Thread started by Jeronimo at 10.2.07 - 2:37 pm

Roadblock requested I post this email I sent out last night in hopes that any of you may have been around that area and had seen anything that might help out.



This past Friday night my friend Kenny and I were hit
by a car that ran in Santa Fe Springs. I ended up
getting an ambulance ride, bruises, contusions and
five staples in my head at Presbyterian in Whitter.
Kenny got knocked out and was bleeding from a cut on
his head, but came to after about a minute. My phone
got killed in the collision and a cool motorist
stopped to call 911 for us. Kenny got carted off to
St. Francis in Lynwood and will be alright. I'm ok
too, just a little sore still from where my lower back
hit the junction of the roof of the car and
windshield. It was a helluva kidney-punch. A recent
return to core abdominal exercise sure came in handy
in preventing more serious injury.

We got hit from behind by a silver Honda 2 door. The
passenger side mirror was ripped off by my left ankle
I was getting launched into the air and bouncing off
of the windshield, which made identifying the run
vehicle easy for the Police. We were riding slightly
staggered far right on a wide shoulder, Kenny was in
front and I was about six inches to the right off of
his rear wheel when we were hit. I remember hearing
the car coming and seeing a headlight beam hitting the
ground right in front of me a split second before
getting launched. I saw Kenny going into the air right
after I was hit. My bike ended up in the grass on the
other side of the sidewalk and I ended up just about
at Kenny's bike on the sidewalk. Kenny was about
another 40 feet down. As soon as I stopped
sliding/tumbling, I got up, ran towards Kenny, trying
to get a look at the car and to check on him. My waist
pack was on the ground where I landed, so after
checking to see if Kenny was breathing, I tried 911.
It worked enough to have the call go through, but they
couldn't hear me because my phone had been impacted. I
flagged a kind motorist down and he made the call as I
went back to check on Kenny, who was coming to. He
kept trying to get up and I has to restrain him until
the Paramedics arrived so he didn't injure himself
further. The next thing I know, I'm in a collar on a
backboard being transported to the hospital.

This happened on Santa Fe Springs Rd at McCann Dr in
Santa Fe Springs about Midnight. We had just been
riding around, checking things out and were headed
home after riding a few streets and sitting outside a
club in Uptown Whitter, listening to a band. Both of
us were sober and our bikes had bright blinking
taillights as well as headlights. I was wearing light
colored clothing and Kenny was wearing a reflective
messenger bag. The intersection where we were hit is
well-lit and the right lane is wide enough for another
lane, as well as a bike path.



The Officers on scene said they had a good idea where
the car came from. The bar we had passed a half mile
earlier is notorious for producing DUIs and has
security cameras all over the place, including the
parking lot. They were really cool and felt like they
would not have too much trouble finding out who hit
us. My garbled 911 call will give them a good timeline
to go back from on the security videos. When we passed
the bar right before we got hit, the bouncer outside
exchanged pleasantries with us, making him the closest
witness to what happened. I'd say if that car came
from that bar, the Police have a good chance of
finding this coward.

After being released from the hospital around 0230, I
was still a little dazed and my phone was not working
at all. I couldn't remember any phone numbers, so I
walked from the hospital to Beach Blvd because I knew
OCTA runs a bus up and down it all night. After
walking and hopping a couple of bus rides, I got home
about 0730.

The rest of the weekend was spent resting and hanging
around with my daughter, after a visit to Kenny in the
hospital and ensuring his people knew where he was.
I'm ok and already feel pretty good. The kidney punch
is all that's still sore and I'll be getting the
staples out of my nugget on Friday.

There was nothing we could have done to avoid this
collision. It happened and hopefully the perpetrator
has already been or does get caught. It will not
prevent me from living my life as I have been,
enjoying as much of it as possible and a lot of that
from the saddle of my bicycle. I may be looking over
my shoulder a bit more often though.


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Man. Hell of a story there. Glad you're alright. Another danger of night riding...drunk drivers.



Richard_Colossus
10.2.07 - 2:47 pm

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this is the type of thing we should be really aggro about getting the talking heads of the media to cover. here are some contacts:

we need to make noise and put these idiots to work!

here ya go:


KNBC
818-CH4-NEWS (818-244-6397)
http://www.knbc.com/contactus/index.html

ABC
Breaking News Tips: (877) 777-NEWS
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=stationinfo&id=1642694

KCAL CBS2
Call the news assignment desk at: (818) 655-2290 Fax your stories to: (818) 655-2221 Attn: Assignment Desk
http://cbs2.com/contact



Roadblock
10.2.07 - 3:43 pm

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damn...sorry to hear about this...

hope they catch the perp...

glad you guys made out okay...

how are your bikes?

and would a helmet have helped in this situation?

