[Geodyssey]

Originally Posted by WingedFoot78

Bikes don't stop for anybody it seems.

I hope you're not allowed to drive anything- car, cart, or bike.

Just stay inside and watch sportsball.

[Geodyssey]

Originally Posted by Fastskiguy

A guy is just riding along hillsborough having a wonderful morning and taken out by somebody else's mistake, so sad.

Joe

Mistake? Like "oopsie, sorry you're dead old man"?

More like negligence. Failure to obey traffic laws.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by rrtjp

What nobody has mentioned or thought of was the fact the bicyclist was not transported to a “trauma center “ there is no trauma center close by so he was transported to the nearest hospital. Would it have made a difference in his outcome if a trauma center was close??
Before my retirement I had worked almost 30 years at a hospital that was a trauma center and I can tell you trauma centers and all the professionals working in trauma centers are better trained to handle accidents like this and all other trauma accidents for that matter. When we moved here I was pretty surprised when I learned that there is no trauma center close by.
Why isn’t there a trauma center nearby?
IMHO we need one in this area.

UF has a fully staffed 24/7 chopper sitting waiting on a pad. Can be ready to lift off soon as bus arrives and patient is evaluated. However any responsible bike, or runner/walker will have medical info, attached to shirt, along with contact info, and where they should be transported should an event happen.

[Geodyssey]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

There are very few "accidents". A deer jumping unexpectedly into your path, in a way that avoiding hitting it is impossible, while you are traveling at or below the speed limit is an accident. A meteorite hitting your car is an accident. A tree limb falling on your car (yes, it has happened) is an accident. You get the picture. But any occurrence that causes damage or injury, caused by either an error of omission or commission on the part of one (or more) of those involved is NOT an accident. And given the circumstances it can be, and very often is, a crime.

This woman was driving while circumstances prevented her from getting a clear view of anything that could possibly lead to an incident. The "circumstance" was the sun and the "incident" lead to a death. It was this woman's responsibility to see what was ahead or just to the side of her. She knowingly (and admittedly) kept on driving during a time when the circumstance made this impossible. She SHOULD have pulled over and done something to assure that she COULD see what was there. She did not.

This was no accident.

Well-said.

[Geodyssey]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

None of that matters as he was hit by the golf cart driver who turned in front of the cyclist and caused the accident...

According to reports, the cyclist was driving straight on Hillsborough and the cart driver turned in front of him, not seeing him due to being "blinded by the sun" (her words).

Even if he WAS wearing a helmet, he still could have died from the trauma.

It happened at 8:30 am, so it wasn't dark...

Ear buds would have changed anything, since the cart driver "didn't see him" so how could music play a role?

To me, it sounds like you're making excuses for the cart driver...

In short, what rustyp is saying is "it was the bike rider's fault".

It's obvious from the comments that many Villagers hate bike riders.

[Geodyssey]

Originally Posted by RUCdaze

I'm certainly not defending the woman who should have been far more careful, but bicycles in /the Villages are a terrific hazard and should be curtailed or restricted.

Should they be banned?

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by Geodyssey

In short, what rustyp is saying is "it was the bike rider's fault".

It's obvious from the comments that many Villagers hate bike riders.

Not true at all - Rustyp is saying the cyclist was right - dead right !

[LuvNH]

Originally Posted by rustyp

Not true at all - Rustyp is saying the cyclist was right - dead right !

Oh, that brings back memories. My Dad used to say "you want to be right, or dead right". In this case, I don't think the cyclist had an alternative.

My husband gave up riding his bike when a golf cart went past him with the curtains of the cart loose and flapping around. The flaplping loose enclosure got into trhe spokes of his wheel and brought him down. To add insult to injury, she did not even stop and that made him realize this was not the place to ride a bike safely. Thankfully, I still have him.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Windguy

This is the second person from our club to be hit in the early morning. Both drivers that hit them said they had been blinded by the sun. I won’t ride when the sun is low.

Originally Posted by NoMo50

After reading many of the comments following my original post, a few clarifying remarks may be in order:

1. The crash happened on a street, not a MMP.
2. It occurred around 8:30am, not pm. Therefore, the sun was rising, not setting.
3. The bicyclist, at the location of the crash, had 100% the right of way.
4. Despite how anyone feels about bicyclists in general, this particular individual had no obligation to yield to the golf cart, whatsoever.
5. The cart driver, claiming the sun was in her eyes, has an excuse, but not a defense.

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Perhaps this is what the golf cart driver did. We don't know. We know there was a collision but we don't have the detailed information necessary to know how it could have been avoided.

Originally Posted by rustyp

Wow how fast was this cyclist going to result in death ? Did he have a helmet and /or other protective gear on ? How about one of those flashing headlights like they use on motorcycles ? Did he see the cart driver merge from the cart lane into the car lane before the turn took place ? Perhaps he was wearing earphones and listening to tunes.

Two sides to every coin as the attorneys will now litigate.

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I wouldn't bet that no one thought of transporting him to the nearest trauma center. Not being familiar with the protocols involved or the condition of the man when the EMTs arrived, I would assume he received the best possible care. If he was not transported to a trauma center there was likely a reason.

It appears there are trauma centers in Tampa, Orlando, Ocala, Gainesville, and possibly a few in Lake County.

First and most important, condolences to the family. An 80 year old healthy enough to be riding bicycles in a club was killed in a senseless accident.

Having read all the posts in this thread, I have to agree that none of us have enough information to speculate about this tragedy. But for what it's worth, I have several questions and comments.

