Bicyclist dies in Tucson NW side wreck

2/13/2017 11:15AM Bicyclist 25-year-old Nicholas Rizzuti was killed as he was eastbound W Miracle Mile turning left; struck by westbound motorist at intersection of Flowing Wells Rd, Tucson

There are a lot of lanes here, there are double left turn lanes; the signal specifics weren’t mentioned, other than the WB had green; and presumably EB also had green. Most double-left configurations typically have restricted arrow cycles, but not all.

Continue reading “Bicyclist dies in Tucson NW side wreck”

Does AZ really have “tough” DUI laws?

Arizona metes out harsh penalties for drunken driving, with mandatory jail time and heavy fines, and Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said Arizona has steep penalties for good reason

— Arizona toughest in nation on DUIs, study says

“simple” DUI results in spending a day in jail; this is apparently enough to place AZ as having the toughest laws.

You might expect, then, that DUI drivers who injure people, and are not simply driving around impaired, would receive harsh sentences. Continue reading “Does AZ really have “tough” DUI laws?”

Girl killed in Buckeye by distracted driver

I had missed this when it happened, though it was reported in the media. I learned about it while hearing the victim’s mother speak at the Distracted Driving Summit at the state capitol yesterday.

Nov 2, 2016 ~ 6:30pm. Victim Chloe Schneider, 16/F was struck from behind  by a 22/F driver on Yuma Road near Tuthill, Buckeye, AZ. Chloe was training for an upcoming (MTB) event. (If i remember what I heard correctly, the victim’s sister was also involved?)

Continue reading “Girl killed in Buckeye by distracted driver”

2015 Unknown/”Invisible” Bicyclist Fatalities

This article is a catch-all for any reported Arizona bicyclist traffic fatality that are otherwise unknown — no media, or any other, coverage could be found; they are only listed as statistics in the crash database.

In addition to the six below, there are an additional two that were not mentioned anywhere in the news/media: two-missing-2015-hit-and-run-fatalities. Continue reading “2015 Unknown/”Invisible” Bicyclist Fatalities”

Hit and run suspect still on the loose after 2006 fatality

UPDATE: Suspect Arrested Nov 2019, see below…

Suspect Christopher Flores, pictured in 2006

Mother wants justice for son killed while bicycling
Updated: Mar 10, 2015 11:56 PM

By Erin Kennedy
PHOENIX – A Valley mother is hoping to make some progress in a cold case involving the death of her son.

It was seven years ago this week that Bonnie Wedo’s oldest son, Jason, 29, was hit by a car and killed while riding his bike to a friend’s house to help them move.
Continue reading “Hit and run suspect still on the loose after 2006 fatality”

3-year AZ Freeway Fatality Toll

photo: Arizona Dept of Public Safety
photo: Arizona Dept of Public Safety

In a longish piece in AZ Republic Live or die on Phoenix-area freeways: It’s your choice (the print edition was headlined 3-year freeway fatality toll: 207) about (specifically metro-Phoenix area. I think they looked at just Maricopa County) freeway traffic fatalities, it was revealed the fatality rate was 61% higher than national averages, per mile driven. I’m not sure exactly what’s counted; it apparently counts only that part of the state highway system that is fully controlled-access, a.k.a. freeways, and in Maricopa county for the purposes of this series of articles.

The usual suspects were called out: speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, motorcycling in general (helmets), not wearing seatbelts.

