Cyclists Struck by Car in Dover, One Flown by Medical Helicopter to Boston Hospital

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1 Editor Robert Rosen Like 147 Patch Newsletter Nearby Join Sign In 65 Home News Events Directory Pics & Clips Elections Real Estate More Stuff Update: Want to stay up-to-date on all things Dover-Sherborn? Then subscribe to our newsletter!» Police & Fire Cyclists Struck by Car in Dover, One Flown by Medical Helicopter to Boston Hospital A 63-year-old Boston man was flown via medical helicopter to a Boston hospital after being severely injured after a car struck him while he was riding a bicycle. June 21, 2012 Recommend 15 Tw eet 1 Print 24 Comments Sponsored By Related Topics: car vs. bicycle accident in Dover The following is a release from the Dover Police Department. On June 21, 2012, at 12:37 p.m., Dover Police received multiple 911 calls reporting a crash on Dedham Street involving a motor vehicle and a bicyclist. Responding officers assisted two bicyclists that had been struck by a motor vehicle traveling west on Dedham Street. Dover Fire and EMS units from Dover and Needham assisted on scene. One bicyclist, a 63-year-old male from Boston, was transported via Medflight to Beth Israel Boston with severe injuries. The second bicyclist, a 39-year-old male from Walpole, was transported to Beth Israel Needham with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the motor vehicle, Dagni Romero-Carvajal, 64, of Framingham, was not injured. Presently, she is being charged with operating a motor vehicle to endanger. The investigation is ongoing. The Dover Police Department was assisted on scene by the Norfolk County District Attorney s Office, as well as a crash reconstruction team from Wellesley Police Department. me updates about this story. Enter your address Keep me posted Recommend 15 Tw eet 1 Print Follow comments Submit tip 24 Comments 1/6

2 Tammy Schuetz Cook 11:46 am on Friday, June 22, 2012 While I feel absolutely horrible about this accident... bicyclists in Dover are a HUGE problem. We just moved to Dover and I cannot tell you how many times I've run into packs of bicyclists all over the road... on roads that are barely two lanes, with no shoulder and lots of curves you cannot see around (especially Dover road). I think it's time this issue was addressed to avoid more accidents like this in the future. Tony LaRosa 9:03 pm on Friday, June 22, 2012 yes indeed, and most of the bicyclists I encounter think they own the roads. They cut in front of cars constantly in Boston and they are very rude when you sound your horn to warn them that they are creating a potential safety hazard. FredLane I am a cyclist, live in Dover, and I agree wholeheartedly. Cyclists who ride two or three abreast are a hazard and give all of us cyclitsts a bad name. Moreover, the cumulative ire of motorists may be directed toward the law abiding motorists-sensitive cyclist. We cyclists have to clean up our act. Please don't assume that most cyclists support the cavalier behavior of packs riding two and more abreast. We do not! Fred Lane B.R. 9:03 pm on Friday, June 22, 2012 Tammy- Cyclists, as well as, many other road users, have the same rights to use the road as you do. The real problem is drivers who are in an extreme hurry to get to the next red light and have no consideration for the rights of others. Bikes belong, as do motorcycles, scooters, pedestrians, farm equipment, horse-drawn cariages, pedestrians, wheelchairs, etc. Please pay attention, drive carefully and hang up the phone. seriously? 9:56 pm on Friday, June 22, 2012 In other words, Dover residents need to show the same courtesy to the swarms of cyclists who seem to like endlessly riding around town as they do to the overwhelming number of horse-drawn carriages, wheelchairs, and scooters that frequently ride double or triple file down pine street. Never mind that the farm equipment drivers don't usually flip us the bird. Tony LaRosa Actually according to your logic it would be the same thing as an anorexic super model stepping into the ring with Mike Tyson - who do you think is going to suffer the most damage upon impact? Please think about it - this is why cyclists get hurt. They are no match for a motor vehicle. Max 9:03 pm on Friday, June 22, 2012 Hey Tammy, I know these people, and they were riding single file, on a straightaway, and on the shoulder. The driver was clearly distracted. However, I totally know what you are talking about, There are some scenic roads that are frequently used by bikers, but NOT meant for bikes... Tara 2/6

