Monday, October 11, 2010

Tampa Bay Area Bicyclist No. 7 Has Died From Being Struck By A Car Since July 29

I have learned that another Tampa Bay area bicyclist had died as a result of being struck by a car.

A bicyclist who was hit about a week ago in Pasco County has died. Howard Altman's TBO story said Brad Ash, a Pasco Middle School teacher hit last week, died Sunday night, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

That makes the seventh bicyclist to be killed while pedaling in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties since July 29.

It's eight dead bicyclists if you count Polk County and the Lakeland area as part of the Tampa Bay region. A bicyclist in the Lakeland was killed since late July.

And a woman bicyclist survived a hit-and-run driver last night in Pinellas Park. She was struck and flew on top of the SUV's roof, before falling off. The SUV driver fled and the bicyclist is at Bayfront Hospital.

2 comments:

Clayton said...

That's very scary. I'm in the Midwest, but I commute to my high school teaching job by bicycle. I've been more and more assertive to my right to the road over the last couple years, and practicing more safety minded decisions. I feel for the families of these victims. What can be done? A hit and run seems so hopeless and frustrating. Every cyclist should abandon vanity and choose safety: reflectivity; being seen; and riding predictably.

Jose said...

Actually, Alan, it would be nine dead bicyclists since late July if you include Polk County, because two have been killed in Polk this summer.

The first was killed in Winter Haven on Aug. 25th while riding at night without lights and wearing dark clothing. He was hit by a Polk County deputy.

The second was killed on Sept. 19th while riding on U.S. 98 in Lakeland around 3 a.m. Oddly, the article states that the bicycle was hit by the "left front" of an SUV that was travelling in the "inside lane" of U.S. 98. Perhaps the cyclist was going to make a left turn.