PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A bicyclist was struck by a pickup truck in the Friendship section of Pittsburgh.
The cyclist, a man believed to be in his 30’s, was hit from behind by the truck in the 100-block of South Negley Avenue.
The driver of the truck told KDKA-TV that when he looked up, the bike was right in front of him. [WTF was the driver doing for 2 blocks? Was this a day or night accident? Was the cyclist lit up? Why are there so many holes in the reportage?]
The cyclist was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital.
There is no word on his condition.
Pittsburgh Police took the bike for evidence.
Q1: Any word on the victim or his condition?
Q2: Why didn't the cops take the TRUCK for evidence? Would be too much of a burden on the poor motorist, I suppose. But... that could be something to push for in the laws. You hit someone on a bike, your vehicle is confiscated as evidence until all proceedings have been worked out. They take the victim's vehicle, they should take yours too.
Q3: Why is there no mention of the 4 foot rule in the article? Seems that it would have been a good time to mention it, being that it was Happy 4 Foot Day.
Sharp contrast to coverage of a similar accident that happened on a bridge in Bethlehem on the same day. Driver cited under new bicycle law after striking cyclist on Fahy Bridge.
"If there's an impact between the car and cyclist we can say without a doubt there was no four-foot room given... They're providing more protection for cyclists, and we're certainly going to use that section for this instance." -Bethlehem Police Commissioner Jason Schiffer
KDKA at least made an effort to mention it, so give them credit for that. No other local media did, as far as I can see on the googles.
Kdka can suck my balls. I am surprised they didn't say something like "self-proclaimed cyclist" or mention the pope or have Marty Griffen say something stupid. Sorry.. Those are all good questions and I hope someone here has some answers. But I do agree with whoever mentioned it before also that if the driver said he looked up, then it sounds like he was looking down and not paying attention.
Again, no listing of this accident in the Zone 5 Police Log for Monday, April 2nd. That despite the removal of the bike from the scene by police (the rough equivalent of a towing, in my mind) and the cyclist was taken to a hospital (presumably by ambulance or squad car).
I see that the KDKA piece is time stamped 9:55 p.m. That would make it after dark these days. Ninja perhaps?
Anyone have more information?
If the person ridding the bike was unconscious maybe the police just picked up the bike with plans on giving it back. The report says the bike was taken for evidence, but if they don’t have a police report available at the time of the story this is more BS journalism.
I had to go pick up a person’s bike last year on Second Av after an accident. They put the guy in the back of an ambulance after an accident and then just left his bike on the sidewalk.
When I witnessed a bike accident on Carson at the Birminham Bridge a couple of years ago, the victim's girlfriend was close enough to be able to pick him up and take him to a hospital (or home). The local paramedics/fire truck that responded to the call agreed to store his bike at the fire house until he could retrieve it. That was above and beyond what they were required to do, but it solved the problem of what to do with an unrideable bike and a rather severely injured cyclist.
The bicyclist who got hit is one of my good friend's little brother. His mom volunteers with Bike Pittsburgh. I'm doing some digging into the 4-foot passing law being upheld. I sent an email to some contacts of mine in the police department.
Sorry to hear that Scott. Hope he's doing ok.
Yeah, I'm sure you don't want to post details here but I hope he's relatively ok.
