cnighbor1
01-02-2015, 09:03 PM
This appeared on another mail list last night. It's an account of the fatal accident from a rider who saw it from very nearby. None of it will be surprising to anyone who has ridden the HOP medium, a large fast group of strong riders with widely varied skill levels.
Rich
The cyclist's name has been released and I've had a little time to
reflect. He's what I can say from about 10 or 15 wheels off the front.
HOP medium yesterday was as big as I've ever seen it. News reports (links
below) are quoting 50 riders, I'd put it at close to 70. Relatively calm
and conversational pace out to Highland. Things picked up a bit on the
rollers and a bit more through the flats. As we came to the down hill
stretch I sensed some tension as guys were trying to move up either for
safety or to contest the county line sprint.
As we exited the first turn the water truck appeared coming up from the
other direction. It was called out by multiple riders. From what I'm
told, the guys on the front were at least 3 wide as the truck approached.
At this point the rider on the right (unknown to me who this was) was
forced off the road surface and into the right hand gravel shoulder. He
attempted to get back onto the road surface and ended up causing the crash
at the front. This was the start of the chain reaction that put Herman
across the yellow and into the path of the truck. In the news reports they
state he was near the back of the pack. He was not. He was in front of me
somewhere at or near the front. I was lucky and stayed upright. At least
three other guys, apart from Herman, went down, one with what appeared to
be serious head trauma, he was conscious but clearly in shock as the police
arrived.
It was a horrific scene that I would wish no one ever have to experience.
However, I will say this, everyone involved kept their cool and folks did
all they could to aid the injured, control traffic and summon help. As
you'd expect, the cycling community is a tight group who have one another's
backs, that was evident yesterday in the aftermath.
RIP Herman Shum, prayers for family and loved ones.
Stay safe BBC,
Neil
http://abc7news.com/news/cyclist-killed-in-contra-costa-county-crash/452639/
http://christiancycling.com/7823/fatal-accident-prayers-needed/
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Rich
The cyclist's name has been released and I've had a little time to
reflect. He's what I can say from about 10 or 15 wheels off the front.
HOP medium yesterday was as big as I've ever seen it. News reports (links
below) are quoting 50 riders, I'd put it at close to 70. Relatively calm
and conversational pace out to Highland. Things picked up a bit on the
rollers and a bit more through the flats. As we came to the down hill
stretch I sensed some tension as guys were trying to move up either for
safety or to contest the county line sprint.
As we exited the first turn the water truck appeared coming up from the
other direction. It was called out by multiple riders. From what I'm
told, the guys on the front were at least 3 wide as the truck approached.
At this point the rider on the right (unknown to me who this was) was
forced off the road surface and into the right hand gravel shoulder. He
attempted to get back onto the road surface and ended up causing the crash
at the front. This was the start of the chain reaction that put Herman
across the yellow and into the path of the truck. In the news reports they
state he was near the back of the pack. He was not. He was in front of me
somewhere at or near the front. I was lucky and stayed upright. At least
three other guys, apart from Herman, went down, one with what appeared to
be serious head trauma, he was conscious but clearly in shock as the police
arrived.
It was a horrific scene that I would wish no one ever have to experience.
However, I will say this, everyone involved kept their cool and folks did
all they could to aid the injured, control traffic and summon help. As
you'd expect, the cycling community is a tight group who have one another's
backs, that was evident yesterday in the aftermath.
RIP Herman Shum, prayers for family and loved ones.
Stay safe BBC,
Neil
http://abc7news.com/news/cyclist-killed-in-contra-costa-county-crash/452639/
http://christiancycling.com/7823/fatal-accident-prayers-needed/
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