Mandeville Canyon Incident 7/4

[esammuli]

My teammate just talked to Ron. He's back at home and isn't in great shape, but it sounds like he'll be fine. I guess the guy laid on the horn, Ron swore at him, and the guy cut him off and slammed on the brakes at 35 mph. Ron went through the windshield and Christian somehow swerved around the car and ended up on the ground in front of the vehicle. There was a third rider right behind Ron and Chris who saw the who thing and somehow managed to block the guy from leaving until the police arrived. The driver was furious and was still yelling at the riders even after the police arrived. Somehow he even got it into his head that the cops would be on his side. Thankfully he left the scene in handcuffs.

As you can imagine Ron is pretty pissed about the situation and is more than willing to sit in court and put the bastard away.

[VMac]

I can't say that I'm ever in favor of vigilantism, but if this guy gets off because of some technicality or connection, I can see where a lot of people would have a hard time resisting the urge.

[MErider]

Originally Posted by VMac

I can't say that I'm ever in favor of vigilantism,

Oh, how funny is that? I was just telling my dad what happened.

Should of heard what he suggested this prick get in return for his heinous actions.

But being the polite, delicate southern gal that I am, I won't repeat it. I just high-fived him and we'll leave it at that.

[Panda]

Thanks for the update, Eric.

I hope there is something the rest of us can do to help the situation. This morning I saw a lone Cynergy guy and chased him down to offer my well wishes. He seemed genuinely surprised and grateful that some random stranger would show concern for his teammate(s). The way I see it, no matter what kit (or non-kit) we wear we're all in the same boat and have to stick together when crap like this happens. It could have been any of us.
(Well, not me, but that's besides the point...zip it, Vance!)

I hope your coach gets better soon.

(BTW... Grumpy Pig sent me a link of another loon attacking cyclists in SD earlier this year. Crazies can be anywhere. Thanks Frank!)
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[UrbanKnight]

It's frightening every time I read about one of these incidents. In a way, I'm glad that a large club is involved, because as they put it, the guy may become the poster example for motorists everywhere. I hope the others recover quickly and get enough of the guy's assets to retire if they wanted.

[MErider]

Originally Posted by Happytime

I hope there is something the rest of us can do to help the situation.
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+1 I'll sign a petition, make a phone call, bake Ron a cake...you name it.

(Um...I should insert here that you may want me to sign or call. I'm not so good at baking )

[UrbanKnight]

^ Are any of the guys single? Maybe they'd like to be blue'd

[Indolent58]

Originally Posted by VMac

I can't say that I'm ever in favor of vigilantism, but if this guy gets off because of some technicality or connection, I can see where a lot of people would have a hard time resisting the urge.

Sounds like the only way he would get off would be an insanity defense. With many witnesses, there is not much room to spin what actually happened. An insanity plea would end the driver's medical career and would involve confinement to a state mental hospital for some time, so there is really no walking away from this.

[magicant]

Maybe not get off, but I can totally see this getting downgraded to "unsafe driving" or "provoked" or something more minor than it should be.

Hopefully that won't be the case.

[MErider]

Originally Posted by magicant

Maybe not get off, but I can totally see this getting downgraded to "unsafe driving" or "provoked" or something more minor than it should be.

Hopefully that won't be the case.

There was that famous case where a pregnant woman flipped off and cursed another driver and that driver did the same thing (pulled in front of her and slammed on the brakes). The pregnant woman swerved, went off the road and was injured badly (I believe she lost her baby).

Unfortunately, once the judge found out that she had flipped the other driver off, he wasn't as sympathetic as he might have been otherwise, but he did sentence the road rage driver to jail for several years, as I recall.

I can tell you that I have flipped a driver off, yelled at them, etc. Sometimes, I have not. It depends on the moment and how scared/angry/frustrated I am.

Regardless, a car is a weapon against a bike and that driver deserves the maximum, IMO.