bad accident- cyclists killed in Stevens Canyon Rd, Cupertino

[stinkfoot]

I had to detour around this today.....I'm so sad when I read about it this afternoon.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8513728

[stinkfoot]

Two bicyclists struck and killed by sheriff's vehicle in Cupertino
By Leslie Griffy
Mercury News
Article Launched: 03/09/2008 12:21:11 PM PDT



Two bicyclists were killed when a Santa Clara County sheriff's patrol car going around a blind curve crossed the double-yellow line on Stevens Canyon Road in Cupertino and struck them shortly before 10:30 a.m. today, authorities said.

A third cyclist was seriously injured and is being treated at Stanford Medical Center. A fourth cyclist in the group was unhurt.

The identities of the dead and injured cyclists and the deputy involved were not immediately released. CHP officer Todd Thibodeau said a 29-year-old San Francisco man died at the scene and a 30-year-old Oakland woman died as she was being flown to Stanford Medical Center. A 20-year-old man was injured, he said.

The deputy has been with the force for about a year and half, Sgt. Don Morrissey said. He was driving north on Stevens Canyon Road near Montebello Road when he crossed the center line on the narrow road and hit the three cyclists, who were riding south.

The deputy called for help and got out his car to perform CPR on the fallen cyclists, Morrissey said. The deputy will be placed on routine administrative leave pending an investigation by the CHP.

"He's taking it very hard," Morrissey said. "The whole department is saddened."

Thousands of cyclists cruise the winding road leading to Stevens Creek Reservoir, cyclist Steve Paterson, 49, of Cupertino said, as he was turned away from a road block near Ricardo Road set up because of the crash.

"There are so many rides up here," he said.
Advertisement
"Club rides, sponsored rides, groups of friends."

It's unclear if the four cyclists involved in the crash were riding as part of larger group, but Morrissey said they may have been doing a training ride.

Other cyclists noted that riders in large groups will sometimes ride two-abreast. The practice is not illegal but can be extremely dangerous on narrow, winding roads with a large amount of traffic. It was unclear if the cyclists involved in this crash were doing so.

"I've seen bicyclists who ride crazy and I've seen cars that go too fast," Paterson said.

The opportunities for hill climbing and downhill coasting, as well as a roadway cleared of much debris make the area tempting for cyclists. Today's beautiful weather brought out scores of riders.

"It's spring and everyone is ready to get out and go for a ride," said Mike Riepe, of San Jose, hitting the road after hauling his mountain bike up a trail.

But blind turns like the one near the crash site make him nervous, Riepe said.

In 1996, cyclists Jeffrey Steinwedel, 46, died on Stevens Canyon Road just up the road from today's crash, when a quarry driver struck him as he took a winter ride. The driver, Jon Nisby, was sentenced to a year in jail.

The last time a Santa Clara County sheriff's deputy was involved in a fatal car crash was in 1994. A deputy trying to keep a suspect from running struck and killed the man near the intersection of West San Carlos and Bascom Avenue.

While a Santa Clara County District Attorney's office probe of the incident found the deputy had been driving improperly, it cleared him of violating any laws.

Deputies can drive as much as 200 miles a shift, Morrissey said.

The CHP is asking anyone who witnessed the crash to call (408) 467-5354, ext. 337.

[Dr_John]

Two bicyclists were killed when a Santa Clara County sheriff's patrol car going around a blind curve crossed the double-yellow line on Stevens Canyon Road in Cupertino and struck them shortly before 10:30 a.m. today, authorities said.

What the? This is a Sheriff? So basically driving on the wrong side of the road, and head on with the cyclists? Unreal.

What a tragedy. My condolences to the families and friends of the cyclists.

[Dr_John]

And what article on a cyclist being killed on the road would be complete without the obligatory 'it was probably the cyclist's fault:'

Other cyclists noted that riders in large groups will sometimes ride two-abreast. The practice is not illegal but can be extremely dangerous on narrow, winding roads with a large amount of traffic. It was unclear if the cyclists involved in this crash were doing so.

How does this have anything to do with incident? The cop was driving on the wrong side of the road.

[CrankyMonkey]

Man... I couldn't believe it when I read that it was a Sheriff! My heart goes out to the families involved.

