After seeing zero fatal crashes involving people on bikes in Portland last year, police are reporting a near-fatal crash occurred in SW Portland this afternoon.
The current report is brief:
At 2:21 p.m., Portland Police officers responded to the 6000 Block of Southwest Multnomah Boulevard on the report of a hit and run traffic crash involving a person riding a bike. Officers arrived and learned that the crash was not a hit and run but the vehicle that collided with the bicycle rider went through a fence and hit a house.
Medical personnel responded and transported the bicycle rider to an area hospital with potential life-threatening injuries. The person driving the car was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Scary, scary. Fingers crossed everyone. Here’s what that stretch of road looks like on Google:
I’ll update as soon as I have any more info, though maybe now is the appropriate time to mention that there’s a big traffic safety summit this coming Tuesday. If you care about safe streets, turn out for the discussion.
UPDATE 2/6: The person on the bike is 20-year-old Reese Wilson, who is currently in critical but stable condition. The driver was a woman named Candice Palmer, who was distracted by her dog when she hit Wilson. The police report: “This is an ongoing investigation and no charges have been filed or citations issued at this time.”
fucking cyclists, off my roads
fucking Graham, off my internets
Graham you are an asshole. The cyclist almost died.
@canadia: And?
Graham, I find a Portlander who laughs at bicycle injuries even lower than a gamer who can’t spell “masturbate.”
@The Darkness: who was laughing?
This is a terrible thing, without a doubt. I hope this person recovers fully.
But (you knew there was a but), why this special treatment for bike accidents? There must be a serious car accident in Portland every day. Not to mention all sorts of home and workplace mishaps. Why doesn’t the Merc cover those? Are their lives worth less somehow?
Blabby – it’s because Smirk is trying to reduce the number of cyclists on the road by reinforcing the impression that it’s dangerous. Clearly.
Why report this accident as news?
Because accidents between a car (big, metal, engine-powered) and a bicycle (spindly, weak, human-pedaled) are more likely to end in tragedy. Auto-only smashes generally only end up as fender benders.
So Smirk reminding/raising awareness (for drivers and cyclists alike + moto riders like me) helps each type of commuter remember to follow the laws, drive/ride safely, and be cool to each other.
And being cool is the opposite of whatever Graham seems to be doing.
That road is one I drive daily- in a car. The bike lane (in the photo) is roomy but there are some tricky spots. For the most part it’s spacious enough for both car and bike. So “get off my roads” doesn’t apply- there’s room, and that section beyond the white ain’t your road Graham, it’s the bike’s.
For the sake of the children Outlaw bicycles:
http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lg5nl4nr…
This seems a good place to mention: in terms of deaths per mile travelled, cycling is still far safer than driving. You are more likely to die in a car (in part owing to so many miles travelled on freeways and with faster traffic) than cycling.
People get shot in the head, mangled and crash and die every day. Be careful out there.
The woman driver admits she was distracted by her dog and may have hit the gas instead of the brake. Like, you know, the brake pedal is so hard to find.
These car/bike accidents are always tragic, but never surprising.
It’d be great if everyone could and would get around by bicycle, but they can’t, and trying to mix the two on the same road is a terrible idea.
And people on the Mercury blog often comment about how it’s ok for cyclists to roll through or run stop signs? Really? This young woman was apparently obeying all the laws and yet was involved in a horrendous accident. I pray she recovers. Biking is not some utopian bs, or god given right, or some cultural focal point it is a good, sustainable, efficient and inexpensive mode of transportation that has it’s hazards. When I ride, the only person I trust on the road is me, I suggest we all do the same. Always be aware. And no, they are not going to “take all the cars off the road” so get over it, as it is Portland has better bike accessibility than most places. Unfortunately it appears that in this case neither vigilance or bike paths would have prevented this tragedy
I too was hit on the 12th of August on Hall Blvd SW by an automobile after merging into a right lane following my hand signal, noting that the traffic was 150 yards behind me. A speeding sports car which did not brake or use its horn accelerated into me. Sounded as if he were gaining speed to enter a freeway onramp! “Boom!” I went over his car. The good samaritans at the scene were very gracious to me following the accident thank goodness. Indeed the Tualitan Valley Fire Department was very professional. Why aren’t all bicycle accidents reported on?! Sure I survived with bruises and a few stitches. The Beaverton Policeman, Officer Mills, placed all the blame on me. This is not justice!!!