Wouldn't normally post something like this...

[MrHooch]

and let me be clear. I don't want your sympathy, pity, love, prayers or anything like that. I want you all to put down the mother-17-ing phones when you're driving. The woman hit while riding her bicycle back on May 22 was my mother. Now that the official report is public record I can share this:

This is transcribed directly from the Crash Report narrative:</p>

THE
CYCLIST WAS WEST BOUND ON MS50 NEAR THE TRULOVE LOOP INTERSECTION. V1
WAS WEST BOUND ON MS50 APPROACHING THE CYCLIST FROM THE REAR. THE FRONT
OF V1 COLLIDED WITH THE REAR OF THE BICYCLE. THE IMPACT THREW THE
CYCLIST INTO THE AIR BEFORE LANDING ON THE HOOD OF V1 AND ONTO THE
WINDSHIELD. V1 CONTINUED FOR A FEW FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE
CYCLIST WAS THEN THROWN TO THE ASPHALT WHEN V1 STOPPED. THE DRIVER OF
V1 EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THE CYCLIST WHILE TALKING ON THE
PHONE. D1 THEN REENTERED HER VEHICLE AND RAN THE CYCLIST OVER AGAIN
BEFORE BEING FORCED FROM HER VEHICLE BY WITNESSES. V1 CAME TO FINAL
REST FACING WEST IN THE WEST BOUND LANE ON MS 50 JUST METERS WEST OF THE
TRULOVE LOOP INTERSECTION. THE CYCLIST CAME TO FINAL REST NEAR THE
RIGHT FRONT TIRE OF V1.</p>
V1 = vehicle 1
D1 = driver of V1

Obviously there's more to it than her simply not paying attention/texting/talking on the phone since she got BACK in the car and ran her over again, but there is absolutely no excuse for this. Pay attention out there and share the road.

 

[MrHooch]

and let me be clear. I don't want your sympathy, pity, love, prayers or anything like that. I want you all to put down the mother-17-ing phones when you're driving. The woman hit while riding her bicycle back on May 22 was my mother. Now that the official report is public record I can share this:

This is transcribed directly from the Crash Report narrative:</p>

THE
CYCLIST WAS WEST BOUND ON MS50 NEAR THE TRULOVE LOOP INTERSECTION. V1
WAS WEST BOUND ON MS50 APPROACHING THE CYCLIST FROM THE REAR. THE FRONT
OF V1 COLLIDED WITH THE REAR OF THE BICYCLE. THE IMPACT THREW THE
CYCLIST INTO THE AIR BEFORE LANDING ON THE HOOD OF V1 AND ONTO THE
WINDSHIELD. V1 CONTINUED FOR A FEW FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE
CYCLIST WAS THEN THROWN TO THE ASPHALT WHEN V1 STOPPED. THE DRIVER OF
V1 EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THE CYCLIST WHILE TALKING ON THE
PHONE. D1 THEN REENTERED HER VEHICLE AND RAN THE CYCLIST OVER AGAIN
BEFORE BEING FORCED FROM HER VEHICLE BY WITNESSES. V1 CAME TO FINAL
REST FACING WEST IN THE WEST BOUND LANE ON MS 50 JUST METERS WEST OF THE
TRULOVE LOOP INTERSECTION. THE CYCLIST CAME TO FINAL REST NEAR THE
RIGHT FRONT TIRE OF V1.</p>
V1 = vehicle 1
D1 = driver of V1

Obviously there's more to it than her simply not paying attention/texting/talking on the phone since she got BACK in the car and ran her over again, but there is absolutely no excuse for this. Pay attention out there and share the road.

 

[BriantheDawg]

Sorry to hear that.

 

[jacksonreb1]

what the 17 was the driver talking about and why did she run over your mother again???? geez.

 

[dawgstudent]

Did the driver know your mom? That is just plain malicious.

But I hope your mom is ok.

 

[Hanmudog]

Am I understanding that this person hit your mother, got out of the car and looked at her while still talking on the phone, and then just got back in the car and ran over her again?

Anyone that would do that deserves the death penalty. Hope your mom is OK.

 

[MadDawg.sixpack]

after being run over again?

