Five bicyclists were hit by a car in Nelson County last Sunday. Four of them were taken to Flaget Memorial Hospital. They were released after being examined and assessed with non-life threatening injuries.
According to the dispatchers, the accident happened shortly before 8 a.m. near Nelson County High School on Bloomfield Road at Wildcat Lane.
There’s no word yet on the cause of the accident and if there will be any criminal charges.
Statistics
- In 2013, more than 900 bicyclists were killed. During the same period, there were about 494,000 emergency department visits caused by bicycle-related injuries.
- Bicycle death rates are highest among adolescents and young adults aged 15-19, and adults aged 40 years and above.
- Florida is the deadliest state in the country to ride a bike. In 2013, the 133 cyclists who died in the Sunshine State represented 5.5 percent of their total traffic deaths.
- In 2015, 5,376 of the 35,092 people killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians, while 818 were on bikes.
- Males are much more likely to be injured or killed on bikes than are females.
Bicycle Deaths in Kentucky
Last June, a similar bicycle crash happened in southwestern Michigan. A 50-year-old man struck and killed five bicyclists with his pickup truck, and during last month’s hearing, Charles Pickett, Jr. was found competent to stand trial. He was charged with five counts of second-degree murder, four counts of reckless driving causing impairment, and driving while intoxicated causing death.
Early this April, well-known Lexington cardiologist Dr. David Cassidy was killed in a bicycle crash. According to the police, Dr. Cassidy was hit by a woman who didn’t see him as she merged into a lane on U.S. 68 in Bourbon County. He was the second member of Zombies, a small cycling group, to be killed in a collision in less than a year. The first one was Mark Hinkel, who was struck and killed by a pickup truck in May 2015.
As a Kentucky Accident Attorney, I am saddened by these bicycle deaths. While we aim to be a bike-friendly state, bicycle crashes continue to happen. These bicycle injuries and fatalities surely spark worry from road users over safety. If you are a cyclist, you may be asking yourself now how you can ride a bike safely on the road. Here are some tips I would like to share. First, know your route. Travel the safest route and avoid contact with heavy traffic. Second, make yourself visible at all times. Wear a helmet and proper clothing to indicate that you are a moving cyclist. And third, inspect your bike before going for a ride. Do your bike’s brakes, wheels, and gears functioning properly? Always remember these three tips and enjoy a safe and sound bike ride.