Strike Two: Another Cyclist Injured by Hit-and-Run Driver
KOMO is reporting that, early this morning, yet another cyclist was hit by a motor vehicle--and yet again, the driver kept right on going.
This is the second hit-and-run accident involving a cyclist in just over a week, and the third car/bike accident in as many days. This morning's cyclist is fortunate--the 25-year-old, who was not wearing a helmet**, is expected to survive. Neither of the other two riders who have been struck in the last 10 days did.
Last night, a 70-year-old man on a bicycle was struck and killed in Renton. The driver in that accident did stop and was interviewed--but was not arrested. And last week, Mike Wang was also killed in traffic. And, like this morning's accident, the driver did not stop. That driver is still at large.
The driver in this morning's accident was spotted by witnesses after pulling into a fast food restaurant, the Seattle Police report states. The witnesses were able to get the license plate number of the car, leading police to the vehicle, but not the driver. The investigation is on-going.
It's easy to find blame in each of these accidents. With the driver who doesn't stop to help a person who's been injured, with a cyclist who cuts across lanes without gesturing, with roads that just aren't safe enough for Seattle's volume of riders.*** But to be honest, regardless of the reason, 3 accidents and 2 deaths in just under 1 week is pretty unacceptable.
**Dear cyclists: we're not victim-blaming here, but seriously, wear a damn helmet.
***Full disclosure: I ride a bike and drive a car. And as both a cyclist and a driver, I have been irritated by the behavior of the other on many occasions. Sometimes bicyclists are dicks. Sometimes drivers are dicks. But cyclists who are dicks rarely kill motorists.