3 Roads were created for cars not bikes. How are we supposed to "share" the road when they are all over it with their bikes and with such narrow roads I am surprised this doesn't happen more often. Why ARE there so many bicylists in Dover?? If I was to bike I would find a path to bike on or bike on much bigger roads or use the sidewalk. I am sorry for this accident but it is UNREAL the amount of bikers that are in this town. It's such a hazard and I would think they wouldn't want to pu tthemselves or others at risk like this. Too many Lance Armstrong wannabees that need to just use a stationary bike at home or get on a path or bigger road C B I think you should study history, Roads were first created for bikes and carriages because they did precede cars. In any event, the LAW is that bikes have the same rights to the road as cars have...in Dover or anywhere else in Massachusetts. People are not LA wannabees, they are your neighbors, professionals, mothers, fathers, taxpayers, charitable fundraisers and yes, owners and drivers of cars looking for exercise and/or relaxation. believe me, you can't get that on a stationery bike or, for a serious cyclist, on a path with walkers. Dover is a pretty town with nice roads and scenery, good terrain, etc. Plenty of cars exceed the speed limit in Dover and most drivers are not aware of the laws covering bicycles and the rights of cyclists on the roads (such as we do not need to ride single file all the time and are certainly not obligated to put ourselves at risk to let a car pass). Maybe there should be some better education on the issues. Rowena 11:25 am on Friday, June 29, 2012 angry? Christine Heer Has anyone heard how this gentleman is doing? It is tragic when anyone gets hurt. While I understand the comment about "road users", I must point out that the polite and responsible cyclists are out numbered by the rude and dangerous ones...thereby giving (unjustly) all cyclists a bad name. I have had many encounters with cyclists over the past thirteen years living in Dover. I am the daughter of a policeman so to say I am a rule follower is an understatement, but still I have been spoken to in such foul ways by some cyclists, my family has been endangered by some others who would not yield, I even witnessed a three car crash on farm street because of a cyclist waving a car around in exasperation -but it wasn't safe for the car to pass yet. I agree that many motorists are going too fast, doing too much when they should be focused on the road, but this is not a one sided issue. There must be some way to share the road safely. Drivers slow down, pay attention, cyclists ride single file and pay attention. Christine Heer smk Christine, he is stable condition in a hospital in Boston. There are broken bones, and wounds, but he's a strong, fit, 63 year old with a great attitude and a full network of family and friends that are all around him. He was not doing well right after the accident, however, and he was lucky because the emergency care that he immediately received was impeccable. Med-lifting him to Boston was the best thing that they could have done for him, and they wasted no time at all. Grant Stephen Ah, I think it s the same anywhere you have more than a few cyclists: drivers get upset because their normal driving habits are interrupted and the cyclists get upset because they feel they are a persecuted minority having their basic road rights challenged. Both groups have legal access to the road so we all need to work hard at being tolerant and figure out a way to get along. Very sorry to hear about this dreadful accident though. Terrible. Mark Dionne I've been riding bikes and driving cars for over 40 years. I'd estimate that during those years, I've probably spent less than one hour waiting to pass a slow bicycle with my car. Meanwhile, I've probably spent thousands of hours waiting in traffic caused by automobile congestion. So when you get outraged by a bicycle apparently slowing you down, perhaps a little introspection is due... 3/6

