Driver Hits Pack Of Bicyclists While Drunk, Asleep

MONTERREY, Mexico — A car has plowed into a bike race along a highway near the US-Mexico border, killing one and injuring 10 others.

Police investigator Jose Alfredo Rodriguez says the 28-year-old driver was apparently drunk and fell asleep when he crashed into the race.

A photograph taken by a city official shows bicyclists and equipment being hurled high in to the air by the collision.

Rodriguez says Juan Campos was charged with killing Alejandro Alvarez, 37, of Monterrey.

Authorities say the wreck happened 15 minutes into the race along a highway between Playa Bagdad and Matamoros.

Campos says he is an American citizen living in Brownsville, Texas. U.S. consulate spokesman Todd Huizinga said officials were looking into whether Americans were involved.

Comments

[Moxo]

Here's the Lou Dobbs headline: "Mexican bikers attack sleeping American tourist".

[nibblybits]

That is actually a pretty funny joke considering such this is a horrifyingly tragic event. That photo is surreal. Just awful.

I hope this offender is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

[DebofMD]

My prayers go out to the individual whose life was taken and those who were injured. This is so shocking and tragic.

[Bluedog12]

What the hell was Cheney doing in Mexico?

[research]

That is just so evil funny!

[FZliveson]

That photograph was spectacular and made me think about driving responsibly and the horrors that all felt. I drive feeling tired a lot. I pull off with my Palm PDA as an alarm clock. This helps me avoid making the stupid mistake this man made and causing the pain and suffering he did. The picture was very useful and served a good purpose.

[naturallight]

I live in a town with lots of Lance Armstrong wannabee's with their darn near spacesuit costumes they wear to ride their bicylces. These people are pathetic and think they own the road. Let me put you on notice. Roads are for cars! (not bikes, despite what pedestrian rules you wish to cite) if you are riding your bicycle next to a bunch of republicans driving HUMMERS and other assorted tank like uber vehicles you are stupid. Healthy.....but stooopid.

[JonBFertippton]

UnaturalLite, you call that rust bucket you drive a vehicle? Get that thing off the road before it disintegrates.

[acidfree]

natural, your gene pool is in dire need of some chlorine...

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

I wonder what Lou Dobbs has to say about this?

[andvoodoo2]

A man is dead. Is this really the place for this comment?

[PuffAndStuff]

While Dobbs clearly has issues with the "illegal immigrant" Mexican population, I don't think he'd be the one to make reckless and racist comments on this -- however, it wouldn't be shocking if Bill O'Reilly DID.

Though it seems the driver here is an American citizen, so it's not exactly comparable --but do remember O'Reilly and his explosive rant re: Virginia Beach wherein teenagers died. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Lb3oFzCj_0

[DereksDontRun]

These photos should be removed. They are depicting the moment of death of someone's loved ones. If this were a story of huge newsworthy importance like 911 it would be different, but this borders on sensationalism and is in extremely poor taste. Please note that I am not responding to LiaLiarIraqsOnFire, but the page wouldn't let me post unless I hit reply.

[research]

The truth of this tragic photograph is stunning. I have given up bike riding anywhere near cars already, but this really brings it home. With cameras everywhere, we are going to be seeing a lot more of these shots. This photo has great, though tragic, value.

My heart goes out to this folks.

[MTiffany]

"These photos should be removed. They are depicting the moment of death of someone's loved ones. If this were a story of huge newsworthy importance like 911 it would be different"

Or, if you don't like the photos, don't look. Move on to another page.

Who are you to decide for anyone else what is newsworthy or important?

[FishOrCutBait]

And your point is???

[desthmoneses]

Was that picture really necesarry?

[Fathoms]

If it makes politicians wake up and make America more bicycle friendly, then, sadly, Yes.

[davesideas]

perhaps; if it helps people to recognize the insanity of placing a slow light weight vehicle in the same arena as a large heavy vehicle, then perhaps it is necessary...you'd think that common sense would dictate, but it hasn't yet

[MauricioBabilonia]

What about the insanity of allowing those who have a record of driving motor vehicles under the influence to retain their operator licenses?

Can't say for sure in this case, but I'd bet money that this dude had a list of priors as long as my arm.

[serialcoma]

As a cyclist I regret to inform you that a bicycle is considered a vehicle in nearly every state (granted this was in Mexico) and is required by law to operate on the roads and in compliance with all applicable traffic laws - just like motor vehicles. The individual who caused the crash was in violation of numerous traffic and vehicle laws.. whose fault is that ? Not the cyclists I assure you.

[Sumocat]

Would you have understood the magnitude of the collision without it?

[asmir]

this is sickening how sad

[LafnBacstage]

This tragedy happened during a sanctioned event. Where were the organizers?

