Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Faygo Kid

(21,477 posts)
Fri Jan 13, 2012, 09:31 PM Jan 2012

Car strikes actor Gene Hackman, 81, in Islamorada

Hackman airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center
By Wayne K. Roustan, Sun Sentinel

Actor Gene Hackman, 81, was airlifted to the Ryder Trauma Center in Miami on Friday after a car struck the bicycle he was riding in Islamorada, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Hackman was heading southbound near the 88 mile marker on the Old Highway around 3 p.m. when struck from behind by the right front fender of a 2007 Toyota Tundra driven by Kathryn Rodriguez, 60, or Islamorada, FHP Sergeant Thomas E. Pikul said.

"We're not sure who was at fault yet because that's still under investigation but the vehicle hit the bicycle and he was ejected off the bike and airlifted to Ryder Trauma with leg and bodily injuries," Pikul said.

Hackman was said to be awake and alert and in good condition as he was being transported to the hospital in Miami, according to Pikul.

Hackman won Oscars as best actor in The French Connection and best supporting actor in Unforgiven. He was nominated five times. The veteran actor's first big movie role was in Bonnie and Clyde in 1967.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-gene-hackman-hit-in-keys-20120113,0,2231739,print.story

Wow, I hope he's OK. Airlifted. He's one of the all-time greats; too many fantastic performances to list here.

61 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Car strikes actor Gene Hackman, 81, in Islamorada (Original Post) Faygo Kid Jan 2012 OP
Oh NO! PearliePoo2 Jan 2012 #1
*ahem* TlalocW Jan 2012 #9
You liked Heartbreakers? boppers Jan 2012 #16
What was wrong with "Marooned"? TheDebbieDee Jan 2012 #17
? Hissyspit Jan 2012 #26
MST3K made "Marooned" an instant classic. WilliamPitt Jan 2012 #36
I love MST3K, but that's one I can't get through even with Joel and the Bots helping TlalocW Jan 2012 #56
Yes, he's ubiquitous. Hope he heals quickly! Fire Walk With Me Jan 2012 #2
Hope he recovers liberal N proud Jan 2012 #3
Other outlets are saying he's going to be OK. Faygo Kid Jan 2012 #4
81!? AlecBGreen Jan 2012 #5
I read online where he was released, let me find the link. sarcasmo Jan 2012 #6
D*mn, I hope he's ok.... a kennedy Jan 2012 #7
Yikes! How awful! Rhiannon12866 Jan 2012 #8
Riding a bike at 81? Brigid Jan 2012 #10
What's the cutoff age for bicycle riding? virgogal Jan 2012 #12
You just don't see . . . Brigid Jan 2012 #19
I wish him a speedy recovery. But if we were all able to afford the top notch health care that he totodeinhere Jan 2012 #48
The day one damn well decides to stop or has to for physical reasons lunatica Jan 2012 #33
"Hackman was said to be awake and alert and in good condition..." unkachuck Jan 2012 #11
I am sure his family, friends, fans and all who loved him care... ScreamingMeemie Jan 2012 #15
Jeez Webster Green Jan 2012 #22
He's been retired from acting for several years. Frank Cannon Jan 2012 #28
I care lunatica Jan 2012 #34
What a dumb thing to say... RetroLounge Jan 2012 #43
I hope he will be okay. man4allcats Jan 2012 #13
I'm a big fan of Gene Hackman. Aristus Jan 2012 #14
Local TeeVee news just reported he's back in his home with a few cuts and bruises Bozita Jan 2012 #18
ty for that update..appreciate it. dixiegrrrrl Jan 2012 #39
Get well Gene Dumak Jan 2012 #20
Or work for a living. Hassin Bin Sober Jan 2012 #57
I just love that he was riding a bike. Hope he'll be o.k. SleeplessinSoCal Jan 2012 #21
That article reads so oddly ... 99th_Monkey Jan 2012 #23
Lol secondvariety Jan 2012 #32
Enemy of the State just started on FX... GReedDiamond Jan 2012 #53
I like that movie very much. Jon Voight gets his. Faygo Kid Jan 2012 #54
...'I don't deserve this... to get run over like this. I was building a house'... KG Jan 2012 #24
I watched the 'French Connection' DippyDem Jan 2012 #25
The Conversation is, IMHO, one of the greatest movies ever made. Frank Cannon Jan 2012 #29
He must have been wearing a helmet PuraVidaDreamin Jan 2012 #27
He wears the skull of a bear as a helmet. Frank Cannon Jan 2012 #30
Great actor, the movie "The Package" showed a how to for a JFK type assasination jakeXT Jan 2012 #31
So many great ones, but he was memorable in "Mississippi Burning" Faygo Kid Jan 2012 #35
WTH? "We're not sure who was at fault yet ..." Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel Jan 2012 #37
And he was struck from behind mainer Jan 2012 #38
Depending on that particular stretch... Skelly Jan 2012 #41
Even if this is a public roadway parallel to a bike path, bicyclists are still allowed on the road. Gormy Cuss Jan 2012 #44
all laws Skelly Jan 2012 #51
That motto is a good one. Gormy Cuss Jan 2012 #55
Texas too, but there are bad drivers everywhere. Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel Jan 2012 #42
I think Floridians are the worst drivers mainer Jan 2012 #45
I blame the Islamoradas. JackRiddler Jan 2012 #40
"Car strikes actor Gene Hackman" greiner3 Jan 2012 #46
The only thing surprising about this story tawadi Jan 2012 #47
Yet the Caine-Hackman Theory remains... un-disprovenated.... sofa king Jan 2012 #49
"God bless Field Marshall Montgomery." Strelnikov_ Jan 2012 #50
oh yeah angel823 Jan 2012 #52
I was hit in my Islamorada once too. That HURT, ohhh! n/t the_chinuk Jan 2012 #58
PS: Chuck Norris doesn't live because he can … he lives because Gene Hackman lets him. n/t the_chinuk Jan 2012 #59
wtf?! WhiteShoesATL Jan 2012 #60
JFC...Hackman is 81?? Blue_Tires Jan 2012 #61