4 Daddo yeah, don't cyclists know that no one ever gets hurt when a car hits another car? Jeff as it turns out, roads were NOT created for cars, the first one of which appeared in the late 1800s. Roads, on the other hand, trace their history back to Roman times if not before. Here's one such take on the question: I suspect that responsible cyclists outnumber the irresponsible just as is true for drivers. Of course, we only tend to remember the irresponsible ones. I too hope that the riders involved here heal quickly. Father of 4 12:57 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 Jeff, it's we now have designated bike baths and bike routes all over the USA, designated bike lanes in most major citiescountry/farming roads in Dover should not be used as bike freeways every weekend because they are beautiful, they are in fact too small/tight and dangerous, I too hope all involved are ok. Why would a heavy traveled 1800 farm lane surrounded by youth soccer fields be an appropriate place to ride multiple bikes???? Bob Tammy, Tara and others, You might want to familiarize yourself with Massachusetts law regarding road use. ALL roads except highways are deemed legal for bicycles and automobiles and ALL automobiles MUST yield for slower vehicles. Which means other cars, bicycles, wheelchairs etc. As automobile drivers, you and I assume the responsibility to drive with care and to yield to the slower vehicles. There is no gray area on this. However, if a cyclist or group of cyclists are impeding traffic by riding more than two abreast (Two abreast IS legal per MA law. Link below) then they are in violation and you are within your right to contact the police. You are NOT however, within your right to endanger said cyclist(s) by passing unsafely anywhere anytime. While both auto drivers and cyclist behavior could use modification, auto drivers bear the heavier burden to yield both under MA law and the law of common courtesy. Bob Tammy, Tara and others, You might want to familiarize yourself with Massachusetts law regarding road use. ALL roads except highways are deemed legal for bicycles and automobiles and ALL automobiles MUST yield for slower vehicles. Which means other cars, bicycles, wheelchairs etc. As automobile drivers, you and I assume the responsibility to drive with care and to yield to the slower vehicles. There is no gray area on this. However, if a cyclist or group of cyclists are impeding traffic by riding more than two abreast (Two abreast IS legal per MA law. Link below) then they are in violation and you are within your right to contact the police. You are NOT however, within your right to endanger said cyclist(s) by passing unsafely anywhere anytime. While both auto drivers and cyclist behavior could use modification, auto drivers bear the heavier burden to yield both under MA law and the law of common courtesy. 4/6

5 Father of 4 12:57 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 Bob, this is a hot issue with me, I like to ride too but why do the 'entitled riders feel the need to break traffic laws-passing on left and right to reach the front of the traffic line, not wait for the light, pass as pedestrians thru red lights??? ' CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS? Care to explain?? Self Policing!! Rowena Rowena Burke The issue can be addressed with courtesy and tolerance. Share the road and look out for cyclists. They have a legal right to use the roads. Many are riding for a purpose! Many are training for events that raise funds to cure diseases. Some ride to save gas and natural resources. Others do it for exercise and pleasure. Nobody should have to ride in fear of being injured in pursuit of these goals Father of 4 12:57 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 I have lived in the Tri-Valley area for my whole life, Westwood and Dover...single file bikes who 'hug the right side of the road' are the safest riders, those who ride two,three-abreast-race in the middle of the road and disobey traffic laws are not!!! Hey Bikers-start policing each-other, some pass cars to reach the front of a stop sign or signal, others wait in line-----you GUYS AND GIRLS HAVE TO GET IT TOGETHER, DO YOU WANT EQUAL RIGHTS OR ENTITLEMENT!! YOU ARE EITHER THE SAME AS A CAR OR NOT, YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO SPECIAL RIGHTS AND TREATMENT!! Fred Lane 9:11 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 I want to respond again to the debate. First, the law is the law. Bikes are allowed on any roadway unless specifically prohibited. Second, considers cyclists as part of humanity. That cyclist could be your father, mother, brother, sister, child, or cousin. Third, cyclists, pay attention to lights and stop signs, and do not ride two and three abreast. None of those behaviors are legal, and those behaviors will further fan the flames of this angry debate. K Donoghue 11:25 am on Friday, June 29, 2012 K. Donoghue Off course, a few cyclists ruin the reputation for many. I do agree with the plea for cyclists to use caution, common sense and follow the rules of traffic. However, our son witnessed this accident. The bikes were single file and tucked to the right as far as they safely could go. The car came up behind them, also hugging the right line, never slowing down or moving to the left and slammed into them. I'm not sure what this driver was doing, but paying attention to driving wasn't it. Leave a comment Submit 5/6

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