It's been so beautiful out lately that you would think people would be extra careful driving on popular roads where cyclist are. It's not like there hasn't been thousands of cyclist out.

[CrankyMonkey]

Because drivers are right and cyclist are crazy, sane people don't ride up hills for fun!

[Cruzer2424]

to me, the question is

... why was the sheriff driving on the wrong side of the road?

[stinkfoot]

the news outlets are now reporting one cyclist died, two are critically injured.

[ni4detail]

There's a helicopter video of the scene on the KTVU website. I should caution you all that the video is disturbing (half a bike under the front bumper of the patrol car, etc.)

[johnny99]

Originally Posted by stinkfoot

the news outlets are now reporting one cyclist died, two are critically injured.

One bicyclist died at the scene. Another died on the way to the hospital.

[francois]

This is madness. I've never heard of a bike accident this disturbing.

fc

[Henry Porter]

Please keep us up on this story. This sucks.

[thien]

This is terrible. I send my condolences to the families and loved ones of everyone involved...

[francois]

Btw, the location of the accident is Stevens Canyon road, right above the Fremont Older parking lot. The road is slightly uphill and curves right. There is no blind turn.

So I did my morning Alto Velo morning ride and in the afternoon, my wife asked me if I could take her out on a ride. We dropped the kids off at Grandpa and we road Foothill to Los Altos and had the time of our lives.

But in the back of my mind was... "What if something happened to us???"

And now this.

fc

[jorgemonkey]

Here is a quote from CBS5:

"We just lost a couple of phenomenal human beings. The fact that they were tremendous athletes is really beyond the point as well, although they both were. Christy was on her way to the Olympic trials, and Matt was a phenomenal rider. It's very distressing," said Gebhart Evanhook, who was riding just behind the two cyclists who died."

So far we know two of the first names were Christy & Matt. My condolences go out to their families

[reklar]

What a horrible tragedy ... my condolences to all friends and loved ones of the deceased ...

I agree with the previous poster ... I'm so tired of the caveat blaming the bikers for riding two abreast even when it is unknown whether they were doing that and it is known they were on the right side of the yellow line!

If you feel inclined, please write a letter to the editor of the Merc about this ... I will.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.mercurynews.com/letters

E-mail your thoughts to letters@mercurynews.com. Requirements: 125 words or less; no attachments; include your name, address and daytime phone.

Letters will be edited for length and clarity. Street addresses and phone numbers are not published. The Mercury News reserves the right to publish and republish your submission in any form or medium.

[goloso]

and the cop will be held to the same standard everyone else.

Very sad situation. Someone on the scene commented in the Merc that it looked like the cop fell asleep at the wheel and didn't even try to turn. They said there were no skid marks.

The cop is now on a two week paid vacation.

It makes me sick to hear about these riders because it could have been any of us. It makes me sicker that this guy will get off with a fraction of the penalty any of us would receive.

The Merc is already trying to blame the victims.

Local cyclists noted that riders in large groups will sometimes ride two-abreast. The practice is not illegal but can be extremely dangerous on narrow, winding roads with a large amount of traffic.

It was unclear if the cyclists involved in this crash were doing so, Thibodeau said. But cyclists said they've seen dangerous behavior from those on both two-wheels and four.

[singlespeed.org]

Originally Posted by Cruzer2424

to me, the question is

... why was the sheriff driving on the wrong side of the road?

KCBS is reporting:
Witnesses say there is speculation that the deputy may have fallen asleep at the wheel. He was not responding to a call, or speeding at the time of the crash.

I am in shock. This is so sad.

[singlespeed.org]

SFGate has some details:
Authorities did not release the name of the victims, but friends identified one of the riders as 31-year-old Kristy Gough of Oakland and another as Matt Peterson, 30, of San Francisco. Both were killed. The third cyclist, whose name was not released, was listed in critical condition Sunday night at Stanford University Medical Center.

[johnny99]

http://cbs5.com/local/bicyclists.cra....2.673306.html

"Witnesses said they overheard the deputy say he may have fallen asleep at the wheel."

[jms]

Originally Posted by goloso

and the cop will be held to the same standard everyone else.

Very sad situation. Someone on the scene commented in the Merc that it looked like the cop fell asleep at the wheel and didn't even try to turn. They said there were no skid marks.

The cop is now on a two week paid vacation.

