Cyclists wiped out by Sleeping Drunk in TX

[second_pancake]

This was in Brownsville, TX and happened during a race (which I'm assuming is how they were able to get a picture).

Absolutely bone-chilling. 

Read more here:  http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=160731&in_page_id=34

[hillary supporter]

horrible. terrible. i love cycling, i have over $2000 worth of bikes, like 4 bikes. but i cant bring myself to ride next
to autos. the odds are so heavy be it road rage, driver error or alcoholism. if you do ride to commute, please wear a helmet, your odds of survival are increased immensely by using one. and todays helmets are so light and effective.
this story does happen everyday, for commuters i believe mass transit is best.
this is just so bad.

[second_pancake]

What's really scary, and what you don't see, is that the driver actually swerved around a police support vehicle which is just out of frame of the picture I posted on the right-hand side.  He avoided hitting the cop but managed to run over the cyclists.

This race was a 'fun' race of about 21 miles and there were kids on the ride too.  This could have been so much worse.

I agree with you on the helmet thing.  There are two things I ALWAYS do when riding:  Wear a helmet, even if I'm riding on the sidewalk.  And, make eye contact with drivers at every single stop or crossing or anywhere that there is a greater potential for drivers to forget about me or to be confused about what I may be doing.

There was nothing that these guys could have done to avoid this accident though and all I can say about that is thank goodness for the human body's natural defense...blacking out.  If it happens to me, again, I certainly don't want to see it coming.

[vicupstate]

Terrible accident, it's amazing only ONE person was killed.

I have given  some thought to cycling to work when a new pedestrian/cycling trail is completed where I live. It would make half the trip (and the most dangerous part) auto-free.  I love the idea, and I cycle at the gym already, so why not kill two birds?

But the risk and the logistic issues give me some pause.    

Amazing pic.  It ought to win a pulitzer.

[Driven1]

and look at the pic closely.  there is at least one helmet flying off.  so don't just wear your helmet, wear it tight and correctly.

[second_pancake]

This actually happened in Mexico.  Not Texas.

The driver, however lived in Texas before his arrest.

Since this is international news, should it be in the break room?

I think its fine here, of course. and a great reminder to our local bike riders that they shouldnt go racing in mexico for fear of being mowed under by yet another drunk driving texan, but I know that the issue of location has been brought up repeatedly by the author of the thread.

Anyways,  tragic. 

I wonder what Mexican Law provides for?  The article says that he was only charged with murder.

I guess we all have our own ideas of where things should go.  I have friends that race all over the country so if someone locally knew a friend racing in this race then it might be local news to them.  Dunno.

The race, indicdentally, goes between Playa Bagdad and Matamoros which is directly across from Brownsville, TX.  The Brownsville Cycling club is a participant each year.  The driver was confirmed to be a resident of Brownsville, TX and his tag was a TX plate.  Several of the people who were hit reside in Brownsville and are members of team Velocyraptor.

[Driven1]

but I know that the issue of location has been brought up repeatedly by the author of the thread.

i'm at a loss here.  second_pancake, where have you been saying this?  i don't think she has. 

i'm with you second_.  this is important news.  thanks for posting it.

[Driven1]

that is just sad.  i see 5 bikes in the air and 4 people.  it truly IS amazing that no more than 1 died.  reminds me of a couple of years ago when a street sweeper driver fell asleep in early morning hours and wiped out a group that was riding out of Open Road on San Jose.  i think there were some very serious injuries in that crash, but no deaths.

[Driven1]

found video coverage of this tragedy...

http://www.youtube.com/v/EtuUaLW_SKI&hl=en

[Jason]

Where is the drunk, and why isn't he in critical condition due to the pummeling he should have recieved from bystanders?