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Five cyclists killed and four injured after truck driver hits group ride in NevadaUS 95 (StreetView)

Five cyclists killed and four injured after truck driver hits group ride in Nevada

Retirement ride accompanied by ‘safety car’ was hit from behind
by Alex Bowden
Fri, Dec 11, 2020 11:17
13

Five Nevada cyclists have been killed after a truck driver hit a group out for a ride to celebrate a police officer’s retirement. The cyclists were struck from behind, as was a Subaru hatchback that had been travelling with them as a ‘safety vehicle’.

The Reno Gazette reports that around 18 cyclists were travelling together when the crash occurred on US Highway 95 south of Boulder City at around 9.40am.

Four men and a woman were killed. Three more cyclists were injured, as was the driver of the Subaru.

Authorities said the cyclists were hit after the box truck driver crossed into the bike lane.

According to Trooper Travis Smaka, the safety vehicle had riders in front and also behind and when the truck rammed the group, the Subaru also went into some of those in front.

The truck driver, who wasn’t injured or suspected of being impaired, stopped at the scene.

One of the surviving cyclists, Michael Anderson, who had just retired after 22 years as a Metro Police officer said: “I’ve seen stuff, obviously as a police officer. But it’s your friends … I’ve never seen that.”

Anderson said that winds had broken the group up and that some riders had been sheltering behind the Subaru.

“It’s the worst thing I can ever see in my life,” he said, adding that he had contacted the victims’ families. “Didn’t know how to say it to them,” he said. “It’s terrible.”

Nevada
United States
Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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13 comments

Avatar
Projectcyclingf... | 3 years ago
0 likes

Suprised the authorities haven't called this out as a potential 'terrorist attack' prior to xmas as below:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/04/berlin-christmas-market-at...
Seems a driving licience is a licience to kill - complete INSANITY👎

Avatar
brooksby | 3 years ago
5 likes

Looking at the linked news item

Quote:

"It doesn't appear to be impairment," Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman Jason Buratczuk. "It appears to be a tragic accident." 

and

Quote:

Clay Weeks, an employee at the Pro Cyclery bike shop, knew many of the bicyclists involved in the tragic crash.

Weeks is familiar with the stretch of road near Searchlight where the crash unfolded. On Thursday, he struggled to imagine how the crash happened there.

"That shoulder on the side of that highway is wide enough to fit three cars," Weeks said "We don't really know how somebody managed to get that far off the road. These were all very very experienced cyclists. It's not like they accidentally rode off and into the road."

And it's all fine, because

Quote:

The driver of the box truck was not injured. 

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
5 likes

It is so weird that the Americans just accept road issues like this as tragic accidents (because the driver was not speeding or on drink/ drugs.) Don't they have just general death by atroicious driving charges over there? 

 

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
7 likes

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

It is so weird that the Americans just accept road issues like this as tragic accidents (because the driver was not speeding or on drink/ drugs.) Don't they have just general death by atroicious driving charges over there? 

 

Maybe they do. Maybe like here they are rarely invoked...

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
1 like

I disagree, I suspect that in this case, even without Coppers being the victims, they would have done court for death by (random roll) driving. It would depend on how bad the drivers in the Jury are though for which one they would actually be done for it.

Avatar
giff77 replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
3 likes

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

I disagree, I suspect that in this case, even without Coppers being the victims, they would have done court for death by (random roll) driving. It would depend on how bad the drivers in the Jury are though for which one they would actually be done for it.

 

The CPS don't have the balls to go for a death by driving except in the most extreme cases.  They usually opt for the lower charge or agree with the defence lawyer to go with the lower charge as the guilty party can't quite comprehend that their driving has fallen into the dangerous category!  

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to giff77 | 3 years ago
0 likes

giff77 wrote:

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

I disagree, I suspect that in this case, even without Coppers being the victims, they would have done court for death by (random roll) driving. It would depend on how bad the drivers in the Jury are though for which one they would actually be done for it.

 

The CPS don't have the balls to go for a death by driving except in the most extreme cases.  They usually opt for the lower charge or agree with the defence lawyer to go with the lower charge as the guilty party can't quite comprehend that their driving has fallen into the dangerous category!  

they would go for it in this case with the victims being police officers

Avatar
STiG911 replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
0 likes

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

It is so weird that the Americans just accept road issues like this as tragic accidents (because the driver was not speeding or on drink/ drugs.) Don't they have just general death by atroicious driving charges over there? 

Yes - Vehicular Manslaughter.

Avatar
Applecart replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
1 like

Where does it say that it's all fine? I find it very strange that you interpret factual reporting on a truly horrific issue in this way.

Avatar
giff77 replied to Applecart | 3 years ago
9 likes

Applecart wrote:

Where does it say that it's all fine? I find it very strange that you interpret factual reporting on a truly horrific issue in this way.

Because like here the media go to great lengths to tell us that the driver wasn't injured. It's a totally unnecessary addition to the report and negates the true horror of what has happened. 5 people died and the motorist wasn't injured. Course they haven't been injured. They're in a metal box with a roll cage!

During the summer a toddler was killed by a motorist  Yet the press felt the need to advise us that the motorist was not injured. Seriously. Why do that?  All of us in our respective regions will be able to say the same thing.  Motorist kills vulnerable road user but the motorist isn't injured. Really.  All it says is that if you choose active travel your pretty much stuffed as there is nothing to protect you.

 

Avatar
Kadinkski replied to giff77 | 3 years ago
2 likes

Well actually I did wonder if the driver was also one of the casualities and the article very quickly answered the thought in my head. Its not unessecary information, it's pertinent, doesn't negate anything and should absolutely be reported along with the other facts of the incident. 

Avatar
NZ Vegan Rider replied to Kadinkski | 3 years ago
1 like

Agreed. It is relevant to know if the driver was injured or not. They could possibly have had a medical condition that caused the crash. 

Avatar
brooksby replied to Applecart | 3 years ago
4 likes

Applecart wrote:

Where does it say that it's all fine? I find it very strange that you interpret factual reporting on a truly horrific issue in this way.

I would have replied, but giff77 covered it better than I could yes

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