inGobwetrust
06-02-2005, 11:38 PM
Sorry to be such a bummer but this is from http://www.trigeekdreams.com/
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
This will chill you to the bone
This posting will definitely sober you up and NOT get your geek on. But unfortunately, it's real life. It's written by Nate Llerandi, who watched his training partner die in an accident yesterday in Boulder, Colorado.
Life is Fleeting.
I write this today because I need to write this. I watched my friend die on his bike today.
We were riding side-by-side on an ample shoulder/bike lane on Hwy 36 - a north/south corridor that hugs the foothills of the Rockies and serves as the gateway to any number of canyon roads climbing up into the mountains. I rode near the white line and Scott rode to my right, at the outside of the shoulder (near the dirt/grass.
An Explorer driving southbound at around 60mph (the posted speed limit) was driving toward us. It started to veer across the road. At first, I thought it was to pass traffic. When it then veered into the northbound traffic lane, we knew something was up. We both said some expletive as we realized what could happen. Then it veered into our bike lane and was speeding right for us. All of this and the following details happened in 2-3 seconds tops.
I look at Scott, look at the Explorer and realize my only way to live is to swerve my bike hard out into the northbound traffic lane. As I swerve out, I look back at Scott and pray that he was able to dive his bike down into the grassy ditch. The Explorer was heading straight down the bike lane, so the grass would have been safe. As I look back at Scott, I see the Explorer hit him head on. I feel the very close rush of wind pass me by as the SUV narrowly misses me as well.
I screech to a halt, screaming and crying. I throw my bike down and run back to Scott's body. As I'm running, his bike is still spinning cartwheels in the air. I check for his pulse and touch his abdomen and chest to feel for breathing. He's dead. I look up and the Explorer is finally coming to a stop after running through some farmer's fences and it hits a ditch, a couple hundred yards away. Then I notice that below the knee, Scott's left leg is missing.
I stayed with him for over 2 hours until the coroner came and took him away. The accident happened at around 7:50am today. It's not nearly 3:00pm. I've grieved with many, many people. I'm about to go show his widow as much strength and support as I possibly can. The driver had fallen asleep at the wheel.
Unfortnately, whenever we head out the door, this is a stark, horrific reminder of what can happen to each of us, no matter how safely we ride. Please, please, please be safe out there.
Nate Llerandi
natellerandi@yahoo.com
This is the news story from the local paper.
Cyclist killed in collision with car
Police suspect teen driver fell asleep behind the wheel
By Vanessa Miller, Camera Staff Writer
May 31, 2005
A 28-year-old cyclist was killed instantly Monday morning when he was
hit by a Ford Explorer along U.S. 36, just north of Broadway.
Scott Kornfield, 28, of Thornton, was riding with Nathan
Gillman-LLerandi, 36, of Lafayette. The accident occurred about 7:50
a.m., officials said.
Colorado State Patrol Trooper Eric Wynn said preliminary investigations
suggest a 17-year-old Boulder resident fell asleep behind the wheel,
veering off the road and striking Kornfield.
Kornfield was pronounced dead at the scene. Gillman-LLerandi was not
injured.
Wynn said the cyclists were heading north along U.S. 36, and Thorpe was
driving south.
"The Ford crossed into the northbound lane, striking one of the
cyclists
and killing him on scene," Wynn said. "The Explorer continued off the
left side of the road and collided with an embankment."
A portion of the highway was shut down temporarily. It then opened to
one lane for several hours.
Wynn said with the proliferation of cyclists in Boulder, both drivers
and riders need to be especially alert.
"They do have auto-cyclist accidents up there," he said. "You can never
control someone else, but when you are riding a bicycle, be alert of
the
traffic around you and the traffic conditions. And motorists need to
look out for cyclists."
The accident remains under investigation. Officers said they do not
suspect the driver was influenced by alcohol or drugs. Charges are
pending, officials said.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
This will chill you to the bone
This posting will definitely sober you up and NOT get your geek on. But unfortunately, it's real life. It's written by Nate Llerandi, who watched his training partner die in an accident yesterday in Boulder, Colorado.
Life is Fleeting.
I write this today because I need to write this. I watched my friend die on his bike today.
We were riding side-by-side on an ample shoulder/bike lane on Hwy 36 - a north/south corridor that hugs the foothills of the Rockies and serves as the gateway to any number of canyon roads climbing up into the mountains. I rode near the white line and Scott rode to my right, at the outside of the shoulder (near the dirt/grass.
An Explorer driving southbound at around 60mph (the posted speed limit) was driving toward us. It started to veer across the road. At first, I thought it was to pass traffic. When it then veered into the northbound traffic lane, we knew something was up. We both said some expletive as we realized what could happen. Then it veered into our bike lane and was speeding right for us. All of this and the following details happened in 2-3 seconds tops.
I look at Scott, look at the Explorer and realize my only way to live is to swerve my bike hard out into the northbound traffic lane. As I swerve out, I look back at Scott and pray that he was able to dive his bike down into the grassy ditch. The Explorer was heading straight down the bike lane, so the grass would have been safe. As I look back at Scott, I see the Explorer hit him head on. I feel the very close rush of wind pass me by as the SUV narrowly misses me as well.
I screech to a halt, screaming and crying. I throw my bike down and run back to Scott's body. As I'm running, his bike is still spinning cartwheels in the air. I check for his pulse and touch his abdomen and chest to feel for breathing. He's dead. I look up and the Explorer is finally coming to a stop after running through some farmer's fences and it hits a ditch, a couple hundred yards away. Then I notice that below the knee, Scott's left leg is missing.
I stayed with him for over 2 hours until the coroner came and took him away. The accident happened at around 7:50am today. It's not nearly 3:00pm. I've grieved with many, many people. I'm about to go show his widow as much strength and support as I possibly can. The driver had fallen asleep at the wheel.
Unfortnately, whenever we head out the door, this is a stark, horrific reminder of what can happen to each of us, no matter how safely we ride. Please, please, please be safe out there.
Nate Llerandi
natellerandi@yahoo.com
This is the news story from the local paper.
Cyclist killed in collision with car
Police suspect teen driver fell asleep behind the wheel
By Vanessa Miller, Camera Staff Writer
May 31, 2005
A 28-year-old cyclist was killed instantly Monday morning when he was
hit by a Ford Explorer along U.S. 36, just north of Broadway.
Scott Kornfield, 28, of Thornton, was riding with Nathan
Gillman-LLerandi, 36, of Lafayette. The accident occurred about 7:50
a.m., officials said.
Colorado State Patrol Trooper Eric Wynn said preliminary investigations
suggest a 17-year-old Boulder resident fell asleep behind the wheel,
veering off the road and striking Kornfield.
Kornfield was pronounced dead at the scene. Gillman-LLerandi was not
injured.
Wynn said the cyclists were heading north along U.S. 36, and Thorpe was
driving south.
"The Ford crossed into the northbound lane, striking one of the
cyclists
and killing him on scene," Wynn said. "The Explorer continued off the
left side of the road and collided with an embankment."
A portion of the highway was shut down temporarily. It then opened to
one lane for several hours.
Wynn said with the proliferation of cyclists in Boulder, both drivers
and riders need to be especially alert.
"They do have auto-cyclist accidents up there," he said. "You can never
control someone else, but when you are riding a bicycle, be alert of
the
traffic around you and the traffic conditions. And motorists need to
look out for cyclists."
The accident remains under investigation. Officers said they do not
suspect the driver was influenced by alcohol or drugs. Charges are
pending, officials said.