According to the not to be named news source, this gentleman was riding westbound from his home in Charlotte to the Bradenton Rec center to join his club for a ride----if so, why was he at the intersection of Hillsborough and Ichabod? That would mean he missed his turn onto Anna Maria by 1/4 mile. Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

There is no question that the cyclist had the right of way (or more precisely the cart driver had to yield the right of way). I drive eastbound in my cart on Hillsborough 4-5x/week, at similar times to this accident with the sun in my eyes, and turn onto Inverary---the next block from this accident. There is absolutely no problem at all making this turn and seeing oncoming vehicles---just have to use a hand to block out the sun.

Like Rustyp, I do also wonder whether the cyclist anticipated the cart turning---after all she had to merge into the car lane, with or without turn signal or hand signal (unknown), all in plain sight of the oncoming cyclist. The illegal turn and subsequent collision is certainly NOT his fault, but is it possible he could have avoided it by braking or swerving?

Lastly, about the time of the accident my wife was driving along Powell/462, and a medical transport helicopter was taking off from the field. So it is possible the victim WAS transported to a trauma center. I think the statement that "no one thought of moving him to a trauma center" is a bit naive.

[rrtjp]

Just sad.

[bimmertl]

Originally Posted by rustyp

Wow how fast was this cyclist going to result in death ? Did he have a helmet and /or other protective gear on ? How about one of those flashing headlights like they use on motorcycles ? Did he see the cart driver merge from the cart lane into the car lane before the turn took place ? Perhaps he was wearing earphones and listening to tunes.

Two sides to every coin as the attorneys will now litigate.

There won't be any "litigation". It's a simple case of failure to yield, there are no facts in dispute. Cart driver admits to never seeing cyclist. There is no defense for her actions. Golf carts insurance carrier will offer the policy limits. Hopefully there is enough coverage to protect the golf cart driver from additional personal exposure.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by bimmertl

There won't be any "litigation". It's a simple case of failure to yield, there are no facts in dispute. Cart driver admits to never seeing cyclist. There is no defense for her actions. Golf carts insurance carrier will offer the policy limits. Hopefully there is enough coverage to protect the golf cart driver from additional personal exposure.

I wished I lived in a black and white world. How do we know all the facts - because it was reported by the news ? Here is a situation stimulating food for thought :

For example, suppose someone is driving under the influence (drugs or alcohol) and crashes into a car where the other driver ran a red light. Both violated the Vehicle & Traffic law. Both violations would likely be determined by a jury to be a legal cause of the crash. Hypothetically, a jury may find the impaired driver to be more at fault, as if they hadn’t been impaired and driving, they might have had better reflexes to stop before hitting the driver running the red light. Then a jury might say the impaired driver is 70% responsible, while the driver running the red light is 30% responsible.

A classic case taught at IDP - Impaired Drivers Programs.

[rrtjp]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

First and most important, condolences to the family. An 80 year old healthy enough to be riding bicycles in a club was killed in a senseless accident.

Having read all the posts in this thread, I have to agree that none of us have enough information to speculate about this tragedy. But for what it's worth, I have several questions and comments.

According to the not to be named news source, this gentleman was riding westbound from his home in Charlotte to the Bradenton Rec center to join his club for a ride----if so, why was he at the intersection of Hillsborough and Ichabod? That would mean he missed his turn onto Anna Maria by 1/4 mile. Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

There is no question that the cyclist had the right of way (or more precisely the cart driver had to yield the right of way). I drive eastbound in my cart on Hillsborough 4-5x/week, at similar times to this accident with the sun in my eyes, and turn onto Inverary---the next block from this accident. There is absolutely no problem at all making this turn and seeing oncoming vehicles---just have to use a hand to block out the sun.

Like Rustyp, I do also wonder whether the cyclist anticipated the cart turning---after all she had to merge into the car lane, with or without turn signal or hand signal (unknown), all in plain sight of the oncoming cyclist. The illegal turn and subsequent collision is certainly NOT his fault, but is it possible he could have avoided it by braking or swerving?

Lastly, about the time of the accident my wife was driving along Powell/462, and a medical transport helicopter was taking off from the field. So it is possible the victim WAS transported to a trauma center. I think the statement that "no one thought of moving him to a trauma center" is a bit naive.

Naive?
I know he was NOT transported to a trauma center.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by rrtjp

Naive?
I know he was NOT transported to a trauma center.

Were you the responding EMT?????

Besides, NOT transported is different from "no one thought of it". I can pretty much guarantee that the EMTs would "think of it" in any serious trauma case. In fact, as a former ATLS instructor, I would be severely disappointed in any EMT that didn't.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by RUCdaze

I'm certainly not defending the woman who should have been far more careful, but bicycles in /the Villages are a terrific hazard and should be curtailed or restricted.

It isn't the bicycles that are the hazard, but the blatant disregard of the rules of the road and the ditching of hard common sense by bicycle riders, automobile drivers and golf cart jockeys. This tragedy wouldn't have happened if the woman driving the golf cart had bothered to recognize the situation as the dangerous one that it was, and had pulled over and done something to make things safer.

That said, I doubt that there is another group in TV that is as cordially disliked as are bicyclists, particularly the groups of such one encounters usually early in the morning. "Passive-aggressive" and "entitled" are the two words that come immediately to mind. Automobile drivers dislike them because they slow things down on the streets and roads. People frequenting the MMPs dislike them because they're an unwelcome third element between walkers and golf carts, thus complicating things for both. I confess to some of the same irrational feelings at times, particularly when I see a group of maybe ten have the lead bicycle hit an orange light just before it turns red, and then have the entire mob casually pedal on through the red light while automobile drivers with the GREEN light sit and seethe.

Rational? Nope. But emotions rarely are.