It makes me sick to hear about these riders because it could have been any of us. It makes me sicker that this guy will get off with a fraction of the penalty any of us would receive.

The Merc is already trying to blame the victims.

Local cyclists noted that riders in large groups will sometimes ride two-abreast. The practice is not illegal but can be extremely dangerous on narrow, winding roads with a large amount of traffic.

It was unclear if the cyclists involved in this crash were doing so, Thibodeau said. But cyclists said they've seen dangerous behavior from those on both two-wheels and four.

It's not often that I'm this blunt, BUT, quit being an IDIOT, save the finger pointing, and speculation for later.
I am quite certain the police officer didn't start the day with any inkling that it would wind up in this fashion. I'm also quite certain he/she is also deeply saddened and traumatized too. It is unequivocally a tragedy for ALL concerned: the victims, the family of the victims, friends, and the officer and his family too. It was likely a mistake any of us has/could make while driving, unfortunately fates intervened and created a tragedy. FOR ALL CONCERNED.
We are all at the mercy of happenstance. Think a kind and loving thought for all involved, they are all deserving.

[reklar]

Originally Posted by jms

It was likely a mistake any of us has/could make while driving, unfortunately fates intervened and created a tragedy.

Mistake that I could have made? Uh, no, sorry ... falling asleep at the wheel while on the job? I don't think so. Not in my job description for one thing, and I've never done it anytime either, thank you very much.

Originally Posted by jms

You're an idiot ...

We are all at the mercy of happenstance. Think a kind and loving thought for all involved, they are all deserving.

Funny that you run to name calling and then you're saying to "think a loving thought" a few sentences later ... absurd.

I'm sure the cop has been traumatized and everything but really, he is not the victim here figuratively (and certainly not literally).

[goloso]

Originally Posted by jms

It's not often that I'm this blunt, BUT, quit being an IDIOT, save the finger pointing, and speculation for later.
I am quite certain the police officer didn't start the day with any inkling that it would wind up in this fashion. I'm also quite certain he/she is also deeply saddened and traumatized too. It is unequivocally a tragedy for ALL concerned: the victims, the family of the victims, friends, and the officer and his family too. It was likely a mistake any of us has/could make while driving, unfortunately fates intervened and created a tragedy. FOR ALL CONCERNED.
We are all at the mercy of happenstance. Think a kind and loving thought for all involved, they are all deserving.

I don't know why you are so defensive. I never said the cop intended to do it and I find it hard to believe anyone involved in this situation would react with anything other than devastation. Here is the deal, this guy screwed up at work big time. If the system works they way it usually does around here regarding car/cyclist accidents the driver will get off. In cased you haven't noticed, cops get much lighter treatment when they screw up at work than the public at large gets for similar situations.

Furthermore the Merc (not the cops) threw in a bunch of extraneous stuff about bike riding abreast when they had no information that that was the case here.

So to make myself perfectly clear:

Cop screwed up at work
Cop didn't mean to do it
Cop no doubt feels terrible as anyone would
Merc insinuates the cyclists were riding unsafely with no evidence that was the case.
The system goes very easy on drivers in car/cyclist crashes and cops even get an easier time.

My wife and talked about this all evening. I was out maybe 5mi north of there at the time and it could have just as easily been me or my friends. We also had a long discussion on what you would do if you accidently killed two people. It is horrible just to contemplate.

We all react to shocking situations differently. Why assume the worst about your allies?

[CoLiKe20]

so sad

[eddy]

So tragic. My sympathies and condolences to all involved. I am thinking a kind, sincere thought for everyone tonight.

Notwithstanding jms's namecalling, he does have a valid point. This is a tragedy for all concerned, including the community at large whether or not we know the people involved.

Yes, any one of us could make the same mistake. It only takes one time. You don't have to drive for a living, or have a history of falling asleep at the wheel, or have a DUI. You could have 20 years with a perfect driving record. It just takes one brief moment of sleepiness, or changing the music playing, or being on the phone, or looking at a list of directions, or checking on your kids in the backseat, or sneezing, or any of a million different things.

That said, I have a sick feeling in my stomach from hearing this terrible news, and it makes me even sicker to know that it was a Sheriff's Deputy that did this. I cannot imagine being in the shoes of any of them.

Everyone be safe and go carefully.