I know you didn't ask for it, but hope your mom recovers fully.

 

[Mullenation]

<span style="font-style: italic;">D1 THEN REENTERED HER VEHICLE AND RAN THE CYCLIST OVER AGAIN
BEFORE BEING FORCED FROM HER VEHICLE BY WITNESSES

<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WTFFFF</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">

</span>Edit: Let's put D1 and the Shipley's Slasher together in jail to rot in hell<span style="font-style: italic;">
</span>

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

I'd freaking give that guy the maximum sentence for this crime if I were the judge. <div>
</div><div>I'm of the opinion that it is too damn easy to get a driver's license in this country. If you require a test taker to only get 80% of the questions right on a test, they'll only obey 80% of the law.</div>

 

[Foronce]

i apologize to all the women out there.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Still, maximum sentence. Doesn't matter if it's a 16 year old or a 60 year old, or a man or a woman.

 

[patdog]

Please tell me that the driver has been charged with vehicular assault or something. That goes way beyond an accident. Also, hope your mom will be OK. I used to ride bikes and this kind of thing is the reason I quit. It was a lot of fun, but just too dangerous.

 

[aTotal360]

the driver gets the books thrown at her.<div>
</div><div>We are praying for you and you do deserve our sympathy.</div>

 

[thunderclap]

when I run is that about 50% of the people out there driving pay no 17ing clue to the road in front of them and it's always because of a phone. Drivers have passed me running and never even known I was there. And that's running in a neighborhood, not along some highway. Hope that driver gets what's deserved.

 

[Todd4State]

why I run on an indoor track and why I use a stationary bike on my rest days.

Yeah, I know some people aren't fans- but I don't have to worry about cars, and I get a great workout. I also like the fact that I don't have to worry about heatstroke quite as much.

 

[Xenomorph]

...most people drive way too 17ing fast?

 

[goindhoo]

nm

 

[Todd4State]

people really shouldn't be exercising in the street anyway. Especially if there is a sidewalk- I've seen people run in the street even though there is a sidewalk right by where they are running. That has never made sense to me. Someone could be going the speed limit or under and still hurt you really bad.

As far as biking because I'm not advocating biking on a sidewalk- we need more bike trails in Mississippi. The people that bike are literally forced to bike in the street because of the lack of places to bike. Which makes it dangerous for everybody- the drivers too.

But to me, the street is not an ideal place for any type of exercise.

Also, to answer your question- I'm actually much, much, much more concerned about heat stroke than anything- especially here in Mississippi in the summer. I have a much better chance of surviving being hit by a car than I do of surviving heat stroke. Plus, where I go to exercise, there are always other people exercising as well- so, if something were to happen to me, there are others there that could at least help me out or get medical help quickly. When you exercise alone, that's another risk you take as well. So, why take it?

 

[saltslugs]

So a driver crashes into a biker and then runs-over her again and your response is that these bikers need to stay off the roads?! First of all, bikers are required by law to stay on the roads (or at least off of sidewalks at any intersection). It doesn't matter if it is for "exercise" or not, the roads are to be shared.<div>
</div><div>As for runner, sidewalks (which are usually cement) are very bad on the joints. When one routinely partakes in long runs, the surface makes a huge difference. I've found, for instance, that I develop shinsplints easily on cement. </div><div>
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; ">"I'm actually much, much, much more concerned about heat stroke than anything- especially here in Mississippi in the summer. I have a much better chance of surviving being hit by a car than I do of surviving heat stroke. Plus, where I go to exercise, there are always other people exercising as well- so, if something were to happen to me, there are others there that could at least help me out or get medical help quickly. When you exercise alone, that's another risk you take as well. So, why take it?"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; ">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; ">Because I'm far more likely to die from an obesity-related problem than an exercise-alone-problem. It's not always feasible to exercise with others. It's dangerous to speed, smoke, eat fatty foods, etc. but we still engage in these activities. </span></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">
</span></font></div><div>
</div><div>
</div>

 

[00Dawg]

not a response. I seriously doubt this horrible incident changed his mind in this direction. Anyway, he has a valid point. While roads have recently been legally required to be "shared", most of them weren't designed for cars and bikes (or runners) at the same time. I live in a built-up old-style neighborhood with lots of twists and turns. Even going the 25 MPH speed limit, there are several places where if I run up on a biker who has decided to exercise his full right to the road, I have to make a quick reaction to avoid plowing over him. It's simply not safe for them.

