Reckless cyclist charged with manslaughter for killing pedestrian in Cali

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  • June 17, 2012 at 7:51 pm #911530
    MCL1981
    Participant

    On the opposite side of the spectrum from the 4 Mile Run accident, this illustrates just what I’ve been complaining about. People do this all the time, and the general attitude is “I’m a cyclist so i can do whatever I want”. Well guess what, you can’t. I see cyclists blow lights without even looking and cause peds with a walk signal to have to dive out of the way every day. Thank you for making us all look bad and purporting the typical arrogant cyclist stereotype.

    http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/17/cyclist-faces-manslaughter-charges-after-fatal-collision-in-san-francisco/?test=latestnews

    SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco prosecutors said they would file felony vehicular manslaughter charges against a bicyclist who allegedly hit and killed a pedestrian, in a case that has become a flash point for debate over bicyclists’ rights in the city.

    The manslaughter charges — unusually stiff for a bicycle accident — stem from a March 29 incident, when 36-year-old bicyclist Chris Bucchere allegedly ran a red traffic light and plowed into 71-year-old Sutchi Hui in a crosswalk. Hui died on April 2 of injuries related to the collision, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.
    An arrest warrant was issued Wednesday for Bucchere, who will be arraigned early next week, said San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, adding that the manslaughter charges are unusual for an incident that would usually be treated as a misdemeanor.
    “I’m hoping this case serves to raise awareness that rules of the road apply to everyone,” Gascon said in a news conference Thursday.
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  • June 18, 2012 at 12:05 am #943292
    mstone
    Participant

    As long as similar charges are filed against motorists who kill people, fine. (note that orders of magnitude more people are killed by cars, so we should be seeing a lot of charges.)

    June 18, 2012 at 12:15 am #943293
    MCL1981
    Participant

    If a motorists blows a red light and mows down a pedestrian, then yes I think they would be charged in the same manner.

    June 18, 2012 at 12:50 am #943299
    ronwalf
    Participant

    @MCL1981 22533 wrote:

    If a motorists blows a red light and mows down a pedestrian, then yes I think they would be charged in the same manner.

    The plurality of driver-pedestrian occur with the pedestrian crossing with the signal (meaning a left or right turn into them – often a right turn on red without stopping). How many manslaughter charges do you think were filed?

    June 18, 2012 at 1:31 am #943304
    MCL1981
    Participant

    That is not really the same. Not saying it’s an excuse. But that is not the same thing. A driver saying “screw the red light, I’m not stopping because I’m special” then mowing down the contents of the crosswalk would be the same thing. Making a right on red and not seeing the ped is stupid and inexcusable, but it isn’t a willful reckless act.

    June 18, 2012 at 3:09 am #943315
    ronwalf
    Participant

    @MCL1981 22546 wrote:

    Making a right on red and not seeing the ped is stupid and inexcusable, but it isn’t a willful reckless act.

    Not willful? The law is to stop before turning – it’s just socially acceptable to cruise on through, and by extension, so are the consequences.

    June 18, 2012 at 10:06 am #943318
    5555624
    Participant

    @MCL1981 22546 wrote:

    Making a right on red and not seeing the ped is stupid and inexcusable, but it isn’t a willful reckless act.

    Sure it is, because it’s against the law. In Virginia, the law says the car must stop and “may cautiously enter the intersection and make a right turn.” It goes on to say”Such turning traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic using the intersection.” (Code of Virginia, § 46.2-835. ‘Right turn on steady red light after stopping’)

    June 18, 2012 at 11:24 am #943321
    mstone
    Participant

    @MCL1981 22533 wrote:

    If a motorists blows a red light and mows down a pedestrian, then yes I think they would be charged in the same manner.

    Well, you’d be wrong in most cases. You exemplify in a later post how society excuses unsafe behavior by motorists, and is hesitant to enforce the LAWS because societal norms excuse a great deal of law-breaking as long as the person breaking the laws is in a car.

