cyclist killed by hit-and-run driver -- and I saw the poor dead soul

[Bertha Venation]

http://www.wtop.com/index.php?sid=183892&nid=25
Hit-and-Run Driver Kills Bicyclist
Updated: Friday, Mar. 26, 2004 - 10:18 AM

WASHINGTON - D.C. Police are looking for a hit-and-run driver after a bicyclist was struck and killed on South Capitol Street, SW.
The man on a bicycle was struck by some type of truck, possibly a trash truck, in the 1300 block of South Capitol Street, SW.

It happened about 8:10 a.m. Witnesses are being questioned.

Police have been given conflicting descriptions of the truck.

Commander Thomas McGuire says a number of trucks travel in the area to haul materials to construction sites along the Anacostia waterfront.

~end~

This is on my route to work. It was in the road headed in the opposite direction. Jesus, lord, I saw the yellow tarp . . . .

[GOPisEvil]

1. How horrible!

Motorists, for the post part, treat cyclists horribly in most of the US.

How sad. :-(

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. Oh how horrible-I'm so sorry!

I had the misfortune of seeing a terrible bike accident myself, but thankfully, the kid survived. In the Boston area, a lot of people commute on bikes so accidents are unfortunately quite common.

It is truly unnerving when something like this happens. Take care!

[bif]

3. Very sad

Sorry you had to witness it. Whenever I see an accident on the road, I look straight ahead and try not to witness anything horrible. I try to counter the rubbernecks trying to get a good look.

[Bertha Venation]

6. when the traffic I was in began to slow,

I began to cry, and to rant: "MOVE ON NOTHING TO SEE HERE IDIOTS!"

Everyone could see the entire accident scene and the yellow tarp because we were above it, coming off the crest of the Frederick Douglass Bridge that spans the Anacostia River in SE Washington. By the time we got to the accident site, the jersey wall mercifully blocked the view of the tarp and the soul beneath it. But you should've seen the seated butt-raises and the craned necks around me. It was pathetic.

[HuckleB]

4. Alas, nonpolluters must face such terrors every day.

Interestingly, the one way known to diminish bike injuries per capita is to get more people on bikes, thus forcing motorists to learn to drive with them and share the road.

My thoughts are with this cyclist's friends and family.

[m-jean03]

5. That's awful, Bertha.

I saw the aftermath of a pedestrian death by car, just happened a week ago. You'd have to have nerves of steel not to be upset by something like that.

And this makes me so mad. I have dealt with so many incourtesies on my bike, and my brother has some incredible tales to tell from his days as a bike messenger in Chicago. It's amazing HE survived.

May this man rest in peace.

[Bertha Venation]

7. yes, I remember reading your post

Bike messengers take their lives in their hands daily. This cyclist today wasn't a bike messenger -- this was outside the business area. It's a very, very poor and mean urban area, and I imagine he was just some poor slob trying to get to his job.

I pray God they find the mofo bastard who blew the scene and throw him under the god-damned jail.

[ellie]

11. I once saw someone

get hit by a car. He was trying to cross a busy street and the car hit him. He went up over the windshield and hit the pavement. He died. They covered him up with a yellow tarp but it was windy and it kept blowing up so you could see him. And there was a thin stream of blood that pooled in the middle of the street. It was awful. I looked in the paper and there was a small five-line mention, that is it.

[burythehatchet]

8. I know that's tough

when I was about 9 I saw a man get run over by a bus right in front of me. 34 years later that memory is still seared in my head.

But then I'm the type to get a chill when I drive pas road kill.

Nothin' you can do. Just pray If that's your thing.

[nini]

9. I saw a guy hit once on a bike.. the driver took off too.

this guy lived though, but it was UGLY.


still gives me the creeps.

[Insider]

10. may he rest in peace

after such a dreadful death

btw, my grandmother was devout catholic and used to cross herself (is that the right phrase?). after driving her around so much, i started doing it too anytime i pass an accident. i am not catholic but it seemed like a decent way to recognize people who were in trouble on the road.

[toddzilla]

12. This is why i gave up road biking.

I only ride MTB now, can't get hit by a truck in the woods. Sad to see how often this happens.