10/14/2021 ~ 7PM Hit and run. Few details, e.g. no description of suspect vehicle, the name of the victim was not released; the direction of the bicyclist is mentioned but not of the suspect vehicle (which police probably do know, but didn’t mention). Don’t expect to ever hear about this incident ever again, other than in 2021 statistics. “The media” just doesn’t follow up.

These “falling into the roadway” incidents typically happen when a bicyclist, especially when going counter-flow, fall off the sidewalk, for whatever reason and the sudden jarring of coming down off the curb into the road causes a further loss of control; and are subsequently struck by a passing motorist. These types of fatal crashed don’t happen a lot, but they do happen, here’s one from 2014 in Phoenix. (according to FARS, the bicyclist in the 2014 incident had a BAC of .18 ; which probably why the cyclist lost control while avoiding a telephone pole).

On other complaints — A more accurate headline would read:

Bicyclist struck and killed by vehicle A HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER after falling into roadway in Phoenix

Hit-and-run is a criminal felony. The suspect, at large, is now a criminal fugitive; even though it is unlikely that he or she caused the crash. Drivers who hit and run are mostly doing something (else) illegal, they are typically impaired or for some other reason don’t want “contact” with police.

Bicyclist struck and killed by vehicle after falling into roadway in Phoenix

A man on a bicycle was struck and killed by a vehicle when he fell into the roadway Thursday evening near 18th Street and Thomas Road in Phoenix, police said… The man was riding east on Thomas Road when he “somehow fell into the roadway,” according to a Phoenix police news release…  was struck by a vehicle that did not stop. The man was pronounced dead.

Reach breaking news editor Mike Cruz at michael.cruz@azcentral.com or on Twitter at @mikecnews.

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