Author: ArizonaBikeLaw

Bicyclist killed in Gilbert hit-and-run

(Source: KPHO/KTVK)
(Source: KPHO/KTVK)

June 7, 2016 ~ 5:30A 73 y.o. bicyclist Calvin Ray Sapp was killed after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in a bike lane —  southbound on Higley Road midway between Ocotillo and Chandler Heights roads. A vehicle matching the description was found a short time later and a suspect was arrested. A later news story that evening said that the suspect “…told police he fell asleep and didn’t know what he hit. Officers said the bike and victim were dragged about 80 yards”. And carried some more-graphic pictures of the smashed in windshield. They also identified the Phoenix Police officer credited with finding the suspect vehicle. Continue reading “Bicyclist killed in Gilbert hit-and-run”

1 dead, 1 injured after car hits bicyclists; riders were owners of Havasu bike store

Near spot of double-fatality outside of Lake Havasu City
Near spot of double-fatality outside of Lake Havasu City (photo dated Dec 2015). Closeup on shoulder and rumble strip; note the strip is continuous.

Wednesday, 7/1/2015, ~ 0705am; Lake Havasu City bicyclist Deborah Robison was killed and bicyclist Lawrence Smith was seriously injured when struck by a driver on SR-95 south, near SARA Park. [update: Smith died 7/5/2015 Second bicyclist dies after SR 95 collision in Lake Havasu City]

The nature of the road in that area is a  high-speed rural, not limited-access highway [ this guess as to location is the WRONG location: with one lane in each direction  sample on Google street view ] For the exact area of the collision, which is further out of town than I had guessed, see below in the Crash Report section which has details.

 

Continue reading “1 dead, 1 injured after car hits bicyclists; riders were owners of Havasu bike store”

More dangerous drivers

it's out of control?
it’s out of control?

Happened in the ‘hood. Another dangerous driver jumped the curb, ran over the sidewalk and murdered a block wall. The driver was reportedly taken into custody…. Wed May 18, 2016, later part of afternoon. Elliot Loop and Jicarilla, Phoenix.

Continue reading “More dangerous drivers”

Tucson area motorist killed in head-on; driver arrested

Ann Day was killed in a headon crash with a suspected impaired driver, ~ 8AM, May 7, 2016. Day was traveling eastbound on Ina Road near the Westward Look Resort,  near Tucson (Pima County)

 

 

 

Continue reading “Tucson area motorist killed in head-on; driver arrested”

Glendale officer’s deadly crash costs city $3.8 million

photo: Arizona Republic
photo: Arizona Republic

Yikes. Police officer involved crash resulting in several serious injuries, including a motorist and people walking on the sidewalk.  Anyways, lots of dollars. He was never charged, of course; despite speeding at 30+mph over the speed limit. Continue reading “Glendale officer’s deadly crash costs city $3.8 million”

Bicyclist dies in Sun Lakes crash; driver ‘drifted’

Fatal Collision (photo: Sky12)
Fatal Sun Lakes Collision (photo: Sky12)

4/14/2016 Bicyclist Donald Neu was killed riding westbound Riggs Road near Arizona Ave when he was struck by a driver who “drifted” into the rather wide, designated BL.

Note that, according to that description of events, the driver has “failed to keep proper lane” (§28-729) and should be charged with 28-672, a criminal misdemeanor — assuming other more-serious charges are ruled out. Are police (in this case, MSCO) aware of this? In this triple serious injury, they were. See more about  28-672 .

28-735 is all well-and-good, and as far as I know can be “stacked” on 28-672, but it (28-735) is nothing more than a fine.

Continue reading “Bicyclist dies in Sun Lakes crash; driver ‘drifted’”

Arizona already has a “Vulnerable User Law”

Executive Summary

Arizona already has a law that functions very much like a “Vulnerable User Law“, it is applicable in virtually all cases where a driver causes a collision resulting in a pedestrian serious injury/fatality; and in many cases where the victim is a bicyclist.

 

[ UPDATE: in 2018 the legislature increase penalities for the law referenced below; see 28-672, 675 & 676 ]

On March 3, 2012 bicyclist Sean Mccarty was riding in a bike lane in north Scottsdale when a motorist for unknown or unstated reasons swerved or drifted partially from Lane 2 into the bike lane, striking and killing the bicyclist. Possible criminal actions on the part of the driver such as excessive speed, or impairment were quickly ruled out by investigators, and the motorist was very quickly issued two traffic citations, 28-735 (the “three foot” rule) and another for 28-815D (driving in a bike lane prohibited); and paid a fine of $420 [1]. Very similar situations occurred in the fatal collisions of both Allen Johnson in Pima County, and Jerome Featherman in Green Valley. Continue reading “Arizona already has a “Vulnerable User Law””

Ride With Traffic

R5-1b (top) with R9-3cP plaque (bottom)
The most concise, least able to be misconstrued, message about which direction a bicyclist must operate, is “Ride With Traffic”, it’s the inscription on a R9-3cP plaque. But what is “with traffic”, or “the flow of traffic” or “the direction of traffic”? And why do we so often hear “ride right”, “bike right”, “Be a Roll Model: Ride on the Right” or some other clever-sounding catchphrase? Continue reading “Ride With Traffic”

Crash Injury Rates by Mode of Travel

There was a study published in 2007 which took FARS (for traffic fatalities) and GES (for injuries) data, and combined with NHTS (National Household Transp Survey. 2001) data to try to quantify relative risk of fatality/injury by travel mode per trip. Full text and full .pdf are both available free online: Continue reading “Crash Injury Rates by Mode of Travel”

Speeding, extremely Drunk, red-running killer nets 11 years

Photo: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
Photo: Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

The original story about this Dec. 27, 2014 death has a long list of horribles, emphasis added:

Preliminary test results indicated that Erica Flynn’s blood-alcohol level was .283, more than three times the legal limit, after the crash that killed 66-year-old Kathleen Mae Searcy on Dec. 27, the records show.

Flynn, 30, was southbound on Arizona Avenue in a Toyota Camry when she ran a red light and struck Searcy’s Honda Accord, which was making a left turn on a green arrow at the San Tan Freeway, records show.

Data from Flynn’s vehicle indicated she was driving at a speed of 75 mph – 30 miles over the posted speed limit – and did not brake prior to impact, according to police.

Interesting note about the black box data… there was a warrant issued 12/29/2014 that I would guess was for that. Continue reading “Speeding, extremely Drunk, red-running killer nets 11 years”

Casa Grande fatal hit and run; suspect arrested

4/9/2016 ~ 7 pm near Kadota Avenue and Saguaro Street, Casa Grande, AZ.

Victim:  20 y.o. Emily Akins.

Driver: suspect Christina Rascon, 40 has been arrested in connection with the hit and run.

 

Continue reading “Casa Grande fatal hit and run; suspect arrested”