[N8 v2.0]

Cyclist killed by driver asleep at the wheel
9News.com (Denver) | May 31, 2005 | Dan Viens

A cyclist was killed Monday after being hit by an SUV on Highway 36 in Boulder.

Police say 17-year-old Chandler Thorpe of Boulder was driving the SUV when he fell asleep and veered into two cyclists near Highway 36 and Broadway. It happened just before 8 a.m.

One of the cyclists avoided the vehicle, but 28-year-old Scott Kornfield of Thornton was killed.

Thorpe may face charges of careless driving. Investigators say alcohol or drugs are not believed to have been a factor in the accident.

 

[LordOpie]

And the point of posting this is?

 

[KleinMp99]

Thorpe may face charges of careless driving.

I dont know what careless driving in colorado means, but in michigan it means a slap on the wrist and a $160 ticket. There better be some good prison time waiting for this kid.

 

[Echo]

And the point of posting this is?

This is the first bike related post from N8 in like 14 months, let's not discourage it.

 

[LordOpie]

This is the first bike related post from N8 in like 14 months, let's not discourage it.

I hear ya, but the problem with posting kills is that it seems to only scare people away from riding pavement or worse... make them fearful and ride even more dangerously.

There was nothing the cyclists could've done different in this situation -- probably, I dunno the whole story -- and there's nothing to learn from this.

 

[N8 v2.0]

I hear ya, but the problem with posting kills is that it seems to only scare people away from riding pavement or worse... make them fearful and ride even more dangerously.

There was nothing the cyclists could've done different in this situation -- probably, I dunno the whole story -- and there's nothing to learn from this.

Riding the road is way dangerous... cars cause more biker deaths than anything else.

 

[LordOpie]

Riding the road is way dangerous... cars cause more biker deaths than anything else.

So your point in posting is to encourage roadies to stop?

 

[N8 v2.0]

So your point in posting is to encourage roadies to stop?

nope..

 

[SkaredShtles]

So your point in posting is to encourage roadies to stop?

No. But *I* would encourage them to *not* ride on Hwy 36 (it's basically an interstate). I occasionally see them on C-470 too, which IMNSHO is complete lunacy.

-S.S.-

 

[Skookum]

That's it i'm putting my roadie up on ebay....

 

[LordOpie]

No. But *I* would encourage them to *not* ride on Hwy 36 (it's basically an interstate). I occasionally see them on C-470 too, which IMNSHO is complete lunacy.

-S.S.-

I've ridden hwy 36 between Boulder and Lyons several times and have felt safer there than many many other roads.

C-470 is lunacy.

 

[SkaredShtles]

I've ridden hwy 36 between Boulder and Lyons several times and have felt safer there than many many other roads.

C-470 is lunacy.

Oh.... when they said Hwy 36 and Broadway for some reason I assumed that they were talking about the *Denver* Broadway. They were probably talking about the Boulder Broadway, eh?

Hwy 36 between Boulder & Lyons appears that it would be a nice road ride. Lots of big wide shoulders, etc.

I still wouldn't ride it.

-S.S.-

 

[Motionboy2]

Oh.... when they said Hwy 36 and Broadway for some reason I assumed that they were talking about the *Denver* Broadway. They were probably talking about the Boulder Broadway, eh?

Hwy 36 between Boulder & Lyons appears that it would be a nice road ride. Lots of big wide shoulders, etc.

I still wouldn't ride it.

-S.S.-

I ride 36 most days that I go for a lunch ride. It is a safe road. The shoulder is about a car wide in most areas and it is very heavily traveled by cyclists so most drivers are familiar that they will be on the road.

It is very sad about this. It would not stop me from riding, because this is what I would consider a fluk accident.

I don't think this is something that should be ignored. It is good to be informed about bad things like this, it helps you keep your gaurd up and maybe some drivers will read it too...when they are on a road that is heavily ridden they will keep their gaurd up too..

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.

Unfortunately, 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

 

[Velocity Girl]

Oh my god....what a horrible accident, but even worse to witness it

 

[pixelninja]

That's horrible. Simply horrible.

 

[Squeak]

Damn. That writeup really hit home.