Tragedy as Drunk Driver Collides With Cyclists in Mexico

Per another article, the guy was drunk and passed out.
I hope they all beat the snot out of him before the cops hauled him away. I think he was 28?
He should be an organ donor when he finally dries out, harvest from him until he has nothing left... it's only fair.

vsk

When I see this, I feel that impulse that says, "it's not safe!" but frankly, this could have happened in any country, anywhere cars are allowed. Remember cars driving onto malls, into playgrounds, into catchment ponds. Fewer cars and more bikes means the streets are more safe for everyone.

Sad story, I dont see the need to have such a graphic picture though. Someone died in that picture, its a bit graphic without a warning.

I agree with Anne. A few people who know that I ride have emailed me this story to point out the danger of road biking. Instead of focusing on the cycling element, I think the message to take away from this tragedy is the danger of inattentive driving (drunk, sleepy, on the phone, whatever). Way too many people die every day in traffic accidents. Some of those people are cyclists and pedestrians but most of them are other drivers. Traffic fatalities happen so often that people hardly notice them unless there is an element of sensationalism (like in this case). We should all take notice of the horrifying number of deaths on our roadways and we should all pay full attention to the road when we get behind the wheel. Cars are extremely dangerous machines, so the act of driving one should never be taken lightly.

Sad story, I dont see the need to have such a graphic picture though. Someone died in that picture, its a bit graphic without a warning.

You really should have a warning for that picture.

Car drivers often consider cyclists to be a nuissance or that it is funny to drive recklessly near cyclists. I would only feel safe on a cycle root where there were few, if any, cars. The Mexican border sounds like exactly the sort of place where this sort of tragedy would be likely.

Why do I have the sinking feeling that this picture will be reposted on rightwing blogs with a little "ha ha look at the stupid bikers" caption?

Pic has been on Yahoo without warning. I guess everybody has a threshold, but I like to see reality, even if it's horrible.

Geez, the picture is TOO GRAPHIC. Couldn't ya'll just post the story instead of the pic?!

Yes, this is reality and this picture may have been seen on many sites, but, in my opinion, it has no place here. You could have just posted the story and given a link to the picture with a warning. That would have been the intelligent et professional (journalistically speaking) thing to do.

This is not sensationalist media, this is treehugger.com

Marc P.

This is about the 10th time I've seen this photo in 24 hours...and I am still amazed that only one person was killed.

I've seen much worse photos of war on the front page of the NYT...this isn't sensationalist journalism, it's reality.

Tragic car accidents happen every day and usually never make more than the local news. If it weren't for that picture, this story wouldn't be getting nearly this amount of coverage. And this will probably result in more people thinking that bicycling is dangerous.

I'm sure more than one husband was told by his wife "You aren't riding that death trap to work anymore" because of this photo.

Nobody would probably have heard about this story if the photo didn't exist.

"Nobody would probably have heard about this story if the photo didn't exist. "

So? Does it make it any less sad?

It's human nature to find it harder to relate to abstract things. Until the media can change that, yes, videos and photos will be used.

The picture is reality. Saying you don't want to look at it is saying you don't want to look at reality. Who knows how it will change and affect people's future that have seen it. I am sure as some would say, many will tell their loved ones they don't think they should ride to work any more. But how many others might finally find the courage to give up drinking, or to finally stand up and intervein in a friend's life who is an alcoholic. Maybe some will be more cautious about driving and watching for bikers in general because they were stunned by the picture and will remember it.

Thank you for the post treehugger.

This is news only because of the number of people injured and the toll was so high only because it was a RACE. It could have as easily been runners doing a marathon. This has nothing to do with bicycling and everything to do with lax licensing standards for drivers.

FYI, there is a non cropped version of the picture out there, in the other lane is a police car.

The car is in the wrong lane, so apparently they saw the cop car and swerved?

I imagine having photos and a police officer as a witness is going to really help the prosecutions case in court.

I know this is controversial but I'm going to say it anyway...
I have not heard about any cyclist killing or seriously hurting a pedestrian.
Every day cyclists are maimed and hurt by drivers of cars.
Until governments take cycling seriously and give cyclists dedicated pathways cyclists will die on the roads.
Cycle paths are cheap and are the obvious way of encouraging people out of cars.
So, cyclists everywhere, maybe it's time to take to the pavement/sidewalk - stay off the road - if there's a spate of accidents; chances are they won't be as serious as they are now... and maybe, the public outcry at this behaviour will achieve more than dying quietly...

I am shocked at the reaction of some people I know on this picture- They laugh at it because it has such a cartoonesque appearance to it... When I ask how it is possible that they can laugh about this one, they without exception answer that they've seen far worse pictures on the internet than this one, even without having to dig really deep.

This is a terrible accident that by chance was photographed. Those are people that fly there. And as a human, generally you do not fly without lots of energy put into last contact at the start of your flight. And so that means eigther that all this energy is violently converted into changing of direction, or that bones are broken... Being a cyclist myself, this picture gives me straight-A- nightmares...