I wish tragedies such as this could spur intelligent discussion rather than blame. Comments blaming left or right wing personalities are particularly unproductive. Bikers blaming drivers and vise versa doesn't do much to good unless venting one's spleen over another person's stupidity is the goal. There is no excuse for stupidity, there are no laws strong enough to protect us from idiots or malcontents.

Earlier I wrote about the risks of mixing transit modalities. Yes, bikes have all the right in the world to be on the road. However, cyclist can have all the right and still end up dead when confronted with a much larger mass of steel moving in a contradictory direction. The same goes for pedestrians, skate boarders and perhaps equestrians. That's why there are restrictions preventing certain transit modes from mixing. I feel that it is extremely important that we look for ways to reinforce the safety and ease of use for all the commons. Segregated bike and non-combustion powered routes need to be included in all route-way planning. Life is like a billiards table, we are all just careening around hoping to fall safely into the pocket.

[JohnJames]

sanctioned event? transit modalities? get real.

[williamina]

Those are small potatos. This one really makes it sound like a smack, "contradictory direction."

[acidfree]

Where were the organizers?
Are they to blame?

If you knew anything about bicycling racing, as this was a racing event, you would know that the organizers would be either at the start or the finish of the race.
Since this race appears to be more of a local event, you would know that (at least in America) the roads are open to traffic and that the "center line" rule is in effect.

I hope that those who were injured get well soon, and I pray for the poor soul who died.

[Merckx]

The car veering off to the side was the pace car for the event.

The drunk driver crossed several lanes of traffic in the wrong direction.
Driving car, bikes, pedestrians or horses, it doesn't matter when a drunk driver slams in to the front of the of you going the wrong way, bad things are going to happen.

[mamadeus]

I agree. I am an avid cyclist. A guide car flanking the bikes should have been there.

[rwt1138]

I don't know if it's a guide car, but there is in fact a car in the picture flanking the cyclists. It doesn't appear to be scaring the sleeping drunk diver away, though. How are guide cars supposed to work, like scarecrows or plastic owls do with birds?

[Sumocat]

Yeah, if the organizers were there, they could have stood in front of the out-of-control car and stopped it with their minds. Seriously dude, WTF could the organizers do about a car driven by a guy who was drunk and asleep? Could they have jumped through the window and slammed the brakes? Get a clue.

[wsblake]

And they say bicycling is so good for your health.

[hypnus]

Oh, no. W is at the wheel!!!!!

[UltraClassic]

This boy is going to get a taste of justice, Mexican style.

[bluestatelib]

What a horrible tragedy. My sympathy goes out to the killed and injured.

[RTIII]

Hey all you idiots who think bicycles don't belong on the road - in the middle of the lane (where they DO belong, so they're seen and given respect), here's a thought for your thoughtless heads:

What if the drunk driver were on a bicycle? He'd probably have killed himself instead, and we'd all be better off for it - tragedy though it may be for his family.

[UltraClassic]

RTIII. i'm sitting about 50 miles from where this happened. Yah it's terrible, but let me tell you, folks down here don't give a darn about bicycles. You ride a bike down here, you are hanging your butt out on the line. I'm a motorcycle rider and I dodge these SOBs daily.

South Texas and northern Mexico aint no hotty totty north eastern liberal town where bicycles rule the day. It's hot, it's dusty, the roads suck, it's the wild wild west, that's why I love it. One bright spot about this terrible event is that this SOB did the crime on the Mexican side and he is going to get some Mexican justice.

[davesideas]

middle of a 50 mph road? that's nuts

[landmine]

Maybe if MORE gruesome photos were taken of ALL the "misteps" of man, we might be less inclined to: beat wives, drink and drive, go to war, chose abortion on demand over better family planning....and generally be more respectful of our planet and all it's inhabitants.

More press freedom simply offers a better chance for a better world.

[gttim]

"Vehicles pay road taxes at the gas pump. How can bicyclists contribute to infrastructure improvements?"

Bzzzzzt! Wrong! Gas tax only pays for 1/3 of construction and maintenance of roads. General fund taxes from local and federal governments pays the rest. Car do the most damage to the roads and are subsidized by the general population. Bicyclists pay taxes and are allowed to use the roads. If motorists would start following the laws of the road and stop thinking that they are the only ones allowed on the road, they might stop killing cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.

[1LTUSMC]

Wrong gttim. 18 wheelers do the most damage to our highways. However, you are right on with your explanation that our streets and highways are multi-use. Unfortunately, you then become inaccurate and biased again by singling out motorists as the only culprit.

Our society is not a zero sum game. One group of users do not necessarily lose if another group's access increases.

[rigormrtis]

I don't recall seeing any mention of highways in the original post. Highways are not multi-use, which is why one can often see "no bicycles" signs on the ramps. Sometimes you even see "no motorcycles" on certain stretches of road.

Either way, you don't see many cyclists on highways. I/we/they ride on local roads - which happen to be funded differently than highways (more from general funds than from gas tax trusts).