Geezus! What is wrong with people that they feel like they need to succumb to distraction while driving thousands of pounds of planet-killer?
On July 11, at approximately 2:44 p.m., a blue 2008 Mazda M3I driven by Royal Kessick III, 47 of Richmond, Va., was traveling northbound on Three Notch Road, north of Park Hall Road. Hugo Gonzalez, 44 of St. Leonard, was riding a bicycle on the southbound shoulder of Three Notch Road heading towards Park Hall Road. Kessick’s vehicle crossed the southbound travel lane, onto the shoulder and into the path of Gonzalez’s bicycle. Gonzalez was struck by the vehicle and thrown into the grass adjacent to the roadway. Gonzales succumbed to his injuries. Kessick’s vehicle continued towards the wood line, struck a tree, overturned once and landing upright.
Kessick was flown by Eagle 1 to Medstar. Gonzalez was wearing a bicycle helmet. Initial investigation indicates alcohol is not believed to be a contributing factor. Members of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Collision Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.
Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact DFC Timothy Reese at (301 )475-4200 ext. 9115.
(Source.)
Witnessed? Why? They need to find out why this driver veered over, not who’s fault it was. Did he pass out from medication? Does he have a health problem? Or was he just too distracted by his frackin cell phone to not run over a cyclist? Benefit of the doubt or whatever?
Whatever. You don’t cross over two lanes because you swerved around a deer. If you fell asleep, you shouldn’t be driving. If you passed out from medication, you shouldn’t be driving. If you have a medical condition that makes you drift over two lanes, you shouldn’t have a damned license! If you were on the phone, OMG, I hope you go to jail. You are too careless to walk around with the rest of us, let alone drive around.
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07.22.09 at 10:10 am
dukiebiddle
Not to make light of a death, but I loved how they were careful to point out that Gonzalez was wearing a helmet. After having a head on collision with a vehicle at full speed, to absolve Gonzalez of being partially to blame for his own death. Had Gonzalez not been wearing a helmet, he would have been partially to blame, seems to be the public perception mantra…
07.22.09 at 10:16 am
dukiebiddle
Did you click through the pictures? Yeeeeeeesh. The bicycle itself was shattered into a hundred pieces.
07.22.09 at 3:48 pm
Johnny
You’re right, Dukiebiddle.
“Yeah, Mr. Gonzalez is clearly not at fault because he is the type of careful person who was wearing his helmet,” etc.
Why they’re even implying any kind of responsibility on his part when a car clearly went bonkers (for whatever reason) is just plain odd and alarming.
08.06.09 at 8:14 pm
E A
I hope you honor Mr. Gonzalez in the Ride of Silence next year (always the 3rd Wednesday evening in May) at 7pm.
http://www.rideofsilence.org
It’s a tragedy when any cyclist is killed or injured and even worse that we have to defend ourselves as motorists pass fault.