Does this really have any place on treehugger? The graphic photo aside, what does this story have to do with environmentalism? Thanks for some more crap, treehugger.

weee,

For the record, I know of one instance of a cyclist killing a pedestrian. It occurred on the
Hell Ride in Melbourne. He did the wrong thing (rode through a red light) and killed someone. I don't believe he should be treated any differently for being a cyclist. He killed someone accidently so he should be charged as such.

Anyway, onto my main point. While I'm all for a bit of healthy civil disobedience, I don't think riding on the footpath en mass will do anyone any good. It's only going to annoy people and give anti-cyclists another reason to complain.

I encourage all cyclists to ride within the law at all times. Not only is it the right thing to do, it also affords you the right to smugly tell a vehicle driver where to go when they do something stupid.

Andrew

Great discussion here. James I think you couldn't have said it any better. Driving is a privilege not a right.

I do believe there can be harmony between cars and bikes though. Amsterdamn is an awesome example where sectioned off lanes exist for bikes and are more than just painted lines. Cities need to take the lead on such safety measures and surely ridership will grow. Hell that's my theory anyway.

Living in SF, it's heart breaking to see all the ghost bikes and coffee shop fund jars for neighborhood friends plowed by cars. I hope this image educates all on the need to be more aware of cyclists and to give them the right of way dammit! I encourage all to get involved with their community bike coalitions and feel the energy of events like critical mass.

be safe riders.

It is simply shocking that we as a society continue to accept the consumption and abuse of alcohol. The consequences for the individual, their family and the community are dire.

By way of example, I know of a probation officer who has a form to complete for each newly released prisoner, where the form begins with three check-boxes

Alcohol
drugs
other

See the following link on our blog about nature of alcohol abuse in Britain:
http://islamicpolitik.com/2008/06/life-without-alcohol.html

"what does this story have to do with environmentalism? "

Uh, TH writes A LOT about bicycles and bike safety and such.

Besides, if you don't like it, it's not like it takes a long time to scroll over.

I think there are far more graphic things in our news, with no protective warning, shoved in our faces every day.

It disappoints me to see so many people trying to protect themselves against all the bad things they might see.

It could just be me, but, "Tragedy as Drunk Driver Collides with Cyclists..." is pretty sound warning of what's to come.

In my opinion, the reality of America's failed economy, degenerate government and the swarms of beguiled, right-wing, born-agains too inept to evolve; are among the few, that I find far more graphic than this collision picture.

And in all honesty, even if there had been a link to the picture, most of the squeamish would have clicked after a moment of preparation.
But I'm sorry, life and all other horrible things don't happen when you're prepared.

The american production workers cure for NaFta

However, once in a lifetime photo FOX will buy it.

KEEP the photo!!!!!

I've seen covers for DVDs and video games worse than this photo. It is not graphic enough to be called graphic. If this photo bothers you, then you must be clueless and/or fragile.

How is this more graphic than TV shows where our children see 1000s of fake deaths each year? If you can not handle this then what will you do when a disaster strikes around you?

Being anywhere near cars is dangerous. PERIOD.
This photo is worth FAR FAR more than a description of it and has more impact as well (as people say, its unbelievable only 1 died after seeing the photo.) Let that single death be worth something.

Cyclists don't belong on the road. They feel they have some sort of entitlement and this is the result. Congratulations, you had the right of way, I'm sure that is a comforting thought as you lay there in traction.

What a tragic story!
Thank you for sharing the photo. Without the photo the story would not have effected nearly as many people as it has. Yes it is very disturbing, but sometimes that is necessary to make a difference. This story is devistating to me as an avid cyclist. I can only imagine what those cyclist have gone through.
My heart goes out to them and their families.

WE HAVE RIGHT OF WAY!

Some people are just not willing to risk death for their principles... You have to die sometime, might as well die for something instead of living life in constant fear of death.

I know cowards who have large SUVs for "safety." SUV drivers should get the stigma for being the cowards they are; instead we have a stigma on cyclists as if everybody on a bike is an idiot wanting to test the laws of physics.

Hey anonymous coward: Your oversized SUV doesn't belong on any road (and ironically it can't really drive off road either.)

Why did you crop out the police car from the image? I believe that if the police were doing their jobs... they could have at the least blocked the drunk with their police car.

--
editor note: We did not crop it. It was the photo from AP used by Yahoo.

Every car should have an interlock device.
That will keep drunk people from driving...

Well I just found out about this today on the club ride. Yes it is a tragedy and the pic should stay. The world needs to know what happens out in the streets. This happens more than you think, drunk driver or not. One cyclist or a group. I lost a good friend in Feb of this year because a kid driving a SUV was talking on a cell phone and plowed right over them on the highway. If you are not a cyclist or a runner or walker for that matter, you do not know some of the things that we go through on each outing from people in cars.
I would also like to say this has been the most civil thread I have seen on this topic.

Thats a graphic photo? Wow you guys need to get out more.....

Hell i just set it to my wallpaper. :)

The driver will be fined 2 dollars and let off with a warning. There is no justice in Mexico