Car hits cycling group in Arkansas, injuring 7

[Wuwei]

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Arkansas State Police say a car has struck a group of cyclists on a cross-country trip, injuring seven people.

http://wreg.com/2013/07/02/highway-crash-injures-cyclists-in-arkansas/

[TwoWheeledExplorer]

Update: The most critically injured rider, 18-year-old Merritt Levitan, from Massachusetts died from her injuries on Thursday, in a Memphis, TN, hospital. Levitan was one of three riders airlifted from the scene. According to the sponsoring group's website, two of the riders have been released from the hospital, and the others remain hospitalized; one is still listed in critical condition. Overland Camps, the sponsor, has decided to cancel the rest of the cross-country trip and arrangements are being made to transport the remaining riders home. Arkansas State Troopers report alcohol was not a factor in the crash, but also that the case has been turned over to the county prosecutor for possible further action.

Sad reminder that whenever you ride on the road, take every precaution you can to stay safe out there, particularly in this era of deadly distracted drivers.

Ride safe,
Hans

[driftlessregion]

WE WERE NOT THERE to know what happened.  But, I have to wonder when SEVEN cyclists are injured in ONE event, whether there was anything they could have done in the realm of precautions.

[TwoWheeledExplorer]

WE WERE NOT THERE to know what happened.  But, I have to wonder when SEVEN cyclists are injured in ONE event, whether there was anything they could have done in the realm of precautions.

Why are you yelling at me, driftless? No, I was not there, but looking at about a dozen photos from the scene, it was a straight, level, open stretch of road, so the driver should have been able to see the riders well in advance. (I am a park ranger, and trained in accident investigation.) Be that as it may, we need to take precautions anytime we ride on the roadway, right? This is tragic, no matter what, but even more so if the driver was distracted for whatever reason. We had another cyclist killed in MN yesterday by a hit-and-run driver. I don't have a good solution; I just think any cycling death is too many.

Ride safe,
Hans

[driftlessregion]

Whoa, you misunderstood me.  I totally agree that at first glance to the few facts we have I can find no fault with the cyclists. Especially with 7 hit at once.
Sorry for the poorly written post.

[summerbee]

I live in Fayetteville, AR which is in the NW corner of the state and a good distance away. I'm sure the needs of the cyclists have been met, but; would gladly offer what help I could should anyone hear of anything.

[Westinghouse]

Of course nobody knows all the details. Maybe the driver had a heart attack or something. I saw pictures too. It seemed like a straight shot and level in broad daylight. Barring medical problems that caused the driver to lose eyesight or consciousness, it is hard to believe the he / she was not able to detect the cyclists' presence in the road. Sometimes there just isn't a good explanation. Does anybody know anything more about it?

[gabinovela]

I hope this person gets nailed to a tree. I'm a trucker and a cyclist and I see this stupid stuff all the time. Cellphones should have a chip in them that keeps them from working when movement is detected. That would end this crap.

[TwoWheeledExplorer]

I still have not heard about any actions by the prosecutor on this, but ACA posted a link to this video on Twitter today, and I think it may be germain: http://youtu.be/_BqFkRwdFZ0

Ride safe,
Hans

[jamawani]

Hans -

I have been in touch with the prosecutor's office regularly.
Woodruff County is part of the Arkansas 1st Judicial District
The chief state's attorney in this issue is:

John Bell
P.O. Box 599
McCrory, AR 72101-0599
 
870-731-2547
870-731-5772 (fax)
john.bell.lawoffice@gmail.com

Here is the text of an email I received from his office:

August 2, 2013

  Today marks the one month anniversary of the incident north of McCrory which injured several visiting bicyclists and resulted in the tragic death of 18 year old Merritt Levitan of Milton, Massachusetts.

  The Arkansas State Police, Woodruff County Sheriff's Department and the 1st Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney's Office continue to investigate the circumstances of the incident and will proceed accordingly upon conclusion of the investigation.

  Our sympathies are again extended to the Levitan Family as well as the families of all the young people affected.

  John H. Bell
  Attorney at Law
  Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Woodruff County, Arkansas

I have also been in touch with Danny Shameer, the state editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Danny Shameer - State Editor
501-378-3568
http://www.arkansasonline.com/staff/danny-shameer/contact/

He is looking into a follow-up story on this case -
especially if no action is taken in a reasonable amount of time.

Too many cyclists are killed when there is no witness other than the driver.
Because there are numerous witnesses and road/weather conditions were good,
it is essential that this case not be ignored.

This case has the potential to exacerbate a number of issues - -
The backgrounds of Ms. Levitan and the young driver could not be more dissimilar.
The cultures of suburban New England and rural Arkansas clash.

It is a tragic story, indeed.