Hissyspit

(45,788 posts)
26. ?
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 08:07 AM
Jan 2012

The scene where Gregory Peck's NASA head lets the mission commander know that one of the astronauts must sacrifice themselves is very moving.

TlalocW

(15,359 posts)
56. I love MST3K, but that's one I can't get through even with Joel and the Bots helping
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 08:38 PM
Jan 2012

It's just me.

TlalocW

Rhiannon12866

(203,037 posts)
8. Yikes! How awful!
Fri Jan 13, 2012, 10:16 PM
Jan 2012

This would be serious for anyone, but it's especially traumatic for someone over 80... Hope he heals soon.

Brigid

(17,621 posts)
19. You just don't see . . .
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 01:09 AM
Jan 2012

Too many 81-year-olds still spry enough to ride a bike. That's all I meant.

totodeinhere

(13,037 posts)
48. I wish him a speedy recovery. But if we were all able to afford the top notch health care that he
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 03:36 PM
Jan 2012

can then probably a lot more of us could ride bikes in our eighties.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
33. The day one damn well decides to stop or has to for physical reasons
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 09:49 AM
Jan 2012

And most people have the decision made for them as they grow old. Yes. I used the word old because 81 is up there with old.

 

unkachuck

(6,295 posts)
11. "Hackman was said to be awake and alert and in good condition..."
Fri Jan 13, 2012, 10:48 PM
Jan 2012

....thank goodness....

....but really....Hackman hasn't made a good movie in a long time....who cares.

Frank Cannon

(7,570 posts)
28. He's been retired from acting for several years.
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 08:58 AM
Jan 2012

But come on, when the guy was making movies, he was awesome. He's one of those rare actors that makes even a shitty movie somewhat watchable just by being in it.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
34. I care
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 09:50 AM
Jan 2012

but evidently you don't. Whatever. Maybe you should have shown how little you care by ignoring this thread instead of dissing Gene Hackman.

RetroLounge

(37,250 posts)
43. What a dumb thing to say...
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 12:46 PM
Jan 2012

I'm pretty sure a hell of a lot more people care about him than will ever care about you.



RL

Dumak

(399 posts)
20. Get well Gene
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 02:33 AM
Jan 2012

Hit by a Toyota Tundra. A big-ass pickup truck, usually driven by people who think they own the road.

 

99th_Monkey

(19,326 posts)
23. That article reads so oddly ...
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 05:03 AM
Jan 2012

"he was ejected off the bike and airlifted to Ryder Trauma with leg and bodily injuries" ...

Sounds like he never even hit the ground, going directly from bike to mid-airlift.

Glad he was showing strong signs of life in route. Get well soon Gene!


Drat.. i really love Mr Hackman ... esp in "Enemy of the State",

but many others.

secondvariety

(1,245 posts)
32. Lol
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 09:28 AM
Jan 2012

Those are some johnny-on-the-spot emergency techs.

Seriously though, I wish Mr. Hackman all the best.

GReedDiamond

(5,299 posts)
53. Enemy of the State just started on FX...
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 06:07 PM
Jan 2012

...2 pm Pacific time.

I did some costume graphics in EotS, on a jacket Mr. Hackman's character wears (I "aged" it).