Things you won’t hear people say: “I would never get in a car… Drivers are just too dangerous” Continue reading “3-year AZ Freeway Fatality Toll”

Chandler police: Woman killed, children hurt in crosswalk

[Update Nov 2017: moving ahead in Chandler Muni on misdy charges, see below]
[Update as of Oct 21, 2017; no charges, no nothing; nothing on caselookup??]
[Update May 2018; penalties for 28-672/5/6 were strengthened in response to this incident]
[FINAL Update May 2019; driver sentenced, see below]

Nov 2016: A driver was arrested after a collision at crosswalk left one woman dead and two small children seriously injured. The intersection has a signal; police, based on some witnesses, believe the driver ran a red light when he struck the people in the crosswalk crossing Ray Road at College Dr (also known as Ponderosa Dr) in Chandler, AZ. (it may be very near the boundary of Tempe). Continue reading “Chandler police: Woman killed, children hurt in crosswalk”

Driver terrorized another motorist for 25 minutes

Suspect Jowen Noel Moses arrested. DUI suspected. Suspect is reported to, besides the criminal acts described (aggravated assault, resisting arrest, unlawful flight, etc) have then attempted suicide in jail.

Incident occurred in the vicinity of Thomas and 48th Street; spanned Phoenix and Scottsdale.

Continue reading “Driver terrorized another motorist for 25 minutes”

2014 and 2015 Arizona Bicyclist Fatalities

With the sharp increase in traffic fatalities in 2015 (35,092 a 7.2% increase) — this is getting some extra attention, e.g. the Fastlane blog said on Aug 29, 2016: “2015 Traffic Fatalities Data Has Just Been Released: A Call to Action to Download and Analyze”. The big data news here is that PBCAT data has reappeared, and the 2014 and 2015 datasets released today both have a PBtable. PBCAT data is important because it give much more granular information about bicyclist (and pedestrian) fatalities. Continue reading “2014 and 2015 Arizona Bicyclist Fatalities”

Cyclist killed, another injured in Chandler crash

10/1/2016 fatal victim: female. Northbound on Arizona Avenue near Ryan Road.

This is only a couple of miles from the scene of another fatality in April on Riggs Road near Arizona Ave.  Donald Neu  was struck and killed by a driver who “drifted” into the rather wide, designated BL.

I don’t know what “criminal charges are possible” means; but once more-serious criminal charges have been ruled out — cases where a same-direction motorist drifts causing a rear-end collsion with a bicyclist in a bike lane (or a shoulder), on its face, should trigger a misdemeanor “causing death by moving violation” charge, see arizona-already-has-a-vulnerable-user-law

Continue reading “Cyclist killed, another injured in Chandler crash”

Dead sign

deadsignranchcircleApparently a driver failed to negotiate the turn from E Ranch Circle South onto Mountain Sage Drive.
According to unconfirmed reports it was “a bunch of high school kids”; sometime during the day September 28, 2016.

This was apparently PDO, but unfortunately sometimes when drivers do these maneuvers, there’s somebody walking on the sidewalk and they end up killing them.

 

 

Bicyclist killed 24th St at 202 in central Phx crash

9/23/2016 just before 6AM. Victim: male in his 40s,

A cyclist collided with a cement truck 24th Street at the Loop 202 in central Phoenix. No details were released at this time

  • specific location?
  • direction of bicyclist?
  • direction of motorist? (the w/b exit ramp of 202 was closed)
  • lighting conditions; sunrise is 6:18a, so the collision occurred before that?

Continue reading “Bicyclist killed 24th St at 202 in central Phx crash”

Three crashes so far with Google self-driving cars in Chandler

Google autonomously driven cars have been rolling in Chandler, AZ for a couple of months now.

There was a fairly long story in the AZ Republic today, Three crashes so far with Google self-driving cars in Chandler

Three crashes in a month seems like a lot, though none implicated autonmous driving mode — all three involved poor (human) drivers.

The incidents according to the story: Continue reading “Three crashes so far with Google self-driving cars in Chandler”

Bicyclist killed crossing 43rd Ave near Bethany Home Phx

Sat 8/27/2016 ~ 7:30pm. Bicyclist Thomas J. Butler. 35 was killed as he road across 43rd Ave near Bethany Home Rd mid-block from west to east; then turned north when he was struck from behind.

The tone of the statements indicates the police don’t believe the driver’s alleged impairment wasn’t a factor. I.e. the driver is likely to be charged with only DUI.

Continue reading “Bicyclist killed crossing 43rd Ave near Bethany Home Phx”