    One of the reasons I get really annoyed by anyone who buys into this “bikes need to be held to the same standard meme” is that bikes aren’t being held to the same standard until we see basic enforcement for things like residential speed limits, stop lines at crossings, etc. Put the enforcement where the bodies are, not where the sanctimonious point fingers.

    June 18, 2012 at 2:03 pm #943331
    5555624
    Participant

    The NY Times article gives a few more details.

    I think a motorist running a red light at 35 mph and hitting a pedestrian in a crosswalk would be cited for manslaughter.

    June 18, 2012 at 2:16 pm #943335
    pfunkallstar
    Participant

    Had this conversation yesterday while contemplating one of the crossings on the W&OD in Falls Church. Just obey the posted laws – it is never THAT much of an inconvenience. If I have to slow down at a stop sign it tags on maybe 20 seconds – worst case scenario, while if you are a driver it takes maybe 10 seconds – and all they have to do is mash a gas pedal.

    Also, this needs to be made into a t-shirt. Albeit I’ll be damned if it is anything but a tank and or tube top.

    “Put the enforcement where the bodies are, not where the sanctimonious point fingers.”

    June 18, 2012 at 2:18 pm #943336
    GuyContinental
    Participant

    This guy’s (apparent) lack of remorse is deplorable:

    http://sfist.com/2012/04/05/cyclist_who_struck_pedestrian_at_ca.php

    Wow. Posting an ode to his helmet after hitting a senior citizen legally crossing the street??? As the article says, he’s frantically trying to scrub his internet history of KOM taunts and callus statements… guess what kids, the internet is forever…

    June 18, 2012 at 6:37 pm #943376
    MCL1981
    Participant

    Which further makes my point for me. His arrogant own the world attitude is not rare. Its a wonder more peds are mowed down my morons like him. He would probably blame the driver if a car with a green light hit him after he ran a red. This idiot’s own account also that the situation is NOT the same as someone making a right on red and not seeing the pedestrian. This guy, and everyone else on two wheels that does this all the time, sees the peds, sees the red light, and decides to just plow through with reckless disregard. I hope he rots in jail and they mount his bike on a poll as a warning to others.

    June 18, 2012 at 6:46 pm #943377
    Mark Blacknell
    Participant

    @MCL1981 22621 wrote:

    His arrogant own the world attitude is not rare.

    Indeed. It amazes me how people can be so certain about the righteousness of their own positions that they don’t even see the irony of them condemning others.

    June 18, 2012 at 6:58 pm #943379
    mstone
    Participant

    @MCL1981 22621 wrote:

    Which further makes my point for me. His arrogant own the world attitude is not rare. Its a wonder more peds are mowed down my morons like him. He would probably blame the driver if a car with a green light hit him after he ran a red. This idiot’s own account also that the situation is NOT the same as someone making a right on red and not seeing the pedestrian. This guy, and everyone else on two wheels that does this all the time, sees the peds, sees the red light, and decides to just plow through with reckless disregard. I hope he rots in jail and they mount his bike on a poll as a warning to others.

    Yeah, it’s completely different from the line of cars turning through an intersection in disregard of the walk signal and the pedestrians in the intersection that I see EVERY DAY. And it’s completely different than the excessive speed I see on the roads EVERY DAY. Because, you know, this guy was on a bike and must have reckless disregard, whereas the cars are just engaged in the normal kind of lawlessness that doesn’t matter because it’s normal.

    June 18, 2012 at 7:31 pm #943382
    Tim Kelley
    Participant

    Lawsuit against Strava: http://www.cyclelicio.us/2012/strava-lawsuit/

    June 18, 2012 at 7:33 pm #943383
    Mark Blacknell
    Participant

    @Tim Kelley 22629 wrote:

    Lawsuit against Strava: http://www.cyclelicio.us/2012/strava-lawsuit/

    It’ll get bounced out ASAP. Failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.

    Bet on it.

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