I'm just curious...



adrian
10.2.07 - 3:45 pm

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details for the news boobs:

Where:
Santa Fe Springs Rd at McCann Dr in
Santa Fe Springs


When:
Friday 28th Midnight

Who:
silver Honda 2 door
impact broke the passenger side mirror
possible break on thee windshield and hood/frontal damage

make the calls!! it's for all of our safety that these punk ass cowards get caught





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Roadblock
10.2.07 - 3:58 pm

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god damned Chuck Henry answers sheesh



Roadblock
10.2.07 - 4:00 pm

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shit jerome this is terrible! please dont take the pm i sent you on bf the wrong way, i didnt have time to go search lafixed before i went to work.
i wish both you and kenny safe recoveries.



ruinedbyidiots
10.2.07 - 5:03 pm

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No worries T and thanks RB.



Jeronimo
10.3.07 - 4:54 pm

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Just reading this, I feel sick. :(

I'm glad you two aren't totally thrashed by this and still are positive about riding. I hope they catch the douchebags!



markedge
10.3.07 - 5:01 pm

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I just got a call from Whittier PD and was advised that they caught the perpetrator. Apparently an observant officer spotted the suspect vehicle on Saturday, pulled it over and the driver admitted to hitting us. They arrested the driver and impounded the car on the spot. There will be justice. I can not express how much of a relief it is to know that this scumbag has been caught, but also that they are off of the road.



Jeronimo
10.4.07 - 3:56 pm

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good news indeed!



spiraldemon
10.4.07 - 3:58 pm

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Excellent! I am so stoked to hear this!



markedge
10.4.07 - 4:04 pm

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Awesome news! To you the truth, all the crap I hear, and I believe the ridazz, is that bicycle incidents is pretty low priority for the police. Great to hear good news for once.

If you can post the address of the police department and the name of the officer, I would like to write a letter and send it snail mail thanking them.

Hope you guys have justice and a speedy recovery.



User1
10.4.07 - 4:15 pm

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Apparently an observant [Whittier PD] officer spotted the suspect vehicle on Saturday, pulled it over and the driver admitted to hitting us.

Ah the benefits of being hit in a small town. This would not have happened in LA.

Congratulations.



marino
10.4.07 - 5:06 pm

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oh fuck YES!

so glad to hear the good news!!

I hope the perpetrator gets the book thrown at him HARD



Roadblock
10.4.07 - 6:33 pm

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Just a quick update, Kenny was released from the hospital yesterday. He's glad to be home and in one piece. We're picking up our bikes later this week.



Jeronimo
10.9.07 - 3:14 pm

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great news J!!



redridinghood
10.9.07 - 3:20 pm

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i have big smile a mile wide i can't wipe off my face. i'm glad they caught the driver and i hope justice is served. best of luck on your recoveries.



eric
10.9.07 - 3:44 pm

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Jeronimo,

Jeronimo, glad you hear that you are on the mend.
Hopin' to see you on the road soon!

Were you able to contact the perp's insurance co.?
They should be paying to fix/relpace the bikes and all the medical expenses. Including a check up to make sure you dont have any long trem problems from this. No question.

One of the disadvantages of being a cyclist is that you dont have an insurance co. to represent you. So, if they try and be assholes in the slightest or drag their feet (which would be about normal) you may need a lawyer.
...
Any word on the press? Did they even make a peep about this?










trickmilla
10.10.07 - 10:17 am

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Dude, from some1 whose been hit, i feel your pain. Glad to hear ur getting better and i hope those fkrs are caught. If theres anything i can do lemme know. -j




jchungerford
10.10.07 - 4:23 pm

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Thanks for all fo the support and kind words on this. Kenny has yet to attend a Ridazz ride and that night, attending a forthcoming ride with you miscreants was a topic of discussion.

I just got back from visiting Kenny and bringing him his messenger bag, shoes and hat. He's glad to be out of the hospital.

We're not sure yet if the driver has insurance, but appears to at least be a property owner.

As far as any media coverage goes, not even a blip...yet.





Jeronimo
10.10.07 - 6:02 pm

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Jeronimo,

I hope you take this guy to the proverbial "cleaners"! Far, far too often this is not the story that evolves. I have heard stories from ridazz on our rides of inept, indifferent officers that handled the accident poorly. The last story I heard was about a month ago of a car running a red light and hitting the rida. Even though the rida was taken to the hospital, there was no accident report filed or even getting the driver's info!

You and your friend was left for dead by this driver. Show no compassion for the mofo! Shop around for the best lawyer you can find and don't settle for less. The only way things are going to change is by hitting them where they feel it, in their pocket books!

Good luck and I wish you and your friend the best.



