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Car, bicycle crash serves as reminder for drivers, riders to be on lookout |
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Wednesday, April 09 2008 |
By CHRIS MEYERS
Staff writer
The driver of an SUV that struck a bicyclist in Columbia City on Sunday did see the cyclist, but not until it was too late to avoid a collision, according to a recently completed crash report on the incident.
The report states that a Jeep Cherokee driven by 47-year-old Columbia City resident Kellie King was northbound on Oak Street at the intersection with Ellsworth Street when the wreck occurred.
She told police she stopped at the stop sign, looked both ways and started to pull forward, at which point she saw 35-year-old Ken Lundquist riding toward her.
Lundquist was eastbound on Ellsworth Street, which does not have a stop sign at the intersection, when he was struck by the SUV, according to the report.
The wreck was the first of two in the past few days involving a two-wheeled vehicle, such as a motorcycle or bicycle.
At about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, a motorcyclist apparently laid his bike down in a curve in the Lincoln Pointe subdivision east of Columbia City, according to initial reports.
No serious injuries were reported. Initial reports indicated the driver tested above the .08 legal limit for blood alcohol content, but a blood draw was also taken to ensure the accuracy of the results.
Whitley County Sheriff Mark Hodges said today that responsibility for the safety of those on two-wheeled vehicles doesn’t only rest with car and truck drivers, it also rests with those on the motorcycles or bicycles.
According to Indiana State Code, any motorcycle made after Jan. 1, 1956 has to have a headlight on during the day.
For bicyclists, many of the laws that apply to motorized vehicles also apply to pedal bikes, such as riding on the right side of the road and obeying all road signs.
Further laws regarding safety and reflectors also apply to bicyclists.
“There are statutes that apply to the needed equipment,” Hodges said, but added that those in motor vehicles also have to be on the lookout for bikes and motorcycles.
“Drivers need to be vigilant for one headlight coming at them and realize that it may be a motorcycle” instead of a car with a headlight out,” he said.
When driving at night, car and truck drivers may find themselves rapidly gaining on a single tail light only to find that it’s a mo-ped that is unable to go the speed limit.
Taking a few extra moments at intersections to check for bikes and motorcycle is another way to ensure that riders make it safely through the summer. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, April 10 2008 )
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