the bridge sidewalks during the summer season.
Probably the best choice in this less-than-perfect situation is to walk your bike across the bridge on one of the sidewalks, being very courteous to fishermen and pedestrians you encounter. — Bernie Hayden
07.02.09 at 10:58 pm
Johnny
I’m glad your run-ins haven’t kept you from riding. I know (as I’m sure we all do) people who would quit just hearing about someone else getting hit twice.
07.02.09 at 11:00 pm
Johnny
“Bike riders could take some safety lessons by noting the lights on police bicycles, the officers’ white shirts for visibility, and the helmets worn by officers.”
AMEN! This goes for a lot of riders in Baltimore City, too, especially lights. I don’t understand bike ninjas who think being invisible is going to keep them safe at night.
09.08.09 at 12:08 pm
Wendy Lane
Eddie was my fiance’. We were to be married. This A-hole (KILLER) will pay dearly for my loss and his family’s loss. My “Baby” is gone forever. This Killer’s family still has him. I go to sleep everynight with out Eddie, and wake up every morning without him. I cry everyday and night missing him. No one feels my pain, and it’s the hardest thing to get through each day, and night. My heart aches. This murderer will get away with just a slap on the wrist. Just for him to be back behind a wheel to kill again. We are asking anyone to come to this KILLER’S hearing on October 20th in SnowHill District Court at 2:00pm to make sure this Murderer gets what he deserves, and to give my BABY a voice. I or his family will never see Eddie again, or hear his tender voice again. You just don’t know the pain this KILLER has caused alot of people. My daughter has nightmares now. I don’t sleep or eat. I miss my BABY, the man I love is gone and I can’t get him back. I hope Daniel Bren rots in HELL.
09.08.09 at 12:16 pm
Johnny
I’m terribly sorry for your loss, Wendy. I can’t even imagine. I too hope this guy gets everything he has coming to him from the law. We all have to be held responsible for our irresponsible behavior, especially when it destroys lives.