User1
10.11.07 - 2:40 pm

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While I'm at it, this is a joke too..........


I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five.
Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer?
We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!
--Henri Desgrange, L'Équipe article of 1902

And the hiker responses to Henri..............

"Is it better to triumph the mountain on the strength of your leg muscles than by the artifice of a bicycle?"



User1
10.11.07 - 4:17 pm

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User, I think you wanted the "Recommendation" post. This is the "Hit & Run". ROTFLMAO.




DeKadenzy
10.11.07 - 5:06 pm

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DeKadenzy thanks!

I think I remember seeing it earlier today!

ROTFLMAO2

Wow it amazes me the help you can get on this board!





User1
10.11.07 - 7:56 pm

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If they do not have insurance make sure they are arrested. That would be the first thing I would do. Get competent professional consul as soon as you can. This process will take months even over a year to settle so patience is a virtue.

Settlement procedures with the insurance company , if you are not going to sue, would be them inputing the total $$ created from doctor bills/fees that are generated over a given period of time (therapy, etc.) and doubling that (maybe triple if you get a good litigation lawyer who will take the case and not some ambulance chaser whose letterhead they see weekly). Normally Lawyer takes 1/3, Doctor takes 1/3, and you the other 1/3.

This scenario sounds fkn horrible (fleeing the scene of an accident, etc.). I would sue this asshole regardless. The only thing i can see saving this f.uck would be him fleeing the scene as he was prolly drunk/high and thus was able to avoid being tested.

gl man. i'll throw some positive energy your way. best advice i can give is dont let hate consume you. hate only hurts the hater. seek your retribution and move on.



jchungerford
10.12.07 - 11:07 am

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and if some1 wanted to write an unbiased news article with some facts about increased bicycling activity within in the city and the facts that a lot of motorists that we encounter aren't aware that bicycles have the right on the road, I could schuck it along to Joann Grace (owner) of Downtown LA's Metropolitan News to print. We could add a supplemental article about this accident, mine, and some others to help build awareness amongst its readers.

Im no journalist but its just a thought . . .



jchungerford
10.12.07 - 11:20 am

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Jeronimo,

Most definitely seek out a lawyer, preferrably one who has handled bike related cases in the past. The most prominent one I know of in the LA area is Gary Brustin. http://www.bicyclelawyer.com/



Troisvelos
10.12.07 - 5:52 pm

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The attorney handling my auto vs bike incident is Lee C. Arter. My girl's brother works for him and is handling my claim against the driver's insurance. Their number is 213.384.9533. Call and ask for Hans Sanabria and tell him i recommended them for their handling of my case. It is true that insurance claims move slow as molasses but considering the details of your case, the driver's insurance may want to settle fast to get you off their backs. Stick with it and make damn sure you get every pain documented and checked out. If he has no insurance, you can still get a judgment in court that he'll have to pay.

This guy owes you- for all he knew you could both have been killed that night.

Best, E.



eric
10.12.07 - 10:16 pm

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Thanks for all of the recommendations and advice. We're still working on which attorney to use in our case. The perp's insurance company has been trying to get ahold of me, but I don't want to talk with them at all. We'll let our attorney do that. I finally read the police report too and it looks like the DA will be able to get her for felony hit & run. She got caught in a bunch of lies by the officer who stopped her the next day in her car that was sporting the correct damage and a new windshield that was installed the morning after she hit us.

Kenny was in the hospital for eight days and is recovering. He should be back on a temporary replacement bike any day now.

My bicycle is toasted too. RBI was kind enough to help me get a replacement on fleabay from his area. My aches and pains have dissipated, though I'm still a bit sketched out any time a car comes close to me from behind. I'm watching a lot more intently, that's for sure.



Jeronimo
11.1.07 - 3:59 pm

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My friends uncle was killed by a hit and run driver in downtown last night on 8th and Alameda two nights ago. And there were no witnesses. Really sad.

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=7357635

http://cbs2.com/local/Pedestrian.Killed.By.2.1599206.html



buckchin
03.30.10 - 2:57 pm

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I meant to say Monday night



buckchin
03.30.10 - 2:59 pm

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Sorry to hear... very sad. He had three kids too :(




ezzie
03.30.10 - 3:59 pm

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Good to hear.

Please be sure to call all the news outlets and inform then of the latest arrest and ask them to follow the case, he may get off easy if there is no news attention.

Also, PLEASE consider filing a civil suite against him in addition to a criminal one. You can garnish his wages for the rest of his life if you win and he refuses to pay.

I'm happy you're feeling better, pleas wear your helmets at night, at the very least they keep your head warm. Head injuries can cause clinical depression years after the fact.



Girl Power
responding to a comment by Jeronimo
03.30.10 - 4:41 pm

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