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Car vs. bicycle accident on East Main Street

By Billie Owens

A car and bicycle accident is reported on East Main Street in front of the Miss Batavia diner. The bicyclist is said to have leg and hip injuries. City police, fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 11:44 a.m.: The patient is a 15-year-old girl who complains of pain in her left hip and her neck. She is being transported to UMMC. She was not hit directly by the vehicle, rather when it turned, the two collided and she fell off her bicycle.

UPDATE 9:49 p.m.: A reader named Amanda asked us to post the following note:

The 15 yr old girl is my daughter. She is doing ok. From what she told me she was trying to go around a car that was not stopping or watching for anyone. the car was pulled out onto the sidewalk up by aldis. My daughter said she thought the driver would have seen her. And if the driver that was trying to pull out of aldis parking lot was paying attention and actually stopped at the stop sign that is there, that my daughter would not have tried to go around. My daughter also said there was a line of cars behind the one that wasn't paying attention. i am not saying my daughter is not at fault here, but that other driver is at fault too. And the driver that hit my daughter is just a victim of peoples stupidity.

I think cars should not be allowed to pull up on sidewalks as pedestrians have to use the sidewalks. The cars should have to wait by the stop signs as most people will not pay attention to pedestrians. I had to pull my kids back from that very spot several times because cars do not stop at that stop sign, they just go to the edge by the road. Today could have been prevented if people follow the driving rules and actually payed attention.

Another thing for that driver who hit my daughter, I would like to let you know that my daughter is doing ok, just sore and bruised. My daughter said you were crying and everything. i do not hold you responsible from what I was told. I am sorry you and my daughter had to go through this today.

John Woodworth JR

Both sound to be at fault. Drivers not knowing their surroundings and girl seeing the issue and decides to proceed anyway. She should of waited or shouted to get driver's attention. When I rode a motorcycle we always had to know our surroundings and expect the unexpected. Do not take this wrong because, the driver is at fault too, 50/50. They both share equal blame. This girl admitted that, the driver was not paying attention to her. She knew this so, she should of gain the attention of the clueless driver or waited for the clueless driver.

I do agree vehicles need to stay off the sidewalks since, they are not for vehicle traffic but, foot traffic (a.k.a. Pedestrians).

Jul 25, 2012, 2:20am Permalink
Jerome Bartel

It doesn't say where the girl was riding her bike, but it sounds like she was riding on the sidewalk. If that was the case, then she was at fault. V&T law States that bicycles are a vehicle and are suppose to ride on the street and observe the same laws as a car. Sidewalks are for foot traffic. I'm not saying the driver of the car shouldn't be alert at all times but the cyclist disobeying the law carries the most fault. Parents that allow their kids to ride bicycles should make sure their children know and obey the V&T laws.

Jul 27, 2012, 8:33am Permalink

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