Faygo Kid

(21,477 posts)
54. I like that movie very much. Jon Voight gets his.
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 08:09 PM
Jan 2012

However, it's football Saturday. Still, another good movie, if a reach. Never a bad performance from Hackman.

DippyDem

(658 posts)
25. I watched the 'French Connection'
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 06:44 AM
Jan 2012

It seems that the movie wasn't made that long ago and now he's 81...geez time flies. I thought that was a great movie.
Get well, Gene.

Faygo Kid

(21,477 posts)
35. So many great ones, but he was memorable in "Mississippi Burning"
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 10:36 AM
Jan 2012

That's a personal favorite. Powerful performance.

&feature=player_popout
37. WTH? "We're not sure who was at fault yet ..."
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 11:48 AM
Jan 2012

He was struck with a car, what else do they want?

Happen to me a long time ago, took a while to stop limping and hurting (after month in hospital). I am a lot younger than he is so I hope he gets better soon.

Skelly

(238 posts)
41. Depending on that particular stretch...
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 12:22 PM
Jan 2012

of the road, he could possibly be at fault. Islamorada has awesome bike paths through most of their islands. Not sure of a need to use the road, nor would I ever even try. Motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, etc are very popular down here. We have campaigns on 'sharing the road', especially in areas with no bike routes. However, the number of accidents is still very high (in my opinion), mostly due to people in a hurry to get to their vacation destination. Many are not used to sharing the road.

Gormy Cuss

(30,884 posts)
44. Even if this is a public roadway parallel to a bike path, bicyclists are still allowed on the road.
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 01:29 PM
Jan 2012

Yes, it's true that many drivers aren't used to sharing the road but that's not a valid excuse. He was hit from behind, which suggests he was traveling on the correct side of the road. In general when a driver hits a vehicle from behind the fault is assigned mostly to the hitting driver, not the hit.

However, if Hackman was inebriated, riding erratically, or if he was crossing the travel lane in a crosswalk he would be at fault.

Skelly

(238 posts)
51. all laws
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 05:16 PM
Jan 2012

are a bit screwy down in the keys. Probably why 'fault' hasn't yet been determined. Some laws are totally ignored by the police (and subsequently ignored by motorists), others can enforced to a ridiculous extent. Depends on the municipality and the enforcement agency (we have at least a half dozen law enforcement agencies...all can give you a ticket...a border control agent recently fined a friend $250 because ONE (of two) license plate lights was burnt out). I ride on the sidewalk (which is legal here, not all places). Even then, I always keep an eye out for cars because they never see us. Like the old motorcycle motto: Ride like you are invisible, but not indestructible.

Gormy Cuss

(30,884 posts)
55. That motto is a good one.
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 08:31 PM
Jan 2012

I definitely ride as if I'm invisible to most drivers. I cede my right-of-way rather than tangle with a car. It's much safer that way.

mainer

(12,013 posts)
45. I think Floridians are the worst drivers
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 02:17 PM
Jan 2012

I traveled only about five miles on a Miami road with lots of strip malls. Almost got into three accidents caused by drivers rolling out of driveways without looking. None of them was younger than 80.

 

greiner3

(5,214 posts)
46. "Car strikes actor Gene Hackman"
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 02:52 PM
Jan 2012

I don't know who would have the upper hand in the ensuing duel but my bet would go with Gene as he has played some real mean dudes in movies. Besides, if he was riding a bike he still has pretty good motor skills and the motorist clearly does not.

sofa king

(10,857 posts)
49. Yet the Caine-Hackman Theory remains... un-disprovenated....
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 03:43 PM
Jan 2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCU_%28film%29

http://jgwarren.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/194/

It is theorized that at any time in the world, a film starring either Michael Caine or Gene Hackman is playing.


The magical frame in which Michael Caine and Gene Hackman were first seen together in film history is at around 8:22 in this clip:


Strelnikov_

(7,772 posts)
50. "God bless Field Marshall Montgomery."
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 03:54 PM
Jan 2012

Just before jumping into Arnhem.

Hackman as Gen. Sosaboski

Lt. Gen. Frederick Browning: Only the weather can stop us now.

General Stanislaw Sosaboski: Weather. What of the Germans, General Browning. Don't you think that if we know Arnhem is so critical to their safety that they might know it too?

Lt. General Frederick Browning: See here, General Sosaboski, I should think you would have more faith in Field Marshal Montgomery's plan.

General Stanislaw Sosaboski: Faith? I will tell you how much faith I have. I am thinking of asking for a letter from you stating that I was ordered to go on this mission in case my men are massacred.

Lt. General Frederick Browning: I see... I do see. Do you wish such a letter?

General Stanislaw Sosaboski: No... In the case of massacre: what difference will it make?

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Car strikes actor Gene Ha...