 

[NashvilleBulldawg]

I will NEVER understand why people don't use the speaker phone option if they have to talk on a phone while driving.

 

[Seinfeld]

but while I always use speaker phone if I'm driving by myself, I don't ever use it if someone else is in the car. I guess it's just one of those privacy things that bugs me...

That said, it's wild to me how people now treat their car as a second office or phone booth. After turning on the car, literally the second thing that my wife does is take out her phone to call somebody. Anybody... I wonder how long it will be before legislation is passed to have cars deactivate phones if they're not docked or connected to bluetooth. Don't think it would be hard at all to run electrical interference through a car frame.

 

[tommyboy1520]

It wasn't that long ago that most people didn't have a cell phone. And we all made it from point A to point B just fine without a device glued to our ear.

No one NEEDS to talk on the phone while driving. Yet, because cell phones have become commonplace for everyone, it has somehow become a "need." It's stupid.

 

[ElectroSpanish]

I don't really want to bust your balls over this but the roads have not recently been legally required to be shared they've always been required to be shared. The share the road campaigns are simply about education so that more people understand what the law is and the purpose of the roads are. There are roads however (e.g. interstates) that aren't required to be shared.

Most cases where cyclist are hit and the motorist is clearly at fault (as in this case) the cyclist is hit intentionally or at least they are struck due to some jackass trying to buzz the cyclist and misjudging. People do strange things behind the wheel of a car. We hear about road rage all the time but not sidewalk rage. Put 5000 lbs of steel at the hands of some and everything becomes a target. I think that is as likely a theory in the case of Jan as that the driver wasn't paying attention due to the cell phone. Regardless, this is either a case of intent or negligence but not an accident. I will not let this tragedy keep me off the road just like I won't let what happened a Shipley's keep me from eating donuts.

If you are a disciplined cyclist who makes an effort to be visible, considerate, and predictable your chances of being hit by accident are very low and you are reasonably safe on the road. Probably as safe as a motorcyclist but I don't have any numbers to back up that assumption. The share the road campaigns are also about educating cyclists as well. As a regular bike commuter in Starkville I often see cyclists riding either against traffic or on the sidewalk, and very rarely signal. Sharing the road works both ways but bikes do belong. Jan's habits give every indication of an educated and disciplined cyclist who knows how to share the road.

As for runners, the roads aren't made for that activity and we run at our own peril but as has been pointed out the sidewalks aren't really made for running either. When running I try to be as vigilant as possible and I yield the road to all traffic. I am encroaching on a space where I don't belong and therefore I make every effort to give way and be safe.

 

[MrHooch]

this is inaccurate: "There are roads however (e.g. interstates) that aren't required to be shared. "

A bicycle is a vehicle as far as the law is concerned. That means they have every bit as much right, legally speaking, to be on ANY road that a car/truck/etc. does. That also means they can be assessed speeding tickets, moving violations, etc. There are people who cannot afford cars but do ride bikes to get from A to B. They have every right to use any public road, whether it's a street or an interstate.

You are right that there are cyclists who are not aware of the laws or are not respecting them, though. It's not a one-sided situation at all.

Those of you asking about my mother, she has been "stable" for the last 3 days or so. I use the term stable loosely because she is still in the ICU and any number of things could go wrong at any moment, but as for the last few days she has not had any backsliding to speak of, so that is good. Her lungs are still in bad shape, she has fractures all over her body including one of her vertebrae, bruising and bleeding in her brain, and so on. She was responsive to doctors when she arrived at the hospital but has been kept in a controlled coma since then so we have not been able to speak with her since the 'accident.'

Like I said I'm not telling you all this in the hopes of garnering sympathy or prayers or anything like that, I just want people to understand that just because someone is on a bike as opposed to in a car does not mean they don't belong on the roads. Just imagine that biker or pedestrian is a friend or loved one of yours, and act accordingly.